Driftwood?

[Schmill]

The bio-film that I get (well, the tank gets ) is a clear grey mucus...

 

[loubega]

The bio-film that I get (well, the tank gets ) is a clear grey mucus...

sorry again for hijacking MD,

schmill, sounds like you got the same as what i have....got the bogwwod from the dreaded dunstable P@H!

also when i got the bogwood out and examined the mucas/fungus it smelt like cut grass....dunno if this helps but made me chuckle!

 

[Miss_Donna]

lol i love the smell of freshly cut grass may have a smell in a minute pmsl

and i got mine from pets at home too lol i wonder whether its bogwood or driftwood how can i tell the differance lol

 

[Miss_Donna]

here's a picture of it lol you tell me

 

[loubega]

here's a picture of it lol you tell me

thats what i have as well, i presumed it was bogwood? however i have no idea what the difference between bogwood/mopani /driftwood....maybe schmill can help

 

[Schmill]

and I got mine from...... P@H... In Dunstable - lol

Mine was bogwood I believe, (thats what the label said!), and I boiled mine for about 6 hours, changing the water every hour or so, then left it to soak in a bucket of cold water for 2 days (there should be some pics in my log linked in my sig).

Don't quote me on this, but from what I have seen / felt / touched / poked in the shops:

I think Bogwood is quite a dark brown wood, and almost 'crumbly' under the touch, (this is what I have, I believe)
I think Mopani is a more compact wood (not crumbly), and has pale areas on it.

Driftwood is...... ??? - lol

As for your picture... no idea, can't see it from here, will have to wait until I get home!

 

[Miss_Donna]

Ok well mine is'nt crumbly or at least it werent when i got it and mine never had a label on it

its was wrapped in plastic tho

 

[loubega]

Ok well mine is'nt crumbly or at least it werent when i got it and mine never had a label on it

its was wrapped in plastic tho

mine i think its mopani wood, it light on top and dark on the bottom,

like schmill i got mine from p@h, i boiled it for a few days then let it soak for a weeks, but still had this 'bio-film' on it, so had re-soaked it twice in salt......

i think driftwood may be really light...as in the stuff that washes up on beaches in africa and NZ, from what ive seen...dont quote me tho!

anyway the overall consus is that its not harmfull, however i still soaked and scrubbed mine to be sure!...to be sure! hahaha

 

[Miss_Donna]

well i guessing mine it the same as yours as mine is light on top and dark underneath so probably means the stuff growing on it is like a grey mucus (my bad)

 

[Schmill]

Sounds like both of yours are the mopani, from what I remember from teh sutff at P@H the bogwood was just in the box, with the tags attached, whereas the Mopani is plastic wrapped, (not sure why??), but it is tricky when buying as none of it is labelled properly - lol

 

[loubega]

Sounds like both of yours are the mopani, from what I remember from teh sutff at P@H the bogwood was just in the box, with the tags attached, whereas the Mopani is plastic wrapped, (not sure why??), but it is tricky when buying as none of it is labelled properly - lol

yea its in a box down the bottom, all for 4.99 its very cheap, however i think mine is mopani even though it wasnt wrapped!

you been back to dunstable p@h yet? I refuse to buy fish from there...i only buy food etc...

 

[Miss_Donna]

I'm guessing that p@h Dunstable is not a good fish seller

I went to our local p@h the other day and was disgusted at the amount of dead fish in the tanks and the amount that had whitespot but no sign on tanks to say under treatment or anything

 

[Schmill]

To be honest when I first started I would not have bought any fish from P@H (in dunstable), but they were quite good on equipment prices, (REALLY good in fact on an APS400 airpump they had mispriced but honoured it anyway ), and their bogwood prices seemed pretty good too for the 2 lumps I got.
Looked at fish a couple of times in there since and I have to say things are looking much better, last time I went in there were even some of the tanks clearly labelled as being under quarantine!
When I bought the bogwood, a helpful chap there just wandered up to me and said;

"whatever it says on it about it being presoaked ignore it, still soak it or better still boil it for a few hours if you want most of the tannins to come out. Otherwise they will colour your water, it's not a problem and not dangerous but you might not like it"

Looking up I expected to see a fellow fish keeper, and how surprised was I to see the green shirt of a P@H employee!

In summary, I would have NEVER bought fish from there before, but now I would at least consider it. Of course always check the state of the fish and the tanks before hand, but now they have managed to at least escape my "No-No-Never" stamp!

 

[loubega]

To be honest when I first started I would not have bought any fish from P@H (in dunstable), but they were quite good on equipment prices, (REALLY good in fact on an APS400 airpump they had mispriced but honoured it anyway ), and their bogwood prices seemed pretty good too for the 2 lumps I got.
Looked at fish a couple of times in there since and I have to say things are looking much better, last time I went in there were even some of the tanks clearly labelled as being under quarantine!
When I bought the bogwood, a helpful chap there just wandered up to me and said;

"whatever it says on it about it being presoaked ignore it, still soak it or better still boil it for a few hours if you want most of the tannins to come out. Otherwise they will colour your water, it's not a problem and not dangerous but you might not like it"

Looking up I expected to see a fellow fish keeper, and how surprised was I to see the green shirt of a P@H employee!

In summary, I would have NEVER bought fish from there before, but now I would at least consider it. Of course always check the state of the fish and the tanks before hand, but now they have managed to at least escape my "No-No-Never" stamp!

sounds like u had a good experience...i must agree the prices of bogwood and equipement are ver5y competitive....however, it must be the time of the week i go, but there are always employees mucking about with the fish, and even teasing the oscars.....he was saying how he puts his finger in there and wiggles it about to wind them up.....he then talks about how all the other shops call dunstable....dumpstable....not far from the truth!

Also he suggested i put bala sharks in my tank.....a 70l hex tank....i dont think so....

anyway back to topic...sounds like we have agreed that the bio-film should be ok but i have found that a salt soak and scrub gets rid of it...

 

[OldMan47]

I know nothing about P@H because they don't exist here in the states. For driftwood or bogwood you want to look for well dried, not green or fresh, wood that is very dense. If a piece of wood seems nice and light in your hand, put it back on the shelf. When you pick up a piece that would do well in your tank, it should seem a bit heavy for a piece that size. Around here, some of the nicest looking pieces with very interesting shapes are actually grapevine. Although they are carried by pet shops and are beautiful pieces, they are OK for reptiles but not for aquariums. Driftwood is actually any wood that has been carried by water and washed ashore somewhere. What is sold as driftwood is often cut and cured wood from a commercial enterprise and has never seen water in a natural setting. If you stick with the dry, hard, heavy pieces that are offered, it will generally be OK for your aquarium. If you find soft or pithy wood, no matter how nice it looks, put it back on the shelf and look at the next piece. Soft woods will generally degrade and fall apart quickly in your tank.