I've got wood....

[pseud]

That's cool that you can look for your own.

My local fish shops don't sell wood. The only thing they have close are those pieces that they sell already screwed to a slate plate. But none of it are very interesting pieces, and it's all been sanded down smooth and looks very unnatural.

I'd liek to see the wood that you find....

 

[Jen]

Tom Tucker: I'm so excited I've got wood. And clipped on to this wood is a list of events.

You gotta love family guy!


p.s. Is bog wood any different than the Mulpani (sp?) wood that they sell screwed onto the slate?

 

[nc_nutcase]

I think thee are a lot of different names for what we typically call bogwood or drift wood, depending on the region or type or tree it came from. I'm sure each has it's own subtly distinctive look, characteristics and slightly better in different conditions... but from a general standpoint, I think it's all driftwood.

Maybe if doing a set up to reflect a certain biosphere you may want to do the research, but for most of us simply looking to supply cover for our fish and add a little mood to the tank, any of the store bought ____ woods will work.

 

[Jen]

the wood that my lfs store sells looks like dead wood. Completely dried up. The pictures people post of bog wood on here looks completely different. I dont know how to tell if there is a difference, or what I should be looking for.

 

[nc_nutcase]

When I recently bought wood for my pond I purchased something labeled "sinking driftwood" and it was a dark red-brownish color, looked like a ripped off piece of old dead wood...

From the same store in the same purchase, I bought a piece of "medium driftwood with slate stand" and it was a medium tan in color and was quite smooth. Obviously completely different pieces of wood under the same name.

I think Driftwood and Bogwood have become generic names for all the usable wood in the aquaria industry. Then the more specific names hold true to reflect the regions, but if your not sure… driftwood or bogwood always works.

According to Dictionary.com:
Driftwood - Wood floating in or washed up by a body of water.
Bogwood - Wood that has been preserved in a peat bog.

 

[Teelie]

Mopani is from Africa and is a good wood for soaking in water as it's usually found along river banks IIRC. There are a few other common wood types you'll find for sale too but it's pretty much useless to even attempt classifying them as the above posts mention they are now interchanged and confused.

Typically driftwood is identifed as saltwater wood and is almost always a bleached grey/off white color but not so much anymore. Bog wood is usually wood in a bog or pond and soaking for a long, long time. I wouldn't go by these as absolutes though obviously.

Oh, I forgot one thing. Bleached grey wood is almost always from a saltwater or brackish water location so it would need to be thoroughly cleaned for freshwater.

 

[LongNY]

Wow that's great that you got all of that driftwood for $20.00. I got only one piece here in NYC and it was $20.00.

I only soaked my driftwood.. it did not tan the water, but it did pull my ph way down to 5.0.... the reading color was a solid yellow. Is there a way, by boiling or some other method, that I can keep the driftwood from softening the water? I've been told that I could use crushed coral to counter the wood's softening effect, but want to keep my tank as pure as possible.

I had to take it out since my tank was NOT cycling....it kept the ph sooo low that the bacteria didn't grow and the tank never started it's cycling.

John NYC

 

[pseud]

Thanks for the comments everyone, learning alot.
Long, especially thanks for letting me know about your Ph Levels, I'll keep a close eye on mine.

Now, if you're feeling really adventuorous, feel free to take a peek at my wood. Just click the link:

I've got wood Part Deux