Argg!

[killieskid]

We are setting up a 29G and we went to the LFS and found this really great piece of wood that we think will look great in there, its a good size piece so we thought it would'nt float, but alas it still did, we stuffed a cranny full of rock and it still floated, the cranny comprized of the length of the bottom. We don't want to permently fix it to the tank, as it might go into a larger tank down the road. Anybody have any cool idea's?

[Featherfin]

id put it in a rubbermaid bin, put a big rock or brick on it, and wait for it to get waterlogged.

[killieskid]

Humm... Now thats an idea, it won't float if its water logged? Thanks

[Squawkbert]

Soaking it for a couple of weeks will usually allow any remaining tanins to leach out and will waterlog the wood.

Some pieces will still float, even after soaking. If you have one of those, get a piece of slate and attach the wood to the slate (SS lag bolt, silicone, fishing line - whatever nontoxic, corrosion proof method you like). Then you clear a patch of substrate, put the wood/slate in and cover the slate base w/ substrate.

[Featherfin]

thats a grea piece. im jealous : )

ive seen the slate idea-you could also do that if you didnt want to wait.

[killieskid]

I like the slate idea too, the LFS owner may have some, i've seen it on his other pieces of wood. yeah, we really did'nt want to wait that long, ready to get it up and running. I'm just wondering if the fish we picked out will have enough room when we get done? we're getting two, i forgot the name, the ones that look like big gold fish? you guys think they could do a 29g with that piece of wood?

[Mgamer20o0]

i just put rocks on it until it wont float. slate is good but limits what you can do with it later.

[rwilliams254]

What are the dimentions of the wood? Dims of the tank?

That looks like a huge piece of wood.

[jm1212]

soak the wood first because it will keep the water from turning totally brown, and it will become water logged. you can always add a piece of slate later

[killieskid]

I dont know the diminsions of the wood, a large chunk the tank is 29g, thinking one small sized Cichlid for it

[zazz]

well, try measuring the "width" and "length" of the bottom of the wood.
Or put it in the tank and take a pic to post here.
That way we can be better able to tell you if it will leave enough room for fish.
If you do get a measuring tape out, might as well measure your tan while youre at it, eh? Might answer your own question.:)

[Derringer]

That thing is going to consume a lot of space in a 29g tank isnt it?

[mellowvision]

yeah. I made that mistake! big wood = big loss of water space. you should do this first:

fill a bucket that the wood fits in with water.
place the wood in the water, and force it fully underwater.
watch water spill out over the top
remove the wood, and using 1 gallon jugs of water, refill the bucket, so you can see how many gallons of water the wood offsets.

I have a piece that is almost 2 gallons... in my 20 gallon vivarium... that 2 gallons could mean another fish!