Long Mesquite tree branch curing in tank

[CWO4GUNNER]

Update, the mesquite log is still floating but the 8 feeder Goldies are doing a remarkable job keeping the fuzz off. In order to make sure they aren't getting poor nutrition I have been giving them some vitamin fortified flake every 5 days or when their is no fuzz on the log every 3 days which is when I normally feed all my fish. The photos you see below of the Feeders at work on the fuzz was taken yesterday but today the log is almost completely clean.

 

[67chevelle]

I'm curious to see how long it takes to sink. Interesting looking piece you have there. Have you done a water change?

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I'm curious to see how long it takes to sink. Interesting looking piece you have there. Have you done a water change?

Whew! Your new avatar gave me a jolt for a moment, I thought maybe another weather catastrophe had hit the country. I use nitrates as a guide for water-changes and I suspect until the nitrate filter on this tank gets well established Ill be doing them more often then the rest of my tanks which averages about 50% every 6 weeks. I just did them all a week ago so I ll have to check this tank next week. As long as nitrates are under 30PPM I wont be doing any.

 

[67chevelle]

Whew! Your new avatar gave me a jolt for a moment, I thought maybe another weather catastrophe had hit the country.

:rofl:

That's my Halloween avatar. Scary isn't it? :22_yikes:

The water looks clear,so it must not be leaching tannins. Out of curiosity,are you checking the PH?

 

[carpenter547]

just a side note you can get a veggie basket for your grill and some samon they all go great with mesquite smoke . yeah sad that i know that but i live in socal so yeah prolly the only guy on the block that knows what smokers were really made for but from what my neightbours say smoked fish and veggies are pretty good.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I have read that most trees have tannins in their wood to protect against insects but Mesquite is quite different them most wood and has to use a thick sap like juices to keep from dehydrating in the 120F summer sun, sort of like how cactus juice is sort of thick and gooey. So Im even wondering of this thing is going to sink soon and may tie it down with aluminum wire to the big rocks below. I mean like you said since it is putting out 0 tannins and the Goldies are keeping up with the fungi, maybe its time to get on with other projects, and I have a few on back log I can tell you.

List of backlog projects waiting: Backyard 12X12 gazebo build kit waiting, backyard coyote proof cat enclosure kit waiting, CL 160 tank in backyard waiting for stand build, Backyard pond kit for gazebo waiting, and more im too embarrassed to list waiting for the last 2 years.:wall:

For me its one thing at a time so I wont be burning any fungi wood unless it absolutely necessary and for my health I have had to replace barbecue steak with wok veggies and tufu steaks.8^P

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Update: Well it looks like after 9 days the Mesquite log has finally started putting out tannins, just enough so that when you take a close look you see the water is a slight gold tea color but nothing like other woods I have used almost like some of the dark African woods after they have been boiled out several times. So that is a plus for Mesquite. Other then that the feeder goldfish seem to have gotten the upper hand on the fungi growth but honestly compared to some wood I have used that grow fungi long, thick and fast, Mesquite seems to grow it rather short and the fish seem to love the taste. Also no rotten smell yet so far as I recall I had one poppler stump that smelled so bad I had to take it outside to cure. Also the Mesquite is Still floating like a cork.

 

[Juice]

I've cured manzanita in the tank, granted it's nothing like your wood but I did have to combat the fuzz for a good while there, taking it out and scrubbing became quite a chore! Good thing you have handy helpers!

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I've cured manzanita in the tank, granted it's nothing like your wood but I did have to combat the fuzz for a good while there, taking it out and scrubbing became quite a chore! Good thing you have handy helpers!

What is funny is even when I feed the feeders every 6 days all the koi pellets they want (in 5 minutes) and they do gobble them up, after 2 hours they are back to eating the fungi again. I think this mesquite wood must put off a nutritious and tasty form of fungi becasue they sure are fat from eating it and there is plenty of white poop I been having to vacuum on water-change day. The log is now one big ash colored piece off wood with a very short dense layer of fungi that the feeders keep trimmed down to the wood almost (no hair). Since their is no bad smell usually associated with "in tank curing" unless the bark starts to crack and peel off, I have not and will not be pulling it out for additional cleaning.

An aside, the boiling of my sand for this tank as previously mentioned, has yielded no even a hint of diatoms anywhere in this huge tank. Im convinced pre-boiling of the sand where I thing the diatoms are dormant and introduced have their reproductive ability compromised due to high temp boiling and cant even start.

 

[Juice]

What is funny is even when I feed the feeders every 6 days all the koi pellets they want (in 5 minutes) and they do gobble them up, after 2 hours they are back to eating the fungi again. I think this mesquite wood must put off a nutritious and tasty form of fungi becasue they sure are fat from eating it and there is plenty of white poop I been having to vacuum on water-change day. The log is now one big ash colored piece off wood with a very short dense layer of fungi that the feeders keep trimmed down to the wood almost (no hair). Since their is no bad smell usually associated with "in tank curing" unless the bark starts to crack and peel off, I have not and will not be pulling it out for additional cleaning.

An aside, the boiling of my sand for this tank as previously mentioned, has yielded no even a hint of diatoms anywhere in this huge tank. Im convinced pre-boiling of the sand where I thing the diatoms are dormant and introduced have their reproductive ability compromised due to high temp boiling and cant even start.

You know what they say..Variety is the spice of life :grinyes:

Looking forward to see how you set it all up when it's ready, that's one serious chunk of wood!