Dried bamboo stalks????

Apr 27, 2012
63
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Lexington, KY
#1
hey everyone! Been awhile since i made my last post. So just to update I've upgraded my 55 gallon to another 110. Right now I've got a 10-12 inch electric blue jack dempsey, a 7 inch green terror cichlid, a few convict cichlids, and a few red belly pacu. (planning to re-home the pacu to my grandfather soon)

anyways.... I just got a great deal on 150 lbs of black sand. So i'll be switching out rocks for a 85% sand/15% rock mixture. The question is....... what to use to decorate. I'm really interested in the dried bamboo sticks with the sand. I've seen a few online and one in person and they look immaculate. I've heard stories of them rotting and fouling up the water. But i believe that this was with the "lucky bamboo live plants" which arent an aquatic plant in the first place. I've also heard some of the store bought bamboo sticks like the ones used for backyard decorations could be treated with chemicals and pesticides. So I'm wanting to know if anybody has any experience or info on this subject. Or if anyone knows where to purchase some online that arent treated with any harmful chemicals. Thanks
 

Feb 27, 2009
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#2
I've used bamboo cut from a friends yard so that I knew it had no chemicals sprayed on or around them (the hollowed out pieces were for a tank with a colony of Indostomus crocodilus that spawn in 'caves' as it was the perfect size for them). The untreated (natural) bamboo will decay over time, just as driftwood will, but I had the pieces I had for 6 or so years with no issues.

The ones I've commercially are treated with antifungal spray, and then some kind of preservative. This link shows how its done: Bamboo Treatment

If its green, you have a chance that its 'natural,' but if yellow, beware.
 

Apr 27, 2012
63
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0
Lexington, KY
#7
yeah. I bought my GK at around the same size. Unfortunately he got trapped in a decoration, by time i noticed he was missing it was too late to nurse him back. Since then i got a juvenile tire track eel for that tank. (just till he's big enough to go in the community 110 and not be eaten)
I had an almost 3ft long Clown Knife as a kid, raised from 1". I miss ole Charlie!