Bogwood - The Real Stuff

[Bloo]

I recently went to the Aquatic Design Centre in London. Fish wise nothing exciting really, but they had a stunning showroom of tanks in all shapes and sizes to dream about

They did have some bogwood though (the real stuff that comes from a real river ) I was interested in and took a chance on. They "said" it sinks, but I never quite believe until I see. And I also wasn't sure if it would leach tannins like mad, but took a chance on some interesting pieces. It certainly makes a change from the ever popular (and boring) mopani wood (that leaches like there's no tomorrow ).

I've actually put two of the pieces in my non planted tank already - well it has Amazon Swords, but low light and no CO2, so I don't really class it as "planted". I might put the last piece in my planted (uh, that needs a thread and picture update, but I'm not quite ready yet.....).

Anyway - waffle waffle - I gave this wood a 2 second rinse and it hasn't leeched one bit in almost two weeks now - and sank like an anchor straight away

And this is my "non planted" tank. Not very inspirational - but functional for the fish
I recently had to split the Amazon Swords as they are grow very well - apart from when the whiptail catfish gets a snack attack and go for all the new growth

 

[cheesemaker]

Cool pieces you've got there.
where about in london is this Aquarium Design Centre?

 

[Bloo]

It's about 5 minutes walk from Great Portland Street tube station.

 

[craynerd]

are u trying to make me jelous!!

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Good job bloo, iv had a look around their website, if im not wrong most of their tanks are acrylic.

 

[Bloo]

Thanks guys

Moody, not at all - well not the showroom ones anyway. They had just about every conceivable brand shape and size down there. It's very dangerous to venture down those stairs.......

 

[Luke_e]

Nice piece of bogwood. Its a bit general though to say mopani wood is boring, as there are some amazing pieces..
Can i ask what the whiteish 'power' is on the bogwood in the pics, or is it just the light?

 

[Bloo]

It's only boring in the sense that there is "generally" nothing else but mopani available in the majority of lfs's - even eBay for that matter. Individual pieces can be gorgeous - but mopani in "general" is big and lumpy and doesn't have much character (in my opinion).

The white stuff is still river sand that I haven't washed off yet when I took the pics.

 

[Themuleous]

Nice wood Bloo

 

[simonbrown403]

Nice wood should look fab with plants and moss and stuff, keep us all posted

Simon

 

[MoreCoffee]

Some great bit of bogwood there Bloo.



I especially like the dark coloured one in the 3rd and 4th pics - That spur coming off it would look great
with some moss (christmas or willow) attached.

I have to agree about the mopani ..... there is usually one side of the wood that looks really good and can be used, but overall it never seems to get that 'aged' look.

Does the Aquarium Design Centre have a website ?

 

[tomo_garf]

You got my attention bloo

a website would be excellent and a rough idea on prices would also be great- wood that doesnt leech tanin would be a dream

 

[Bloo]

that should be the Aquatic Design Centre I mean. (I will go back and edit above). I'm not sure how much they charge per kilo, but it seemed very fair to pay £20 for the 3 pieces. They had loads there though and larger piece too - and longer gangly bits as well. I might go back again and check out some more.

I might try some moss on them Haven't thought to bother much but might do

 

[ey2006]

Very nice bogwood Bloo, really like the 4th pic.

Had a question about your Amazon Swords - how long did it take for them to grow into so many plants? I have one that has lots of leaves, but I don't know how to separate them. Do I split the roots apart and plant them? Supposedly, they grow shooters that then grow another amazon sword plant.

 

[Bloo]

Thanks ey2006. Mmm I can't remember - they initially come as a couple of mother plants with "siblings" (or smaller plants) tightly on either side - like growing together. I then eventually split them off. They grow so well though they I remove roughly around 15 leaves at least each week. So it it looks similar and looks you can split the plants, this worked well for me. But I had some many roots I had to cut them with a knife (to seperate them).

Every now and again I'll get a runner with zillons of plantlet, but as I don't have more space for them, I usually just cut them off and throw them away
They are fed on JBL root tabs every few months and some Seachem ferts once a week.