Bogwood/driftwood/petrified?

[dixiedawn]

I was reading somewhere that a certain type of 'driftwood' turns your water brown and also decays over time thus rotting in your tank and causing problems.
I'm probably making this harder than it is on myself, but im a nosey cow, and want to know.
What's the absolute safest real wood you can put in your tank, know it's going to last a very long time without tinging the water etc and how can you tell?
I have the oportunity to get my hands on some petrified wood. Which in my opinion is beautiful, and would make a very bold contrast in colours in the tank im planning. How do i go about knowing it's safe, that it won't rot (not sure if it will) etc??

 

[ShoC]

Firstly the colouring in the water is called Tannins, the wood leaks it out, Best solution to remove this is boil the wood, and replace water when its coloured and boil again, repeat untill clean,

Mopani wood is a very nice looking wood thats VERY strong,

check this link

and THE-WOLF has given very good information on wood types on this link

 

[dixiedawn]

thanks for that and i think it was mopani was the wood i heard that tinges/rots...not gonna swear to it tho

 

[ShoC]

I does leak tannins, but you just need to soak it in Hot/boiling water then clean the water and soak again untill no more comes out,
I doubt it will rot anytime soon

 

[dixiedawn]

coolios thanks

 

[ShoC]

Your welcome

 

[raptorrex]

personally i dont know of any drift wood that rots, and most will leach into the water for some time after it is put in. it may be worth pointing out that tannins can be quite good for fish and crustaceans. so provided you dont find it odd to look at, it may as well be left to itself.

if you keep plecos, you will often find what looks like rotted wood under and around the log. this is a result of the pleco rasping the log, and not the wood rotting.

 

[ShoC]

I you plant to get wood for pleco to rasp on, Make sure its not mopani wood, Bog wood is best as mopani is to hard for it to rasp

 

[merry78]

if you want a happy medium, mangrove roots don't leach much tannin (still a little though), but have great shapes because of the buttresses on the roots of the trees.

 

[nukeonekitty]

I boiled mine for about about 15 minutes then soaked it about 20minutes and no tannis that I have noticed leaked into the tank. I believe my wood is malaysian wood.

 

[dixiedawn]

i did have my eye on a flash pleco, but given that they grow quite large (about 6 inches i believe) that one is still up in the air as im not sure if he'll get along with cory's or any of the others i was planning.

I just want to make sure whatever it is i get will be safe and best option.

Thank you so much everyone for your opinions tis appreciated

 

[Darkstar]

In which case listen to Shoc, hard woods should not be used with Panaques as it can wear their teeth down which can eventually lead to starvation. Stick with bogwood.

 

[dixiedawn]

cool, bogwood it is then

anyone know if plecos n corys get along? being as they're both bottom dwellers i don't want to have any conflict

 

[Darkstar]

yes no problems...I keep many plecs together with corys. Just make sure the plecs or plec have adaquate hiding places.

 

[dixiedawn]

cool, im just double checking, as some community thingy im using says they can't be combined am excited now