bogwood and hiding places

[platypus]

Hi everyone,

I've heard that bogwood is a really nice addition to a tank and the fish really like it - I was wondering can anyone tell me why this is so? I want to put some more decoration in my 70 litre tank, especially because I'd like more hiding places for my clown loaches ever since my over-amorous male dwarf gourami nicked their favourite den when he got the horn and started creating a bubble nest ! They now have nowhere left to dash back to after a stint of synchronised swimming. I already have a couple of rocks and some nice live plants, but no caves as such. Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Alien Anna]

Bogwood helps soften and acidify water if you have hard, alkaline water, which helps a lot of fish. It also looks very natural and is nice with fish who live in pools with branches and roots of trees in the water - such as the natural pools that many of our fish live in in the wild.

You can get traditional, dark bogwood. It doesn't usually rot in water because it comes from trees that naturally grow in the water and has been "seasoned" for a long time. They sell chunks in most LFS, but you have to rummage about to find pieces you like. It does tend to stain your water a little brown, although this can be reduced by pre-boiling and soaking it.

You can also get Mopani root, which is wood that has been sand-blasted and theretically doesn't stain your water, especially if pre-soaked or boiled (I discovered this too late). It does look very attractive, however, with striped patterns on it.

My feeling is that you can't have too much bogwood (unless you have African Cichlids). You can then attach anubias and Java Ferns to the wood to make it look even nicer. Go wild! Your fish will love you for it!

 

[platypus]

Thanks AA! I will head off to my LFS at the weekend, mopani wood sounds ace. Incidentally, how did you get to be so wise ?!

 

[platypus]

Ooh sorry forgot to say, I have one rummy nose tetra in my tank who likes slightly alkaline water (ph is pretty neutral at the moment though). Do you think bogwood will make him if it turns water acidic?

 

[Alien Anna]

Thanks AA! I will head off to my LFS at the weekend, mopani wood sounds ace. Incidentally, how did you get to be so wise ?!

It's easy - just obsess about nothing but fish keeping for 18 months, read nothing but books on fish and make sure to steer every single conversation around to the subject of fish, regardless of whether the listener is the slightest bit interested or not!

My psychologist says such obsessiveness is a symptom of my disability (Asperger's Syndrome), but I consider it one of the gifts

My family and friends beg to differ, although I've so far badgered two of them into getting fish of their own and another is being turned as we speak. There's only so much anyone can take!

But if anyone complains, I remind them that they find it more interesting than my Babylon 5 obsession. And at least you lot seem grateful!

 

[platypus]

My psychologist says such obsessiveness is a symptom of my disability (Asperger's Syndrome), but I consider it one of the gifts

My boyf's ma is a Speech and Language Therapist who specialises in AS and autism, she has THE most fascinating job of anyone I know. BTW, did you go to school in St Neots? I am a Longsands girl myself...

Anyway back to the fish ... I know what you mean about obsessing - we have had our tank for 6 months and I am totally hooked - I was on holiday last week and I dreamt about them almost every night, usually that they had got some horrible diseases in my absence. Was so relieved to have a full head count when I got back that now I want to treat them, hence the bogwood!

 

[Alien Anna]

Ooh sorry forgot to say, I have one rummy nose tetra in my tank who likes slightly alkaline water (ph is pretty neutral at the moment though). Do you think bogwood will make him if it turns water acidic?

Rummy-nosed tetras (depending on species) like slightly acid water. A bit of bogwood isn't going to make that much difference to pH however, unless your pH is 9.5 like mine used to be!

Rummy-nosed tetras are schooling fish. Have you considered getting him some friends?

 

[Alien Anna]

BTW, did you go to school in St Neots? I am a Longsands girl myself...

Sorry - I'm an interloper. My family live in a village in Bedfordshire.

 

[platypus]

Rummy-nosed tetras (depending on species) like slightly acid water.

Oh phew I have obviously got my wires crossed!

Rummy-nosed tetras are schooling fish. Have you considered getting him some friends?

There were originally four, but we got them very early on before our tank had cycled . I wanted to wait till our ammonia and nitrite were at 0 before I got any more (which it now is), and in the meantime he's made friends with the neons! He is the hero of the tank, such a battler for a 'sensitive' fish!

 

[wetwetwet]

my Babylon 5 obsession.

Ohh dear......


Now Star Trek - original, tng and voyager - I can understand......

 

[Alien Anna]

Rummy-nosed tetras are schooling fish. Have you considered getting him some friends?

There were originally four, but we got them very early on before our tank had cycled . I wanted to wait till our ammonia and nitrite were at 0 before I got any more (which it now is), and in the meantime he's made friends with the neons! He is the hero of the tank, such a battler for a 'sensitive' fish!

You are right - rummy-nosed tetras are very sensitive to poor water quality. I have two species, Hemmigrammus bleheri and Petitella georgiae, who look incredibly similar until you see them together.

I suggest you wait until your tank has been cycled for at least 6 weeks and you are in the habit of doing regular water changes etc. Keep an eye on your nitrate levels too - Rummy-noses don't like nitrates over about 25ppm. They also hate fluctuations in pH, although mine survived my experiments with adjusting pH quite well.

I actually find them fairly tough once you have them in a good situation. I suspect they earned their delicate reputation because they look pretty fragile and also because they simply cannot tolerate a polluted tank.

If you're into rummy-nosed tetras, a good species to go with them (albeit in slightly higher water than the rummy-noses) is Beckfords Golden Pencilfish. They like very similar conditions and are equally picky about water quality. Cardinal tetras are also compatible.

 

[platypus]

Now Star Trek - original, tng and voyager - I can understand......

Nooooooooo! Now stop that both of you, I'll have none of that sci fi geekiness going on in MY post thanks very much!

Now lord of the rings geekiness, THAT is a different matter...

 

[platypus]

I suggest you wait until your tank has been cycled for at least 6 weeks and you are in the habit of doing regular water changes etc.

We do a 20% change once a week and our tank is now 8 months old, also test the chemicals twice a month to make sure everything's OK, hopefully any new rummies will settle in alright. I think I have been scared of adding any more up till now because it was so awful seeing them all die, and I have been put off by their reputation. If like you say it's not always well-earned then I will definitely go for it and get him some buddies.

If you're into rummy-nosed tetras, a good species to go with them (albeit in slightly higher water than the rummy-noses) is Beckfords Golden Pencilfish

I couldn't find any pics of this online but I'll ask at my LFS, thanks for the tip.

I have two species, Hemmigrammus bleheri and Petitella georgiae

Oooh interesting, any tips as to how I could find out which one mine is?

 

[Alien Anna]

Here's a picture of Nannostumus beckfori, Beckford's Golden Pencilfish.

They're described as rather easier than most pencilfish species but must be kept in schools.

 

[platypus]

Oh beautiful, thanks so much!