Woodwork in the tank

[Milo]

Anyone who knows for sure what types of tree/wood from the nature I can use in the tanks....
Mainly to panaque and panaqolus..

Can fruit-trees be used maybe? Plum, apple, pear.... If so, I can use the roots from some cut down last year.
I guess I micht use oak as well, but oak isn't the easiest to get hold of.

The plan is to build a setup from wood, with carved/drilled out caves in it, where they can chew out and form the caves their own way...

And also... Have anyone of you tried this before? Tips and tricks would be appreciated...

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Can fruit-trees be used maybe? Plum, apple, pear.... If so, I can use the roots from some cut down last year. I guess I might use oak as well, but oak isn't the easiest to get hold of.

The plan is to build a setup from wood, with carved/drilled out caves in it, where they can chew out and form the caves their own way...

I think this should work. I've used fruit wood (Apple and Cherry) and Oak in a lot of tanks (but not with Panaque/Panaquolous)without any problem.

cheers Darrel

[Milo]

Thanks Darrel....
Cherry and plum both "bleed" a lot, and are much alike in that way... I got som old roots from appletrees as well that I can try...
I have got a tip about alder in another forum, and will maybe use this for my first tryouts... I hope this will be a fun and succesfull long-term Project...

[backstreetgambler]

I use to collect driftwood from the beaches around my area (the southern baltic sea). So far without problem, and those pieces have been in the tanks for years now. Other than that I also collect branches from oak and beech woods. No problem there either. Just make sure the wood is dead and dry enough.

As for drilling holes in the wood I suppose you can do that if you want to speed things up a bit. Otherwise just leave it to the fish do the job. It's quite an interesting process to follow, how a small indentation in the wood in a few days (nights rather) soon is a complete carved out cave, with a fish happily residing in it. I've seen that with my Panaque Maccuses.

Niklas

[nvcichlids]

I have a project in the works similar to what you are describing. I took a uniquely shapped stump from my parents house, from an old oak tree. I cut it so that it would fit snuggly in the corners of the tank. Currently in the process of drilling out holes for them. I will do 3/4", 1" and 1.25" diameter holes and about 5" deep. I keep L271 and L092 in the tank where these are headed.

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Cherry and plum both "bleed" a lot, and are much alike in that way...

Both Prunus spp., I'd only use wood when all the sap had dried out.

I will do 3/4", 1" and 1.25" diameter holes and about 5" deep.

There was a UK seller of drilled oak seasoned caves, but I'm not sure if he is still selling them, "Rare Aquatics" still sell them. One of the first reported spawning of L169 was in a hole drilled in an Oak trunk.

Otherwise just leave it to the fish do the job. It's quite an interesting process to follow, how a small indentation in the wood in a few days (nights rather) soon is a complete carved out cave, with a fish happily residing in it.

That would be my preferred approach as well.

cheers Darrel

[Milo]

My PC died, so haven't been in her recently...

This is such a long term project, so they will be left to dry out for a year or two, after washdown and pre-cutting...... ;)

I have found some alder windfalls and are planning to cut off the root section in a total length of about 4feet.
I have also found some big oak branches that I will try to cut som good pieces of.

Found a fantastic log yesterday. Part hollow and part massive, with hollow broken-off branches... But that was fram a pine(?) and not useable...

[victoriaz24]

A good place to get free wood is at the river or creeks & the bark & sap is already gone from the wood. You just need to make sure it's clean. That is where I get my driftwood from & my Pleco's & catfish love them, just not my sponge filters after a few days. lol.

[Milo]

I know Victoria. But since I need a root-section and obout 4-5feet of it that's not an option...

[nvcichlids]

I know Victoria. But since I need a root-section and obout 4-5feet of it that's not an option...

How is it not an option? I find dead trees that have been sitting in the local rivers for years and cut out chunks that fit my need.

[Milo]

Okay...
Said in another way.
Where I live, for my use, finding this kind of wood in a river, is not an option.
Smaller branches and so on is okay, but not 4-5feet long logs with the root-section...

[Aquaticus]

Find a dead hardwood tree stump that you like, and submerge it in a vat with an airstone. Change the water every couple of months. Repeat until you are satisfied. I usually put dry dead wood in the tank and let it sink naturally.

[Jools]

You can also use and outdoor pond of decent size. As long as it's not heavily stocked it shouldn't cause a problem.

Jools

[apistomaster]

You can also use and outdoor pond of decent size. As long as it's not heavily stocked it shouldn't cause a problem.

Jools

If a pond isn't an option you might consider what I've done.
I've used those cheap plastic wading pools sold by most large department stores.
As a side benefit the pools have provided me with abundant mosquito larvae.
I used dried milk as food for the bacteria and protozoans the mosquito larvae eat.
I dissolve enough to make a couple cups of reconstituted milk and add it as the water clears again.
An air stone will help keep the water from becoming stale.