Bogwood / Plec Tank Maintence Issues

[NinjaSmurf]

Alright, I've been having a little trouble with filtration in the tank, I always had a lot of poop on the sand from the bn, and because the tank is so tall (24in) and narrow (12in deep) the flow from the hob filter I have wasn't getting close to stirring up the bottom, and brown stuff was gathering in drifts and in a gross snow on my fake plants.

I'd had this tank set up before but had the filter on the end, so I didn't have this problem before. Anyways, I bought one of those wavemaker/powerhead type things to try and get things stirred up. Didn't work out so hot, so I've now put the filter on the end the way I had it years ago (which makes it so I can't really have the lid on right, it's resting crossways on top so it will hold the light).

Just did a water change and cleaned out the intake pipe for the filter (which I'd been neglecting to do ) so that should help so too.

Anyways, that brings me to my real question. I don't think all this crap is from my brislenose. Based on a topic about the difference between bogwood and driftwood, I think a lot of this brown junk that gathers on the sand and on the fake plants it actually debris from the wood. Is there a way to tell the difference?

If it is the wood, other than making my tank look hideous, will this mess with my water? Is this stuff rotting?

I really don't want to take it out, as it is a very awesome looking piece of wood, but I'm not sure if I should keep it in if it's going to turn my tank bad. Any thoughts?

 

[spectrum]

I know this may sound gross, but how squishy is it, Does the wood have a slightly spongy feeling? This might indicate whether its rotten or not. Can you break bits off the wood by hand easily? If so it probably is rotting. Also has it still got the bark on it?

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Yeah, the wood has always been on the kind of soft side and never needed soaking in order to sink, but it the last year or so it's been getting much more fragile, and little chunks break off random, and once while handling it a sizeable chunk came off in my hand. It never had any bark, but I also don't know what type of wood it is, as it was from a collection of wood pieces my mom had.