Planted Bogwood And How To Introduce It To My Tank

[rodders666]

Hi,
 
I picked a piece of planted bogwood up from my lfs today. It's one that was in their tanks so I know it's been looked after, however, I would normally boil a piece before putting in to a tank (to kill any nasties and/or surprise stowaways; I had a pest snail problem before because of my mistake so learnt the hard way) but I've never bought one that's planted before so I assume boiling it is out of the question as it will kill the java fern that's on it.
 
So, what can I do to ensure the plant lives but nothing else does?
 
 
Thanks.

 

[Munroco]

You could put it in a small container and use a snail treatment. As long as you know that when you introduce it to your aquarium it will have traces of the treatment on it which would probably prove fatal to any invertebrates you have in your main.

 

[Byron]

I would do nothing, except keep it in a QT (quarantine tank) like you would (should) do for new fish.  If the store tank had fish in it, then objects like wet wood and plants could carry fish problems (pathogens, protozoan, parasites).  But I would not go beyond this.
 
Any substances added to water in which the wood is placed will get inside the wood, as Neil mentioned.  These can leech out much later, harming fish, invertebrates, bacteria, whatever.  It is wisest never to use any chemical or substance that has the possibility of getting into the water with live fish.  At the very least, these substances do cause stress to fish, and possibly much worse.
 
Snails are not a problem, ever, though I understand some people dislike them or don't want them.  But they are extremely beneficial, and I consider them an important past of an aquarium's biology.
 
Byron.

 

[rodders666]

Thanks to you both, I'm always reluctant to use any sort of chemical so want to avoid that.

It's not so much snails, I'm bothered about other types of bugs.
 
What, apart from snails, could potentially be in bogwood from a lfs?

 

[Byron]

Thanks to you both, I'm always reluctant to use any sort of chemical so want to avoid that.

It's not so much snails, I'm bothered about other types of bugs.
 
What, apart from snails, could potentially be in bogwood from a lfs?

 
Answering your question...pathogens from fish, if fish were in that tank, is the main concern.  Simply defined, pathogens are organisms that cause disease in other organisms.  Of course, no one can ever be absolutely certain that any piece of wood, rock, or any fish is free of all pathogens.  Quarantining new acquisitions in a fishless tank for several weeks helps, though something may still be there.
 
Aside from the above, wood in water will assimilate almost anything dissolved in the water, and this may not leech out for months, even years.  But I believe there is a limit to our caution; I have a lot of real wood, purchased from fish stores, in my tanks, and have had for 20+ years (different wood I mean, not the same wood...it does eventually rot).  Only twice have I had problems; once, something toxic (never found out what exactly) began leeching out from a huge chunk of wood after I had it for at least two years, and on another more recent occasion I had some toxic fungus in a branch of wood that I think was grapewood.  But considering all the chunks of wood, and the benefits of this wood to the fish as well as the aquascape, it is worth the minimal risk provided you take some degree of reasonable caution.
 
Byron.

 

[StevenF]

I have heard of people dipping plants briefly in salt water to kill snails although I am not sure how much salt per gallon to use.  After the dip rinse of the wood and plant and put it back in the fresh water quarantine tank to insure most of the salt is removed and all the bug are killed.  Repeat the dip if necessary. Be sure to cycle the water frequently in the quarantine  and monitor the GH (water harness) or TDS (total disolved solids).  Once the GH or TDS  valves are equal or lower than the water you put in your tank, and it is bug free, you could move it into your regular tank.   

 

[rodders666]

Thanks again, wood is currently soaking in some dechlorinated water which I'll leave overnight and see what's what.

 

[Byron]

Thanks again, wood is currently soaking in some dechlorinated water which I'll leave overnight and see what's what.

 
Ironically, you might want to soak the wood in chlorinated water.  Chlorine does after all kill bacteria, which is why it is added to drinking water.  Though if your water authority also uses chloramine, I frankly would not do this.  Chlorine readily dissipates out of water, and even if some did leech out of the wood it would have no effect on the fish.  Chloramine is different though.
 
I'm luck I only have chlorine in my tap water, and if fish are not present in a tank, such as the new fish quarantine after the fish have been moved out, I do 100% water changes without dechlorinating the water.  Plants are fine, as they need chlorine.

 

[rodders666]

 

Thanks again, wood is currently soaking in some dechlorinated water which I'll leave overnight and see what's what.

 
Ironically, you might want to soak the wood in chlorinated water.  Chlorine does after all kill bacteria, which is why it is added to drinking water.  Though if your water authority also uses chloramine, I frankly would not do this.  Chlorine readily dissipates out of water, and even if some did leech out of the wood it would have no effect on the fish.  Chloramine is different though.
 
I'm luck I only have chlorine in my tap water, and if fish are not present in a tank, such as the new fish quarantine after the fish have been moved out, I do 100% water changes without dechlorinating the water.  Plants are fine, as they need chlorine.
 

 
I have my water supplier information and see no mention of chloramine there.
 
After soaking it for a few hours I did have a passenger, some sort of shrimp. Only looked like a baby and unfortunately in trying to remove it I squished it (RIP Shrimpy).
 
As my tank is newly cycled (final readings today after adding a full dose of ammonia yesterday is Ammonia/Nitrite both Zero, Nitrate up at 40+) I won't be risking any fish in putting the wood in, so I will put it in later when I do the big water change so I can arrange my tank with little water in.
I'm going to snack dose the tank every few days until I've decided on my first group of fish (I won't be fully stocking at once as I want Neon Tetras in further down the line when it's matured).

 

[Ch4rlie]

I completely concur with Byron's assessments of what to do with wood before adding to you main tank.
 
Though I have never boiled wood, ever, I think this is a pointless practice and only serves to quicken the breakdown of the wood.
 
I have, however, poured hot/boiling water directly over the wood to get rid of any potentail nasties in the wood and then I put the wood in a plastic tub and simply added untreated water directly from the tap, I also add an airstone run with airpump at max or a small powerhead just to create a little bit of flow to go around the wood, leave alone for 2 or 3 weeks, then pour hot /boiling water over the wood once more and rinse under the tap and finally add to the tank.
 
I do change the water in the tub of its especially brown with tannins after a week or so, just simply replace with untreated clean cold water.
 
This is simply my way of doing things with any wood before adding to the tank.
Doing things this way serves several purposes, one is to try to ensure the wood is safe to add, two to help get rid of the worst of the tannins from the wood, and finally to ensure the wood is completely waterlogged and sinks to the bottom of the tank. Many new pieces of wood from LFS has not been waterlogged and will therefore float for weeks, if not months, so by putting the wood in a tub with water and weighted or tied down with whatever is safe to hand and this helps that process of waterlogging.
 
Though have never bought a piece of wood with plants as this tends to be a bit of a pricey way of doing things but I have been tempted in the past, but the full procedure as above would still be done plus possibly adding a drop or two of ferts into the tub once or twice during the 2 or 3 weeks if you have that just to help keep the plant nourished and healthy. Also would bar the pouring of hot/boiling water as this would likely kill the plant.

 

[Alasse]

I put any new wood or plants that come from the lfs or fellow fishkeepers in vinegar water with some 'no planaria' added, then i give it a good rinse and into a tank that has loaches for the day, just to be sure lol

 

[rodders666]

Ok, I'll be leaving it to soak a while. This piece was in their planted wood tank so it is already waterlogged and sinks. I spoke to the guy today at the shop and he insists it's safe to put in as all that is in the tank they have is tap water treated with API Stress Coat+ and as we're in the same post code the water itself is all the same.

I'll still leave it to soak as after finding the shrimp i want to see if anything else ventures out.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Here is an example of what i do with new wood, I bought a new piece of bogwood from LFS, wasnt the cheapest but I liked it and is solid and chunky.
 
I asked LFS if the wood has been in one of their holding tanks ith fish, he said no, just in a large container with other pieces of wood and left to soak until it sank / waterlogged. Even better, all that was done inside the building, so likely not exposed to dragonflies and other egg laying creatures. Perfect!
 
Took it home and put it in a bucket with clean tap water and a small powerhead was added for water circulation -
 
                          
 
 
Now, knowing this wood has not been in a tank with fish, so it has likely not really been exposed to posiible pathogens, already waterlogged, I have scrubbed it with a scourer and poured boiling water over it and this is one will only be in the bucket just for a day or so then will add to my tank starightaway.
 
However, this is one example of exactly what we do not want, found this -
 
                           
 
 
A rusty metal staple.
 
LFS likely did this to put the price label on the wood but I did not see it until now, if i had not put it in the bucket and noticed this at corner of my eye,  I would have not seen this and would have been added to my tank.
 
This may or may not be have been harmful for fish but for inverts and shrimps its a risk I would not be willing to take as am sure rusting metal would have some toxins that may be harmful, ok, just one staple and would be trace amounts but one of these things I am not going to try and find out with.
 
Reckon thats a nice example of what to look out for when purchasing and soaking new bog or drift wood.

 

[rodders666]

I asked LFS if the wood has been in one of their holding tanks ith fish, he said no, just in a large container with other pieces of wood and left to soak until it sank / waterlogged. Even better, all that was done inside the building, so likely not exposed to dragonflies and other egg laying creatures. Perfect!
 
Now, knowing this wood has not been in a tank with fish, so it has likely not really been exposed to posiible pathogens, already waterlogged, I have scrubbed it with a scourer and poured boiling water over it and this is one will only be in the bucket just for a day or so then will add to my tank starightaway.
 
A rusty metal staple.
 
LFS likely did this to put the price label on the wood but I did not see it until now, if i had not put it in the bucket and noticed this at corner of my eye,  I would have not seen this and would have been added to my tank.
 
Reckon thats a nice example of what to look out for when purchasing and soaking new bog or drift wood.

 
My lfs keep their sale wood separate from fish. 
 
I've scrubbed parts not covered by plant/roots with a small hard bristle brush and that's how I found the rogue shrimp, I'm still to see anything else.