Prepping cork bark for aquarium

[BioHazard]

Hey all! At a local pet store, I found some round cork bark that looks like a hollow tree stump, very cool. I've heard of people using cork bark in aquariums, but what do I need to do with it? The inside is kinda dirty, so I can scrape it out a bit. Should I just boil it?
It is the smae as the picture below, except it is a full circle. Its not very big, probably 3-4 inches diameter and 4-5 inches long.

 

[Wycco]

I'm also interested in this.


Related question:

(hope you don't mind me asking it here) - some fish need drift wood because they eat small portions of it- is cork a viable substitute? (obviously needs to be weighed down). Or would driftwood still be required?

As we all know- if the ice caps melted and Ireland became submerged underwater the one city that would float would be Cork.

 

[BioHazard]

bump

 

[chefjamesscott]

hmmm interested in this as well I have a piece I have had for years

 

[ChrisK]

Seems like I heard that was only good for reptile tanks somewhere not sure though.

 

[BioHazard]

I know Ive seen people here use it in their 'scapes, I just don't know how they did it.

 

[Wycco]

bump.


Yes- one guy made an awesome scaped tank using lots of cork bark. Supposedly cork is mold resistant- doesn't break down over time, long life.

Only problem is it may turn the water a slight reddish brown if you use too much of it.



Now, I don't know if he used a "special" cork or if any cork will do- or if there is any process before using it.

 

[KarlTh]

And it floats like buggery so needs serious gluing/weighting down.

 

[fishorama]

I boiled my cork, let it dry & used silicone to glue it to slate (not the real thin stuff). I attached some anubias & put it in a newly cycled tank.

There was an ammonia spike of ~1ppm, luckily there weren't animals in there. On another board someone said it was from tiny lichens so I scrubbed them off with a brush & the ammonia was gone in a day or 2.

I wonder about the plecs too, will it make them float? hahaha

 

[Wycco]

Might be a good way to get to see your elusive bottom feeders who like to hide: tie a large piece of cork to them so that they always float to the surface.