As I work to setting up my new aquarium, I ran into a small problem, I had nothing to be the focus point. It's pretty bland, a few very small Aponogeton bulbs, a whole crap load of java moss, and a few small java ferns, but nothing more. My mom brought out a whole shlew of drift wood we she found when she went to Lake Superior, and I would like to use it in my aquarium. I've boiling if for probably about a half an hour, but my question is, how can I tell when it's safe to put in my aquarium. Keep in mind, I have yet to purchase a test kit, as I haven't had any unexplaned deaths, or enough money at one time to buy a good one.. Thx
Driftwood
- Thread starter Pooky125
- Start date
A
I just put a peice in my tank, i picked it up off the shore of a local lake that is actually our water supply. It was bleached out and had absolutly no bark. I boiled it for 30-40min, then soaked it for 3 days changing the water in the morning and before I hit the sac. All I did was test the water from the bucket it was in just before I wanted to add it. It was about 7ish so out it came. I didnt know if it would change the ph but i figured it wouldnt hurt to check it. I drilled a hole in a thin peice of slate rock with a concrete drill bit and screwed the driftwood to the rock. Its been in about a week and the ph is fine and the fish seem to love it, swiming all around it. The only problem im finding is getting the java moss to grow onto the driftwood. I used fishing line to attach it on but if anyone has any better ideas pass them on...
Check out my driftwood addition
http://johnmacfish.tripod.com/cichlidtank/index.html
Dont forget to sign my guest book....
Johnmac
Check out my driftwood addition
http://johnmacfish.tripod.com/cichlidtank/index.html
Dont forget to sign my guest book....
Johnmac
Not that it is going to change the rate of growth on the Java moss, but several sources (Amano) suggest using cotton thread to tie Java. The cotton will eventually decompose and fall off - leaving the moss attached to the rock/driftwood.
Amano did use monofilament line to tie somethind down - but it wasn't moss. I'll check my book.
Amano did use monofilament line to tie somethind down - but it wasn't moss. I'll check my book.
You normally use cotton thread (I suggest dark brown, green, or black) to tie down anything that anchors itself. This includes things such as java moss, java fern, and a couple other similar anchoring plants....
Amano typically uses nylon monofilament thread/line to tie down things such as riccia and other blanketing plants that otherwise do not root to driftwood but give a wonderful moss appearance...
In the case of riccia you need to tie it down with nylon thread and regularly trim it because it is normally a floating plant and does not root to the items it's tied to.
Basicly nylon thread (fishing line) is for use when the item will never root properly to stick. Java moss and fern do root to just about everthing so you want to use cotton thread so it will rot away eventually.
Amano typically uses nylon monofilament thread/line to tie down things such as riccia and other blanketing plants that otherwise do not root to driftwood but give a wonderful moss appearance...
In the case of riccia you need to tie it down with nylon thread and regularly trim it because it is normally a floating plant and does not root to the items it's tied to.
Basicly nylon thread (fishing line) is for use when the item will never root properly to stick. Java moss and fern do root to just about everthing so you want to use cotton thread so it will rot away eventually.
A
Some info for you, my father is a machinest, type 316 stainless steel will not rust in any way shape or form in freshwater or saltwater, if you are that worried about it, neither will brass. So check out your local hardware store, most packages of screws will give you the type (grade) of stainless.