Wood

[SeanTrollope]

l have found a really nice pice of wood and would like to put it in my tank. i think it is rose or rose root stock can it be put in a tank ? if so what must i do to prep it

 

[SeanTrollope]

anyone?

 

[NadeZ]

I came across a list of safe and unsafe woods a while back, will see if I can find it for you. There were very few types of wood that were safe for aquariums, and many that leeched toxins into the water. So until you can confirm the type and safety of the wood, I wouldn't waste time treating it.

 

[Fishmanic]

would rotting wood cause tank problems? all wood will eventually start to rot in tanks I would think.

 

[Alasse]

Put it in a bucket of water for a few weeks and see how it stands up to the constant submersion

 

[Byron]

would rotting wood cause tank problems? all wood will eventually start to rot in tanks I would think.

 
Fast rotting wood can literally kill a tank, affecting plants, fish and even bacteria, when severe because of the large organic load in a very confined space.  This is why we use hardwood (as opposed to softwoods).  I happen to use Malaysian Driftwood, and I have a lot of it in my tanks.  It does very slowly release tannins, un-noticeable after a while, and I suspect it is very slowly dissolving, but to the touch it is still hard (some of it has been in my tanks for six years).
 
The issue of toxins leeching out of wood is one to seriously keep in mind.  Hard woods tend by nature to be safer on this too.  Something absorbed into the wood many years ago is not going to come out by rinsing, boiling or drying, but over time submerged it may.  I slowly lost half a tank of fish back in the 1990's and it took weeks to track down the issue; some toxic substance had begun to leech out of a large chunk of rather soft wood.  Some woods can hold toxic fungus too.
 
Byron.

 

[Fishmanic]

how would you tell if wood is releasing organics into the tank---would it produce tannin
I do have a large pc of wood bought on ebay that the seller didnt state the type of wood. But it's been in the tank for 7 months now and no ill effects or tannins. So I guess it's safe. The large pc of wood would not sink after a few weeks subemerged in the sink. So I had to sink it using a large pc of marble.

 

[Byron]

how would you tell if wood is releasing organics into the tank---would it produce tannin
I do have a large pc of wood bought on ebay that the seller didnt state the type of wood. But it's been in the tank for 7 months now and no ill effects or tannins. So I guess it's safe. The large pc of wood would not sink after a few weeks subemerged in the sink. So I had to sink it using a large pc of marble.

Wood will continually release organics/tannins.  Initially this is easy to see as dry wood first submerged will release more tannin and then less as it ages; it tints the water brown and if not changed (the water) it would eventually become black.  Black water streams are simply streams that are so heavily saturated with decayed organics (wood, leaves, plant matter, etc) that the water is the colour of very strong tea, though crystal clear otherwise (if that makes sense).  In nature, the water is moving and fish are adapted.  In the confines of an aquarium, this can build up to intolerable levels, but regular water changes keep it in balance.  The acidity obviously increases, with the pH lowering too.
 
I have a 10g tank that is used as a grow-out tank for my Farlowella vitatta fry, and as they must have vegetable matter I found dry leaves to be ideal.  They browse on these, feeding off the biofilm and infusoria, plus the algae and leaf itself.  When I siphon out water into a buff-coloured pail holding three gallons, it is scarcely possible to see the bottom of the pail due to the tannins.  Yet the tank looks crystal clear, but sitting beside the others I can see the brown tint.  I also have my group of six pygmy corys in this tank, and they are spawning like crazy; there are more than 40 corys from tiny specks to juveniles now half the size of the adults.

 

[Fishmanic]

well since my wood is not turning the water brown at all, then I imagine it should continue to be fine in my tank---I do notice if i scrape my fingernail against the wood, a layer or dark wood comes off.

 

[Byron]

well since my wood is not turning the water brown at all, then I imagine it should continue to be fine in my tank---I do notice if i scrape my fingernail against the wood, a layer or dark wood comes off.

That's OK.  If you touch it and it is like a sponge, just squishing and falling apart like mush, it is not OK.

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

everything that has wooden parts will release tannin/tannic acid.. same goes for dried leaves.. toxins are just a bonus release lol.. anyways, anything dried for a loooooooong time then submerged for a loooooong time usually renders a wood safe

 

[Alasse]

As long as its fully dried, doesn't need to be submerged as such to be safe.....i have mostly collected gum (eucalyptus) tree wood in my tank as well as other native trees, none have been collected from water sources

 

[DrRob]

I have various bits of collected wood in my tanks. Properly dried they're generally fine, but some last longer than others. Not a problem if they're free and you don't mind rescaping every so often (elder is my culprit for this, as well as willow, but I have loads of it, all old, dry and very pretty, leeches like crazy for tannins at first then settles for a couple of years before it starts to break up).
 
The issues tend to be around toxic saps, or rapid breakdown in the case of softwoods mainly. Properly old and dry wood will have lost most of it aromatics, which tend to be the problem chemicals. Certain woods such as Manzanita are well known for being safe and long lasting, and are often sold in the trade. Other woods we use are ones reclaimed from bog land, as anything that can leech will already have done so and the fact that the wood survived in the bog means that it has already done most of its breaking down that its likely to.
 
Safe lists tend to be quite short, mainly because, although I've used elder, willow, oak, apple and plum with no trouble, I can't tell you that you won't get issues with them with different fish in different water conditions, just that they didn't bother my fish in my tank. Rosemary and ash spring to mind as the more controversial ones, I've heard stories about both being safe or toxic from different sources, and haven't dared yet try any in my tanks, although I have lots of those too, that and the ash tends to be given to the archers to make arrows out of.

 

[SeanTrollope]

yea us archers do make arrows with it and part of the bow limbs are also made of it

 

[DrRob]

I have a few 7 foot boles of yew maturing for the long bow makers. Have been promised a bow if they get a sensible number out of them. Useless for aquariums though.