Safe wood for aquariums

[thegeeman]

Hello People

I am in need of new wood for my tanks and as a keen dog walker I often see dead wood around. Does anyone know what types of woods are safe to use?. I am planning on putting it in my panaque tank.

Cheers

thegeeman

 

[Doodles]

I'm pretty sure birch is ok.

Anyway have a look at one of my favourite articles here

Wood, roots, Leaves

 

[Paul_fox]

One thing I would say, is don't use Mopani wood in tanks with plecs, as after a discussion we had at a CSG meeting, it was generally agreed that its too hard for their teeth and can lead to them blunting them

 

[thegeeman]

Thanks for the info people. I have mopani and agree its rock hard. I will remove it.

Cheers


thegeeman

 

[Bigpig]

I think that Beech and oak are both suitable.

 

[Skilldeft]

Alright Gee,

Nearly all the wood in my tank is from my local woods, I noticed there was loads of old tree stumps so i decided to dig up one and it now in my tank cut into a few pieces. All i done was jet wash it, go over it with a brush to loosen any dead wood then soaked it in the bath for a couple of nights. Never had any problems with it apart from tannins.

Here's the wood in my tank:

 

[Paul_fox]

Beech and Oak are hardwoods, personally, I wouldn't use either of them either, just stick with bogwood, its easier

 

[Bubbles]

This is a very helpful thread as i have often wondered what wood is ok for tank usage. I will be sticking to Bogwood, though my lfs has mopani in and i have heard that it rots ( well i was told this) is that true?

 

[thegeeman]

Alright Gee,

Nearly all the wood in my tank is from my local woods, I noticed there was loads of old tree stumps so i decided to dig up one and it now in my tank cut into a few pieces. All i done was jet wash it, go over it with a brush to loosen any dead wood then soaked it in the bath for a couple of nights. Never had any problems with it apart from tannins.

Here's the wood in my tank:

Very natural Skilldeft.
I am after some wood to make caves out of and cant help but think that I pass loads of deadwood while walking the dog and I should be taking it home with me

 

[Lornek8]

This is a very helpful thread as i have often wondered what wood is ok for tank usage. I will be sticking to Bogwood, though my lfs has mopani in and i have heard that it rots ( well i was told this) is that true?

Are they saying the Mopani will rot? All wood in a tank to some extend and over a period of time will rot. I haven't found Mopani to problematic in this regard, in fact it being so hard is probably more rot resistant than most. Some of the softer woods seem to degrade faster in aquariums. I've got pieces of Malaysian driftwood that are literally falling apart in my tank. When I go to do a water change I find all sorts of small pieces & slivers of Malaysian driftwood in/on the gravel. This tank houses two Panaques though.

 

[Bubbles]

Sorry they were saying that Mopani will rot quicker than say bogwood, i have seen some really great pieces of mopani and was thinking of layout of the new tank : )

 

[Lornek8]

If they are saying Mopani will rot quicker than other woods I'd make sure they are talking about the right stuff. As mentioned earlier be careful with housing Panaques in tanks containing Mopani due to the hardness of the Mopani.

 

[Bubbles]

Thank you.

Sorry Gee for my butting in, i have to ask before i forget sorry again.

 

[intrepidmax]

hey Gee where i live there is hundreds of beech trees, im about to go lumber jacking in the next few weeks if you would like me to pick some up for you at some point.

 

[Paul_fox]

If they are saying Mopani will rot quicker than other woods I'd make sure they are talking about the right stuff.

Bogwood is soft and breaks up in a tank, I am looking at a tank with some in that is, you never see mopani break up - have both in my tanks, what we are saying is Mopani is like steel, who ever told you mopani rots is wrong...

 

[Bubbles]

Bogwood is soft and breaks up in a tank, I am looking at a tank with some in that is, you never see mopani break up - have both in my tanks, what we are saying is Mopani is like steel, who ever told you mopani rots is wrong...

Thank you Paul, i appreciate the advice,sometimes its hard to know if you are being given the correct advice and it is much better to hear from someone who has the wood rather than sourced their info from the net. I like the look of Mopani very much

 

[Breamlegend]

I use a lot of malaysian and find it great. It is hard but softens as it is soaked for a while. Most hardwoods are good.

 

[thegeeman]

hey Gee where i live there is hundreds of beech trees, im about to go lumber jacking in the next few weeks if you would like me to pick some up for you at some point.

Thats very nice of you Max. If you can find some about 150/175mm long with a 40/50mm hole drilled out about 120/130mm deep then that would be spot on

Cheers

thegeeman

PS Hope you will be lucky enough to find 4 or 5:woohoo::woohoo:

 

[matt_a]

Forgive my complete ignroance here. I have had a brief read through the thread and the linked article too, but alas I'm not a wood person, and I would much prefer to weld up some decoraions if i could

I want a peice of timber say 24 inches, by 6 inches by 4 inches so I can drill 6 caves into it. If I start to visit local timber suppliers, what sort of thing would I be asking for? Bear in mind I am in Australia so the varieties available to me here may be different to those of you in the US.

Any ideas?

 

[Rabbit]

Hey mate, in aus your better of going to a pet shop you can get a hold of tambora, himba, teak (expensive), and mopani.
One of those would be what your after hth.