Large Twigy Bogwood Any Good For Malawi's

[jamesmacc]

hey folks. quick question, seen a huge twigy piece of bogwood for sale that would look great in my tank. my tank is going to be a malawi tank, i would say there is plenty of hiding places in and around the wood but im worried that the wood might not make them as happy as swimming around rocks. if anyone can advise me on this then id be very gratefull.
cheers, james

 

[KittyKat]

You will need to have rockwork regardless of whether you will have any wood or not. You will also need to make sure the pH/water hardness remain high for the Malawi fish.

If you can satisfy both of those conditions, there's no reason to not have the wood. I did used to keep wood in my Mbuna tank for the plecos, with success.

 

[fishprotector]

I thought Bogwood lowers the PH of the water? I suppose that if you are going to use buffers anyway, then this would not really matter, but if your not using them then it might be worth keeping in mind.

 

[KittyKat]

I thought Bogwood lowers the PH of the water? I suppose that if you are going to use buffers anyway, then this would not really matter, but if your not using them then it might be worth keeping in mind.

Bogwood *may* lower pH, it's not guaranteed (it depends on the water parameters). It is also common to use reef bones and/or coral sand in Malawi tanks to make sure that the pH remains high, both of which act as long term buffers.

(I do recommend that additives are NOT used because unless the KH is maintained, the pH will crash, which will harm the fish.)

 

[Malawi MaD]

Bogwood would be a no no if you ask me. I've heard of a few bad experiences with having bogwood in a malawi setup.

 

[jamesmacc]

thanks for the advise guys, i wont be getting bogwood, just rocks

 

[KittyKat]

Bogwood would be a no no if you ask me. I've heard of a few bad experiences with having bogwood in a malawi setup.

What were these?

 

[Malawi MaD]

Bogwood would be a no no if you ask me. I've heard of a few bad experiences with having bogwood in a malawi setup.

What were these?

Well it was with Wild's (Mbuna) so i acknowledge the fact that they are alot more temperamental than TB fish. The experiences I've been told are the fact that the water parameters are just to inadequate for whats needed to successfully keep malawi's happy and healthy. Another thing I've heard is when it comes to water changes the water parameters fluctuate way to much causing the fish to be really stressed out and eventually dying on you in a pretty short space of time, but me personally thinks that's the owners fault for not matching the water quality that left the tank shocking the fish which killed them. I think as long as the wood doesn't release tannen in the water it should be ok. Personally though i just think why risk it, It looks pretty unnatural anyway IMO but if its for you then go for it . Just remeber to find the right wood/bogwood.

 

[KittyKat]

Another thing I've heard is when it comes to water changes the water parameters fluctuate way to much causing the fish to be really stressed out and eventually dying on you in a pretty short space of time, but me personally thinks that's the owners fault for not matching the water quality that left the tank shocking the fish which killed them.

Agreed! The water in the tank should be stable at whatever the acid from the wood vs. alkalinity from the rocks/substrate settles out at.

I think as long as the wood doesn't release tannen in the water it should be ok. Personally though i just think why risk it, It looks pretty unnatural anyway IMO but if its for you then go for it .

The only benefit I can see in using wood is for plecos to eat as many will not do well without it.

 

[Malawi MaD]

Another thing I've heard is when it comes to water changes the water parameters fluctuate way to much causing the fish to be really stressed out and eventually dying on you in a pretty short space of time, but me personally thinks that's the owners fault for not matching the water quality that left the tank shocking the fish which killed them.

Agreed! The water in the tank should be stable at whatever the acid from the wood vs. alkalinity from the rocks/substrate settles out at.

I think as long as the wood doesn't release tannen in the water it should be ok. Personally though i just think why risk it, It looks pretty unnatural anyway IMO but if its for you then go for it .

The only benefit I can see in using wood is for plecos to eat as many will not do well without it.

Yeah that's me opinion to if you have plec's then bogwood would be a good idea. Although if your looking for that type of fish 'bottom feeder' then synodontis petricola or bristlenose pleco work well with malawi's