Totally Driftwood Aquascape

[Exiled]

To say I love driftwood is an understatement. Driftwood is mysterious, alive, and just beautiful. I would like to include lots of driftwood in my new 55g tank and need to know what cichlids like this type of habitat.
Thanks!

 

[De Plano]

You do want to think about what kind of wood it is. There are some woods that would not be good for fish, or some fish that certan woods are not good for. From what little I know, I would think that African lake cichlids are out. The lakes they live in are pretty baron and rocky. One book I have says to keep them in water with a pH between 8.6 and 9.2 and should 250 to 300 mg/liter CaCO3. The driftwood would not be good for that. You could coat it with a polyurethane varnish, but given some cichlids odd behaviour I think some might still peck at it to get the algae. Eating the varnish wouldn't be too good for the fish.

BUT there are plenty of other fish to choose from. A lot of dwarf cichlids and probably some of the South American ones would do great I would think.

Do you want a suggestion of cichlids or any kind of fish that would do good in a tank with a lot of wood?

Driftwood also should be defined a bit. Do you mean driftwood you can get at a LFS or stuff you actually collect? If you collect it, do you get it from the ocean, rivers, or lakes?

I have no idea whether they sell driftwood at your lfs. I live right near the beach, so I would have no idea whether it would be treated or what.

Not quite sure if I helped or just added more questions.

Basically it comes down to did you have your heart set on African lake cichlids or any cichlid? Or even necessarily cichlids?

 

[CFC]

You would be better off looking at South American species if the driftwood is going to be the main feature of the tank but you could also try a west african river set up where the fish also preffer the soft acidic conditions assosiated with driftwood, the most common cichlid imported from this area would probably be pelvachromis species ( particually pulcher, aka kribensis) though others to try if you can find them would be chromidotiapia species, hemichromis species (jewel cichlids, VERY aggresive) as well african blockheads (Steatocranus casuarius, would need a strong pump to provide water movement and a clear sandy area) or Tilapia joka.

 

[Exiled]

Thanks Deplano and CFC,

The driftwood I plan to use has been cleaned and treated and market specifically for use in aquariums, so hopefully I won't end up with wood-soup. I am going to get some giant buckets at Home Depot to soak them. Is soaking them in Tap water ok? or should I use something else like distilled? Unfortuantly, all the ponds around here are frozen, I don't think I'll be able to use pond water. Maybe I can melt some snow falling in great abundance (much to my chagrin ) Maybe I can put it to good use.
--It would also be nice for me to find rocks in "the wild" rather than buy them. Do you know how to test them for their chemical compounds?
Thanks for the book suggestion. I'm dying to leave the house to go to the bookstore/library but still waiting on the tank and stand delivery.

-- I definatly want to do Cichlids.... I've always wanted to but never had the space for a larger tank. I can't believe how much I'v learned about them in the last 24 hours! They are facinating! I find it unfortunate that the requirements of South American versus African Cichlids are so opposite. ( also it means I have a lot more to learn) Guess I'll have to get a second tank somewhere down the line!
--If I go with SA Cichlids, I will most likely be fighting with the pH a bit. The water is here is very hard and alky. I'm not yet experienced with how much driftwood effects pH, but I guess I'll find out while the tank cycles.
--If I go with African Cichlids, won't adding crushed coral and calciferous rocks to the substrate counteract the acidity/low GH caused by the wood? Also, my tap water is naturally hard and alkaline. I will be letting the tank stabalize for weeks prior to adding any critters, so I'll see what sort of water I end up with once the wood, and rocks and live plants stabalize in the tank.
PS. Am I correct in my understanding that driftwood causes a low GH as well as low pH?

 

[Exiled]

OK ok..... driftwood is OUT. Learning alot last few days..... since I decided on africans, so not using driftwood for this tank.

Anyone wanna buy some really BIG gorgeous pieces of driftwood? Your purchase will fund my actually being able to stock my tank with fish someday

 

[LesGerber]

I have to agree with the others about the driftwood in the african tank. As they said they prefer a more rocky bottom as to anything. The ph stated is about right too.....My tanks stay at around 8.2 so my water is pretty good. Another thing to watch with using drift wood is that it leeches tanin into the water....this is not so bad but it makes your pretty tank look dirty..... Save it for the South Americans.
Right now I have a huge hunk of wood in with a few Malawis and I havent noticed much if any drop in pH in my tank.If you are wanting to lower your pH naturally I suggest you use peat moss in your filtration. It helps lower and stablize levels for you.

Where are you at.....I may be interested in the wood you have if you are here in the States. I always have people asking about getting good wood, that is if I dont use it all myself.......shoot me an email or pm and we can talk.....Also got several S. Fryeri Electric Blue Haps that are 5 weeks old too and they are sweet for a Malawi Tank

Let Me Know


Les

 

[zaman]

yah, if you wanna keep the driftwood you can go with the southamerican cichlids (Angels, Rams, Discus. etc.)

 

[james41683]

i have driftwood in my malawi tank, its been in there since i set it up and the ph is constantly 8.0. the wood has alot of holes and hiding spots and the fish treat it the same as they would rock work, defending it, picking off algae. i purchased mine directly from the tanks at the store i get all of my fish from, its already sinks and all of the tannins have been released before it got it.