Need Help Asap

[Meggie :)]

So I am redoing my tank and I have everything out, including the fish which have been out sitting in buckets for several hours now...and I JUST found out that my wood isn't sinking...I found some kitchen tile that we never used would that be safe to tie onto the bottom of the wood and put into my tank? Please help ASAP my fish are stating out and I already have plants on the wood...

Please I know that I made a mistake... I know that....so please post only if u have advice...

Thanks,
Megan

 

[Jenste]

You wood will sink over time - - it can take a few hours, a few days, or even a couple of weeks - depends on the thickness of the wood and the type

Do not panic. Let the wood float and put your fish in the tank.

It will sink, just give it time.

You can always tie a piece of string to it and have the other end tied outside of the tank if you want to have piece of mind about controlling when it settles at the bottom.

 

[Meggie :)]

Well it is a big piece of wood, just let it float? and remove the fish again when it sinks in FOREVER so I can plant the plants? And what DO I do with the plants? alot of them are rooted plants...? Will the kitchen tile not work? They are just small pieces...

 

[Jenste]

I would be skeptical about the tile because you have no idea what it is made of or has come in contact with...

If the plants are already tied on, let the driftwood float plant side down. Then tie a shoestring around a piece of the driftwood, and let the shoe dangle over the side of the tank incase the driftwood starts sinking before you are around and ready to arrange it.

You do not need to take the fish out to place the driftwood - - just do it slowly and watch where they go

I have done huge rescapes in my tanks with out removing the fish - - I have found that leaving them in their tank and having them deal with my hands moving around is a lot less stressful then being netted and put in a strange bucket and then netted or poured back in

 

[Meggie :)]

I HAD to take them out though because I have a baby and shrimp too...and my substrate is planter fluval stuff that makes the water super super dirty where I can't see anything...and I had to remove sand too because I had too much...I think my mom might be picking up some rock slate, would that be okay to put in there if I cleaned it off?

 

[This Old Spouse]

I just put a big rock on top of the driftwood until it sinks on its own. To wit:

 

[Meggie :)]

Okay this is what it looks like...It's a cement base I think...with design on the top...do you think this would work or no?

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'd be a little worried about whatever is making it shiny. Can't you get a nice flat rock and tie the driftwood to it until it's waterlogged?

I just saw the part about your mom picking up some slate. That would work fine!

 

[Meggie :)]

What about my fish? Will they be okay? it might be a while before she comes home

 

[This Old Spouse]

You need to have the filters and heaters running to make sure they're all right.

 

[Meggie :)]

Well, they are kind of sitting in tupperwares right now because I don't have a spare tank....... I think she will be home soon, though. They seem fine and not stressed out at all, so I guess that's good

 

[Meggie :)]

Would lead work too or is slate better?

 

[Meggie :)]

alright, I ended up using a huge piece of rock that my mom used to use in her saltwater years ago...it looks so good in there weighing the wood down I think I'll keep it there...I'll post pictures in my journal as soon as the water clears up Thanks for all your help