Drift wood?

[randalthor]

I have two brittle nosed catfish, and I was wondering where to get drift wood for them?

 

[Teelie]

LFS, Google and e-Bay.

 

[randalthor]

Thanks,

This is just speculation, but can I just use som branches without bark??

 

[xamdarb]

if you have a beach nearby go to that try and find one that no one goe to so it will be less picked over.....and for everyone whos going to start screaming at me for posting this where do you think the lfs got it

 

[jollysue]

Boil it.

 

[smooth_bourbon]

How bout a lake if you dont live near a ocean. I have found some big chunks of bogwood at a lake around here. But still boil then soak anything you pick up.

 

[andywg]

and for everyone whos going to start screaming at me for posting this where do you think the lfs got it

Bog wood (as far as I understand) is wood that has been preserved in a bog, as opposed to drift wood which is wood that has been at sea for a long period of time.

Most lfs carry bog wood and not drift wood.

 

[smooth_bourbon]

never mind Hi all

 

[jollysue]

My wood is all imported from Malasia and Africa, according to the supplier,drsfosterandsmith. It is labeled driftwood, but it all releases tanins. It is advertised as quite old and dense. Driftwood can also be from a lake or river, but would have been in water only it could be fresh water.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thanks,

This is just speculation, but can I just use som branches without bark??

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No not realy, new wood will leak sap which is poisonus to fish and many types of wood in themselves have toxins harmful to fish. Bogwood is indeed wood from bogs from what i gather, when you put bogwood in your tank it stains you water as it leaks out tanins(which will eventually stop) and makes the water look like tea but these tanins have antibacterial qualitys and are very beneficial to many catfish like bristlenoses .

Driftwood sinks less well than bogwood in general and you may have to weight it down for months before it finall sinks and stays down of its own accord.

 

[jollysue]

The wood I have from drsfosterandsmith is definately different than the driftwood around the lakes and streams. Frankly I have not seen aquarium wood labeled bogwood from any of my sources here. I 'm inclined to think it is not a term much used in the States. My BN love my wood. It softened the water when I first put it in. The African sinks right to the bottom w/o soaking.

 

[LoachLover]

I get all the wood I use from the lake or from the rivers around here.

 

[jollysue]

Yeah, I can't make the connection for lake or freshwater stream wood being toxic. If it is just for decor and not expected to treat the water, why not? Perhaps it would be good to be clear what wood you use. Different trees do release different substances. I wouldn't use some woods, I'm sure they might have substances in them that in a closed eco-system could be a problem.

Also be sure to boil it so there are no hitchhickers. I brought termites to my garden once.

 

[Teelie]

Yeah, I can't make the connection for lake or freshwater stream wood being toxic. If it is just for decor and not expected to treat the water, why not?

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Pollution, farming run-off (heavy on fertilizer, pesticides, etc) and who knows what else. So it's a risk to take wood from a local area if you're not sure it is free of those things.

 

[jollysue]

You're right of course. I was actually thinking of going above farm altitudes to the mountain and foothill lakes and streams. Maybe a little manzanita from Bass Lake or some redwood from Yosemite.