wood for catty`s | whats the best?

[dolmio]

im looking at buying some wood for my L397 for when I get them, I see there is a few cool sorts for a aquarium, what kind do L numbers like and eat the most? drift wood? gold vine? ghost wood? Mopani driftwood? grape wood?
Cholla? Manzanita ?

cheers Damo

 

[Brengun]

I have found whatever wood you buy which has anubias attached from the lfs the plecos seem to like.

 

[dolmio]

cheers mate, yeah I have a small piece off that driftwood with a plant on it atm and my L333`s wont get off it...lol

 

[mike0605]

from what I have always been told driftwood tends to soften in the water which is really good for the plecs some other types of wood may do this but from experience mopani tends to remain tough and so not as good to allow the plecs to rasp

 

[zeebo]

hi, I buy wood that I can scrape with my fingernail. That's how I know it's soft enough for them. That is how I choose. Other members also have good ideas.

 

[dolmio]

okay, will driftwood lower my ph even after its been boiled?

 

[pauldoit]

Yep boiling will speed up the removal of the humic substances from the upper layers of the wood but the deeper reserves of such compounds within will leach out over time. The bulk of humic substances will drive the pH to 6.5 which is a good thing for most south American fish.

 

[dolmio]

cheers mate, I got my L397`s early tonight......there unreal

 

[pauldoit]

I dig the 397s too. Next L on my list. Best of luck with them.
What type of wood have you got them?

 

[dolmio]

not sure what sort of driftwood but its like the driftwood you buy that has plants growing on it.
yeah there looking mint as now