Wood

[kizno1]

its misted up my tank a little im going to do a water change tomorrow when i get some dechlorie stuff will that get red of it
and theres somethink growing on it its been in there for a few days and this morning i noticed somethink on it sorry the pics arent very good but theres yellow and misseded egg like things but it dosnt look like theres any fry in the egg theres a load of bubles coming out the wood is this ok some of they clear things in the pic r bubles but i cant get them to go when i wipe them of they just come straight back
i dont think there fish eggs because the only egglayers in my tank are 2 corys and 2 glowlights but they do look like eggs
http/img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00115h.jpg
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http/img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00101ntu.jpg
http/img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00104m.jpg
http/img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00087c.jpg

 

[shelaghfishface]

the colour is quite normal, its tannins leaking from the wood, its actually good for the fish, i was relieved when mine started colouring ( the water that is) as it gave it a "not so new setup" look
no idea what the egg/bubble things are tho, im sure someone else will be able to help, if your not keen on the colouration of the water you could try running some carbon in the filter but its not harmfull

shelagh xxx

 

[kizno1]

bump

 

[saltynay]

The bubbles are probably just the air escaping as its replaced by water although they may be snail eggs which have hitchiked on plants or the wood. The colouration are the natural tannins in the wood leeching out it is a mild tonic and will promote beneficial bacteria growth and some species will only spawn when in tannin enriched water. To remove it you should of prepped the wood properly to greatly reduced the amount released but to late now so do 15% water changes everyday with activated carbon running in the filter.

 

[kizno1]

the man at the lfs said i could just put it stright in and i dont think there snali eggs because i havent brought any plants in about 2 mounths all ive brought is the wood and coconuts and the wood was on a shelf dry so thats why i was thinking it could be a insect

 

[saltynay]

Just because he owns or works at a shop doesn't mean he knows squat about the merchandise, it could easily be an insect egg and if it is your fish will most likely eat whatever larvae emerges. If you don't want tannins then you should of boiled and soaked the wood for a couple of days also its always best for any ornament or plant to be placed in a weak bleach solution and gently scrubbed to be 100% sure there are no hitchhikers if you don't want any surprise additions.

 

[kizno1]

ok thanx i might try and scrub it later and see if i can get them off

 

[saltynay]

1 part bleach to 10 parts water should be good enough and soak it for about 3-4 mins then go to town with a soft brush as its wood and not particularly delicate then wash several times until your happy the bleach is gone.

 

[tenohfive]

Just want to clarify...you refer to some, "dechlor stuff" in your OP. You do already use some form of dechlorinator during water changes and when setting up the tank, don't you?

 

[kizno1]

yh i just run out

 

[snowflake311]

I was just reading up on Mopani wood and about this film that I always seem to get on it with every chunk I buy. Here is a link to some great info on the stuff.

scroll down and read about Fungi on wood
"http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/aquascaping/wood.shtml
I found it very interesting and it is really nothing to worry about and you should just let it work it's self out. I have this film stuff in my new tank too. I's gross but really not bad.

Enjoy the link.

The color is just tannins no big deal at all. My newly set up tank is the color of tea right now. I'm waiting for my filter to come so my wood is just soaking and doing its thing in the tank. I soaked it in hot water for a week then just decided to put it in. I find it takes longer for the tannins to stop leaching the fungus stuff goes away fairly quickly. A few weeks where the tannins can leach out for months.

 

[kizno1]

i took it out the tank and skrubes it with a toothbush and now theres all sticky honey coloured stuff all over the tootbrush waht is is?

 

[snowflake311]

i took it out the tank and skrubes it with a toothbush and now theres all sticky honey coloured stuff all over the tootbrush waht is is?

Sounds like sap. Yup your wood is oozing sap for sure. I'm not sure what to do about sap. Do you know what kind of wood it is? It sounds like a pretty fresh chunk of wood to e leaking sap.

"Don't use any fresh "live" wood or root or bamboo. Whatever the source, wood that is suitable for aquarium use must have first lost its greenwood and sap. Elements in the sap, even in dried sap, may pollute the water or be toxic to fish. The sap in wood all runs in the cambium layer right under the bark. The bark itself is corky and fairly inert, except for some tannins and other polyphenols. If you don't want a blackwater stain, it's always a good idea to strip away any remaining bark. The part of wood that can be used in the aquarium is the weathered "skeleton" of wood, composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. These stable molecules are assembled from long strings of polysaccharides, linked by chemical bonds that break down only very slowly in water, by a combination of fungal and bacterial enzymes.

Most wood you choose will be safe once it's weathered, but I'd avoid "turpentiney" conifers, such as pine, fir, juniper, cedar, etc. Those sharp-smelling resins may turn out to be low-grade toxins."

-http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/aquascaping/wood.shtml


Sounds like you are going to have to work on weathering your wood.

 

[kizno1]

how do i weather it

 

[saltynay]

Use a wire brush to remove any rot. Strip the wood of any bark. Prepare a large plastic container by cleaning it and filling it with clean water. Tupperware or Sterilite work well. Dump in a couple handfuls salt and mix it well. This salt-water solution will help draw out any impurities and dehydrate many organisms on or in the wood. Weight down the wood with rocks, submerging it completely and cover the container with a lid. The wood will most likely leach tannins, turning the water brownish looking. Soak it for a couple weeks, changing the water daily. Try to soak it until it sinks on it's own and stops leaching tannins into the water. The length of time you need to soak it is largely dependant on how sun bleached it is to begin with. When you feel it has soaked long enough, rinse it well.

Sterilizing the wood.

There are two ways to sterilize the driftwood – Boiling and Baking. Boiling or baking will kill anything the salt water did not and keep your fish safe. There are pros and cons to either method.

Many times, boiling the wood is impractical unless you have a very large pot the wood will fit in. Boiling tends to stink up the house a bit. But, with boiling, there is less risk of the wood catching fire. Boiling also helps to ensure the wood will sink when added to the aquarium. If you choose to use this method, boil it well for at least an hour at a full rolling boil. Make sure the water covers the wood at all times.

Another method is to bake the wood in an oven on low heat (200 degrees F) for several hours. I prefer my old outdoor gas grill. Usually the wood fits nicely inside and I can close the lid and simmer it on low heat for as long as I like. When baking the wood, keep a careful eye on it. The dry heat of baking can allow the wood to catch fire, so check on it frequently.

Adding the wood.

The natural realistic driftwood addition makes any tank look spectacular and many fish and live plants love it. At first, your new driftwood may float again and you may need to attach it to a piece of slate or stone to weigh it down. There are different methods of achieving this. Your new wood may also leach more tannins into the water column for a period of time. This should not last forever and adding carbon to your filter will help to remove them. If it does leach tannins, they will not harm your fish. Keep an eye on things for a while and soon your driftwood will become an established part of your aquarium. Watch for mold growth or other abnormalities and you should be fine. You and your fish may now enjoy your new DIY driftwood.