Help With Bogwood And Changing Substrate

[robinreliant23]

BOGWOOD

Started a new fish-in tank last weekend (yes I know should have gone fishless but took advise from LFS - doh!). Tank is still currently cycling. Anyhoo bought some bogwood, soaked it in some cold water for a few hours when I got it home and then plonked it in the tank. Firstly it appears to have leaked tannins into the water - was there something I should have done/could do to stop this as the LFS didn't advise anything? But not only that it now seems to have started getting what looks like a grey'ish white fuzzy fur in places on it. In some places it looks like cobwebs you find on ceilings sometimes. I've tried to upload a photo below - hope it's worked!

What is this? Is it normal? Will it hurt my fish? Should I get rid of it / how do I get rid of it? Is there any fish that might like to munch on it?


SUBSTRATE

The substrate in my tank is gravel and I'm actually now wishing I'd put in sand. Could I go about changing my substrate but how will this affect the cycling of my tank - and how is the best way to change it?


Thanks for your patience with me guys, total newbie here and all I seem to be doing is bombarding questions left right and centre

 

[SchottayB]

Bogwood can take weeks / months to soak before it stops releasing a great deal of tannis in the tank. I do belive it will always stain the water though just over time not as bad.

I think the webb stuff on the wood is fine (but i'm not 100%) sure others have had the same thing and other members said things like: it's fine, fish will eat it etc... but don't take my word for it yet lol.

The gravel to sand thing, you will have to find something to hold your fish in (bucket with your tank water, filter and heater in). Then take the rest of the water / deco out of the tank. Remove all the gravel and put the sand in (wash it well! or will go verry cloudy in the water).

For the cycle thing being effected, I don't think so. The filter is what hold the most, if not all the good bactira you need in the tank. So as long as you keep this wet (in the bucket holding your fish) while you change it, then replace the water in the tank when you have sand in (dechlorinate the water) you'll be good imo.

 

[robinreliant23]

Bogwood can take weeks / months to soak before it stops releasing a great deal of tannis in the tank. I do belive it will always stain the water though just over time not as bad.

I think the webb stuff on the wood is fine (but i'm not 100%) sure others have had the same thing and other members said things like: it's fine, fish will eat it etc... but don't take my word for it yet lol.

The gravel to sand thing, you will have to find something to hold your fish in (bucket with your tank water, filter and heater in). Then take the rest of the water / deco out of the tank. Remove all the gravel and put the sand in (wash it well! or will go verry cloudy in the water).

For the cycle thing being effected, I don't think so. The filter is what hold the most, if not all the good bactira you need in the tank. So as long as you keep this wet (in the bucket holding your fish) while you change it, then replace the water in the tank when you have sand in (dechlorinate the water) you'll be good imo.

Thank you Replaced the substrate yesterday to black sand - looks awesome! Plus my cory's will love it and the neons will look great against it!

Anyone else have any ideas about the web stuff on my driftwood? To be sure I boiled the whole lot yesterday and it's currently sitting in a large bucket of water out the garden. BTW just to confirm (as I popped back to the LFS yesterday) -- it's DRIFTWOOD not bogwood - it's also very soft and breaks up very easily!

 

[fluttermoth]

I think I'd just discard that bit and get a different piece. It's not good if it's falling apart; it'll just make a mess.

You shouldn't really boil wood as it 'cooks' the fibres and makes it rot. Just pouring hot water over it is enough.

 

[robinreliant23]

I think I'd just discard that bit and get a different piece. It's not good if it's falling apart; it'll just make a mess.

You shouldn't really boil wood as it 'cooks' the fibres and makes it rot. Just pouring hot water over it is enough.

Oh all 3 pieces I got from the same LFS are soft with small bits flaking off at the touch and yes does make a mess! I didn't boil it as such, I just poured boiling water over it all and let it soak in it.

 

[fluttermoth]

Hmm, it shouldn't be falling to bits like that.

 

[Harlequins]

What fish have you got in there atm for your fish-in cycle?

I would advise against adding neons or corys until your fully cycled...

Anyhows back to the driftwood,i would take it back to lfs if you can and get Bogwood or mopani wood If its too soft its just going to rot away in your tank.

 

[robinreliant23]

What fish have you got in there atm for your fish-in cycle?

I would advise against adding neons or corys until your fully cycled...

Anyhows back to the driftwood,i would take it back to lfs if you can and get Bogwood or mopani wood If its too soft its just going to rot away in your tank.

well i've been reading NOT to trust your LFS who you would think would be knowledgeable and helpful so made the fatal mistake of letting me take hom 6 neon tetras to cycle the tank. i lost one on day 2 but still have 5 but they are currently being attacked by Ich

think i'll keep my eye out for some nice mopani wood during my lfs rounds

 

[dtaylor21184]

I don't think the cobweb stuff is anything serious I got it when I put my wood in took about a week for it to stop appearing after brushing it off a few times