What to do with bogwood and live plants??

[pahansen]

Someone wiser can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like there are two separate issues here.

im adding some bogwood and live plants to my tank with fish in it, and i dont want the ph or anything to be affected???

Definitely follow the suggestions about the tannins. Boiling or soaking can go a long way to cut down on the tannins from your tank. I still had problems for a couple of months (not terrible), but then they went away. Other people always have some amount of color because of the tannins. I think it depends on the particular piece of wood. You can use carbon in your filter to help remove the tannins if you choose.

I think the pH question is different, however. I was of the impression that the leaching tannins are not what cause the change in pH, but that they were two different issues. Anyone know for sure? Regardless of that, unless you have fish that require very high pH or your tank is already at a very low pH, the wood shouldn't affect your tank too much. It may lower the pH a bit, but it won't do so quickly enough to shock your fish. It also is unlikely to change the pH so extremely that your fish will be unable to adjust. So I wouldn't be too concerned about the pH.

As far as plants are concerned, rinse them well to get any "junk" off of them, and then go over them well to find any "hangers on", such as snails. I also soak mine in a potassium permanganate solution for about ten minutes to kill bacteria. I use Jungle Products' "Clear Water". I put the plant, some water, and about 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of Clear Water in a gallon Ziplock bag, and just let it sit. Be careful -- it will stain. After that, you can strip the bottom few leaves from stem plants and cut off the bottom of the stem before you plant. That will encourage the plant to root quickly. Don't do this with any other kind of plant, though, or you're likely to kill it. Also, if you've bought a plant that's potted, has a lead ring/weight, or has rock wool wound around the base, remove those before washing and planting. And just like any other kind of plant, remove sickly looking leaves or stems before you plant.

Good luck,
Pamela

 

[Matty]

thanks..so carbon in the filter to remove stain?

 

[nshockeyplaya]

Okay thanks, yea i was thinking about doing a java fern or a sword. Also, what do tannens look like?

Also, is ther a difference between bogwood and driftwood???

 

[pahansen]

Tannins will look like a gold to brown color/tinge in your water. Think of the color of dark (not herbal or green) tea -- tea gets much of its color from tannins as well. That should give you an idea of what to look for. Again, the tannins will not harm your fish, and removing them from the water is a matter of personal preference. Some people enjoy that look and consider it to be more natural.

As for bogwood and driftwood, the difference is where the wood is harvested. Here is a quote from The Skeptical Aquarist (http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/aquascaping/wood.shtml):

The real definition of bogwood is wood that has stood for years in an acidic peat bog and has consequently leached out its tannins and has acquired a dark color. Bogwood hasn't rotted, because the low pH of a bog discourages fungal spores and most bacteria. "Driftwood" from saltwater beaches has been leached in saltwater and bleached by the sun to its familiar gray. Driftwood darkens when it's wet.

Basically, if the wood you like is silvery gray or blonde, it is probably driftwood. If it is a dark brown or black, it is probably bogwood. Again, this is a matter of personal preference on which to choose. Bogwood tends to be "craggier" and looks like a dark chocolate color underwater. Driftwood tends to be smoother, frequently looks more like a log than bogwood, and is a lighter color underwater. Which wood you choose will probably have more to do with aesthetics than anything else.

Good luck,
Pamela