bogwood?

[LisaLQ]

I've got two big bits of mopani bogwood that I cant use in my fish tank (despite soaking them they still release tannins and stain the water yellow). I've only had them in the tank two days, and they came out last night - and have been soaked in boiling water (in an attempt to get rid of the tannins but then we decided not to put them back in).

I was wondering, is it safe to put in for the snails? There was water dechlorination stuff put in the tank, but like I said, they've been out and soaked. And I dont know if it was dangerous to snails anyway?

Just seems a shame to chuck away £20 worth of bogwood if it could be used for the snails.

[Deleted]

whats bogwood?

[LisaLQ]

Erm...wood from a bog? *lol*

This kind of stuff:
www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=1240&pf_id=4976

And that actual link answered my question - if it's safe for reptiles, surely it's gotta be safe for snails? Oh heck, but reptiles dont rasp...*shrugs*

[copigeon]

Its fine, for use in fish tanks, and underwater inverts. Theyre far more sensitive than any land snail.

[Paul]

I've heard that you should avoid bogwood at all costs, it is very acidic, particularly in aquariums.

[copigeon]

Have never had an issue with it in alkaline set ups? And use it exclusively for javafern in bridgessi tanks. Also used widely with woodshrimp, which are a crustacian, and dont tollerate extremes in water quality.
But then it has soaked in coral sand substrate water for a long time now, and coral sand would even the ph out.

You could varnish it if you were worried, but cork bark is an alternative?

If you soak natural wood/rotting bark from woodlands etc under water long enough, you kill anything that would cause an issue with snails anyway, darnsight cheaper.

[Paul]

I'm probably getting it mixed up with something else then, I'm not well up on aquatic setups. I just remember a warning against some type of wood over on snails2die4 (I think), and I thought it was bogwood.

[copigeon]

Bogwood is acidic, but one peice in a tank, with regular water changes which are needed regardless? And its not a problem. I honestly cant see the tiny amount of tanin acid it does contain affecting land snails.

Expensive though, heavy, and moss wont attach :\

The tanin does go eventually give it a week of regular water changes? carbon in the filter will probable remove that over night regardless if you have a stage filter capable of taking it?

[LisaLQ]

As we've already bought it, it doesn't matter than it's expensive *lol*

We've had carbon running in two filters for a few days now, and it's still not clear. Bear in mind we have an undergravel filter as well as those. And that's after soaking the wood for 48 hours as it said on the label (well on one of them, as the other bit was another brand and didn't tell you to soak at all!). We're going to do the water changes as well, but either way, it's not going back in the tank, it looks a right mess - it was beautiful before it went in. It's my hubby's tank really *lol* On a plus note, hubby's dad has a piece that was kept in his tanks for years, sitting about doing nothing (he's since stopped keeping fish) - he says it has been used for so long it wont stain the water, so we will still have a nice bit of wood in the tank (probably not as big as the pieces we had, so shall have to maybe get some fake bits too).

So it's ok for the snails then, I shall give it a go. Of course if there's any odd behaviour or reaction, I'll chuck it out for the bin men!

[LisaLQ]

Oh and sorry about the confusion, on one site I read today someone said mopani wood and bogwood are two different things, although it's advertised on Ebay as mopani bogwood - ours just said mopani wood on it. So it might be bogwood, or it might not be *lol*

[section8angel]

They are two different things.

Bogwood is normally used for fish who like the water more acidic, but people have said small amounts don't change it a lot.
The tanin isn't harmful, and it will clear eventually. It does take a while though even with carbon.

I've been on a fish site for a while so picked it all up lol. Sadly I have no idea what it's effect is on snails.

And don't you dare chuck it out lol Sell it on! That stuff goes for more than £20 in many places!!
Did you not want it in the tank only because of the staining?

[LisaLQ]

If the snails dont like it then I might try again in the tank, but to be honest, it's made it look like someone's chucked in the contents of a teapot (obviously tannin - same stuff!). It's turned the water somewhere between yellow and brown/red. It is starting to clear but it's not going to go overnight - and this is with the wood taken out. And yeah, we wanted to keep it in the tank, but despite soaking for 48 hours, then (when it was removed) soaking in boiling water (and topping it up so it stayed hot), it's still turning the soaking water yellow. And I read on a fish forum (web searched in to it) that some folks still have staining a year and a half after putting it in. We've got a nice piece of slate in there from the tropical fish shop, and we'll have this piece off OH's dad, so we'll probably just get a couple more rocks or something. I wanted it for my corys (little cat fish) as and when I get them, because (obviously) they're bottom feeders and like stuff to investigate/eat off! You'll have to forgive me, I'm no fish expert, they're one of the types I like (god I sound like a geek)...

[section8angel]

Lol that's ok. No one is an expert at anything really Corys are lovely, I have 2 bronze ones. Been with me for years. Very funny little fish.

A year and a half seems very strange I've never known it to stay in there that long.
Is that link you posted where you got it from? If not have you got some pics? As that link is mopani, bogwood is.. well different lol It's hard to explain the difference without seeing both in front of me lol.
Ah here: www.java-plants.com/timber/timber_14.jpg Bogwood isn't as "rounded" and is normally just one colour where as mopani is light and dark.

So what do you have? lol They are obviously different, but one might just be a varient or something of the other.

I'm sure I've seen people with mopani and bogwood in with their snails, and I think there's some on ebay being sold as safe for snails.

P.S Slate and rocks in tanks are lovely! Especially on black gravel.

[LisaLQ]

Well it's light and dark, and on one the label said it was mopani, and both look like the same stuff. But it's not rounded. Who knows? *lol*

Haven't got black gravel, we got a sack of normal pebbly stuff chucked in free with the deal, but we might be putting a black background on, and getting the moonlight lights off Ebay ;D

[section8angel]

Well it sounds like mopani. I didn't mean totally rounded.. just not as pointy lol.

That sounds nice. My mum has the normal pebbles and it can look really nice with the right things. You're deffo on the right track with slate. lol

[LisaLQ]

Well I tried it (as you could see in the set ups thread), but had to take it out today because it had gone mouldy! Shall have to think of new things to put in there now.