Driftwood and Native Plants

johndoughy

johndoughy

Information sponge
Dec 2, 2008
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Arlington, TX
www.askeamon.com
So, I recently IDed my Pl-co as a Pterygoplithys Disjunctivus:woot:, which is native to the Madeira River in Brazil. I'm not going to get rid of him, so I might as well build the tank around him, it would expand my horizons(I have always been more into South Asian fish).

Question! Does anyone know what plants are native or even endemic to the Madeira River? Is there a website I can use to find out, like a Fishbase.org for plants?

Also, what are the requirements for wood to go in a tank? :huh: Is there a method to preparing it, and how do I know what wood is safe? I've never put real wood in a tank, but my pl-co will want some, and it's pretty.
 
johndoughy said:
Also, what are the requirements for wood to go in a tank? :huh: Is there a method to preparing it, and how do I know what wood is safe? I've never put real wood in a tank, but my pl-co will want some, and it's pretty.
Click to expand...

I know it's not good to use pine, but try to use a hardwood. I soaked my pieces of driftwood in a 55g trash can with bleach for a week. I then rinsed it and soaked it for another week in the trash can(with a large dose of Prime)to help remove the chlorine. I haven't had any probs with the wood. But, others here don't want to worry about the chlorine issue(or the wood being bleached)and just boil their driftwood to clean it.

You can check out my tanks in my sig to see the driftwood that I have used...
 
Just make sure your wood isn't grapevine, that rots real quick. Also, check on Planetcatfish.com to make sure your pleco needs wood. Some do, some don't.

You can add wood straight away, but do be careful where you get it, I killed like 3 bettas because of some toxic wood.

Regarding the
 
I would just boil the wood for 5 minutes or less, scrub with a wire brush, then soak it in a tub or similar thing of water until the wood sinks if it doesn't already.
 
Actually, mongabay DOES have a Madeira River page, but it's just fish. :(
 
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