Problem with fake driftwood

often dignified

often dignified

AC Members
Nov 11, 2003
169
0
0
Conneaut Lake, PA
ok, so I bought a resin driftwood... thought it would look ok in my tank and it did. A few days ago I decided to pull everything out, looking for one of my ADFs. I yanked out the resin wood and it smelled terrible :sick:

There are holes for water to go in and air to go out so it fills the inside with water... otherwise it just floats :p When I put it in, I didn't realize there wouldn't be any water circulation inside the wood. The holes are on the underside, which in most cases happen to sit against the gravel.

The stagnant water smell almost made me upchuck right into the tank :p The water in there can't be very healthy for the tank, right? I don't think I'll be putting it back in.

So before buying fake driftwood, make sure it is heavy enough to sink and doesn't have a huge air pocket in the middle (you should see holes like I mentioned before)
 
I had a problem with a fake stump type decoration in my 10. It was only open at the bottom and I thought "I don't want my fish getting stuck in that so I'll fill it with water, sink it, and put the open side in the gravel."

Of course, it didn't take the fish long to displace the gravel and use the thing as a hiding spot. I broke down and put it in the other way. I never had problems after that since it was open to water flow.

The one I have in the 29 is designed to be a sort of cave. I still worry about fish working themselves into spots they can't get out of though.

Tom
 
i have a huge piece of fake wood i got from petsmart - i luv the thing - it is suppose to stand upright having a hole on the bottom however i bought it to lay sideays so i layed it down sideways and stuffed it with gravel so fish can't swim in - i havent had any probs with it - although i have not taken it out and smelled it lol:D
 
Well I wasn't worried about fish getting in it... the holes are smaller diameter than airline tubing. Fill a bucket w/ water, keep it warm, add some fish poo... it's bound to smell terrible.

Just wasn't any water movement inside the wood.
 
Here's an idea, but maybe a little tacky/artificial. Try drilling a larger hole in the bottom, and a few small holes in the top in non-obvious places. Run an airstone inside of the driftwood. The bubbles will push water out of the central cavity, and the additional aeration wouldn't hurt unless you have plants. I see a lot of these ornamental bubblers in pet stores, although I would never buy one.

Here's another idea: Enlarge the bottom holes, and then fill the central cavity with cement/plaster of paris/etc (assuming it does not alter water chemistry). With this method, water flow isn't much of an issue.
 
Originally posted by Aquarius0015
Here's an idea, but maybe a little tacky/artificial. Try drilling a larger hole in the bottom, and a few small holes in the top in non-obvious places. Run an airstone inside of the driftwood. The bubbles will push water out of the central cavity,
Click to expand...

this works good, my friend used to do it.

you must have fairly weak filtration? i have several of these things and never had a problem..... :confused: the biggest problem i did have was trying to evict my raphaels when i wanted to take them out. :D

maybe a small powerhead to add a bit more current under the waters surface..........
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom