[Skwirlygurl]

I've seen a lot of DIY and (having limited finances) have been toying with using found objects in my tank setup. I have nothing against fake plants and such but it has been a dream of mine to set up a natural tankscape. So...

I have an unusual piece of driftwood I got at a garage sale 30 years ago. For that matter, I live near a wooded river bottom and could collect natural sand, pebbles and deadwood.

Would this work in a live tank? Has anyone here tried it? Is there any type of wood/materials that i should avoid? What would I need to do to quarantine, clean and prep natural materials from nature? Would I risk killing my fish?

If anyone else tried it, I would love to see the results!

Thanks!

 

[sparkyjoe]

I’m always wondering about out using natural things I’ve collected for my tanks, but I’m a coward when it comes to actually doing it.

But… I think the biggest cautions are to avoid pine/spruce/fir and cedar for aquarium use. They have saps that are dangerous for aquatic life. I would try to stick to harder woods if possible Also avoid any species that are known to be poisonous to humans, like holly. Scrub clean and boil to disinfect wood.

Rocks and stones… test with a few drops of vinegar. (I think you can also use one of the two nitrATE chemicals if you have a liquid freshwater test kit. I can’t remember if it’s bottle number 1 or 2. I’m sure Google can tell you more.)

Both vinegar and the chemical in the nitrate are acids and will bubble if they encounter limestone. Limestone will raise the GH of your tank which is good for cichlids but probably not what you want in most fish tanks.

NEVER boil rocks!! If there are air pockets in the rock it can cause the rock to explode. You should be able to scrub them with a clean stiff brush to remove dirt and pour hot water over them, but don’t boil them.

Sand or gravel from a living ecosystem in the wild will likely contain things you probably don’t want in your aquarium.

You could get something like pea gravel at a big box hardware store.

Pool filter sand (it’s a light color) is used by many and others like black diamond blasting sand (it’s a dark/black color) and I think they’re both relatively inexpensive for the amount you get.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[JackTheCaptain]

Hi

I have an unusual piece of driftwood I got at a garage sale 30 years ago.

Granted this one's been out of water for ages so you'd think all the bacteria would be dead, however I dunno, I think I'd simply place the item near the tank for interesting decor, not in it.

For things to put in the tank along with some great ideas above, see if you have Nextdoor . com in your area, and look for anyone who might have cuttings of pothos/devils ivy they're looking to get rid of. To avoid any toxicity issues put those in water for a few days to harden off the cut end, and there you have free live plants for your aquarium

 

[Skwirlygurl]

Devil's ivy looks like philodendron. Is it semi-aquatic (needs to be mostly above water)?

I think I had a pothos once. Kind of looks like a frail bamboo?

 

[JackTheCaptain]

Is it semi-aquatic (needs to be mostly above water)?

I have mine probably about half above and half below the surface.

This is pothos. The last shot on the right was to try and show how much is below the surface (mixed in with some fake plants, and weird glare on my big blue boi lol)

 

[Skwirlygurl]

Aha! Okay, "Devil's Ivy" every showed me exactly what you have, there. Pothos showed me something else entirely. Your "pothos" looks exactly like what my mother (and her mother before her) always kept on the window sill in a vase of water. They always called it a philodendron. It was my first plant in college (kept in an apple juice jug on the windowsill). It is easy to clone/root and to care for. I'm fairly sure the one my mother has today came from a clipping from my grandmother's way back in 1970s. They're pretty much immortal (unless you let the water run dry). Below is confirmation... and I know where I'm going to get my clone from 😎

"Epipremnum aureum is a species in the arum family Araceae... The plant has a number of common names including golden pothos, Ceylon creeper, hunter's robe, ivy arum, house plant, money plant, silver vine, Solomon Islands ivy, marble queen, and taro vine. It is also called devil's vine or devil's ivy because it is almost impossible to kill and it stays green even when kept in the dark.

"It is sometimes mistakenly labeled as a Philodendron, Pothos or Scindapsus in plant stores."

 

[Skwirlygurl]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, @JackTheCaptain for the wonderful idea, and @sparkyjoe for the picture that confirms the species and how to plant.

In my musings about the immortality of this plant, how my grandma (who had a green thumb) is gone but her plant lives on in the one my mother has, I realized this would be the most wonderful addition for Hank's tank. Mom will enjoy rooting the clones for me so they will be 100% safe for my Beast and I'll feel a little bit that they'll watch over him, silly as that sounds lol. I had been meaning to ask her for a clone anyway (it's the only house plant I can keep alive but I killed mine back in college by letting the water run dry) (I'm better with outside plants and once grew a lavender bush from baseball size into 4 ft diameter).

It looks like I'll have to remove the lid, which means dropping the water level. Hopefully the filter will go that low. I'll have to turn the heater sideways because it's nearly as tall as the tank but I think that's acceptable?

I'm really excited, now. And actually I wanted black sand but couldn't find it locally when I set up his new tank after the move. I'll look into that on Amazon like you suggested and probably alternate with pool filter sand. I already have a Seachem Flourite substrate under a "natural" colored pebble but the pebble is a little orange, especially with the rooibos, and it's hard to see where food falls.

Thank you again!

 

[sparkyjoe]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, @JackTheCaptain for the wonderful idea, and @sparkyjoe for the picture that confirms the species and how to plant.

In my musings about the immortality of this plant, how my grandma (who had a green thumb) is gone but her plant lives on in the one my mother has, I realized this would be the most wonderful addition for Hank's tank. Mom will enjoy rooting the clones for me so they will be 100% safe for my Beast and I'll feel a little bit that they'll watch over him, silly as that sounds lol. I had been meaning to ask her for a clone anyway (it's the only house plant I can keep alive but I killed mine back in college by letting the water run dry) (I'm better with outside plants and once grew a lavender bush from baseball size into 4 ft diameter).

It looks like I'll have to remove the lid, which means dropping the water level. Hopefully the filter will go that low. I'll have to turn the heater sideways because it's nearly as tall as the tank but I think that's acceptable?

I'm really excited, now. And actually I wanted black sand but couldn't find it locally when I set up his new tank after the move. I'll look into that on Amazon like you suggested and probably alternate with pool filter sand. I already have a Seachem Flourite substrate under a "natural" colored pebble but the pebble is a little orange, especially with the rooibos, and it's hard to see where food falls.

Thank you again!

You’ll find the black diamond blasting sand at a Tractor Supply, Rural King, or some other farm supply store. I think it comes in 50# bags!

It’s also at PetSmart as Aqua Natural “Black Diamond” sand. Much more expensive.

Either way, you’ll want to rinse the heck out of it. I think it’s basically coal slag, so it can have a bit of an oily residue on it. It’s supposed to be completely safe for aquarium use, although there are those who’ve found metallic bits in it that can rust. Do some research on it so you’re sure.

Basic big box pet store brand black sand isn’t terribly expensive if you want to go that route.

 

[JackTheCaptain]

I'll have to turn the heater sideways because it's nearly as tall as the tank but I think that's acceptable?

Rather than removing the lid, can you cut openings so that the plant stems can poke out and you wouldn't have to change the rest of the tank?

If you do have to adjust the heater, check the box or online for that product to see if it can be horizontal as well as vertical.

I absolutely love your idea to have your Mom help with cuttings - I don't think it's silly at all. This is exactly how things with a hobby should be, fun, interesting and happy

 

[Skwirlygurl]

You’ll find the black diamond blasting sand at a Tractor Supply, Rural King, or some other farm supply store. I think it comes in 50# bags!

It’s also at PetSmart as Aqua Natural “Black Diamond” sand. Much more expensive.

Either way, you’ll want to rinse the heck out of it. I think it’s basically coal slag, so it can have a bit of an oily residue on it. It’s supposed to be completely safe for aquarium use, although there are those who’ve found metallic bits in it that can rust. Do some research on it so you’re sure.

Basic big box pet store brand black sand isn’t terribly expensive if you want to go that route.

Tractor supply!!! Can get chicken feed, rodent food, boots and belts and now...

Happy, joy-making fish stuff.

And boots and belts. And boots. And belts.

Will look tomorrow. I'm due a shopping trip. 😂

 

[JackTheCaptain]

heh, I love Tractor Supply LOL

 

[Skwirlygurl]

Rather than removing the lid, can you cut openings so that the plant stems can poke out and you wouldn't have to change the rest of the tank?

If you do have to adjust the heater, check the box or online for that product to see if it can be horizontal as well as vertical.

I absolutely love your idea to have your Mom help with cuttings - I don't think it's silly at all. This is exactly how things with a hobby should be, fun, interesting and happy

I have a Dremel (or two or three) once I unpack all my boxes. Nah... okay, the plants are a hobby. Maybe I'll figure that out. Maybe it will make Hank happier...

We "got" the foam on the surface like when there was when biofilm started but yo, I think it might be a bubble nest. Dude is ashwitz-thin and back from death but he's bubbling I think.

I will do anything to make my boi happy, seriously ♥

 

[JackTheCaptain]

I apologize if I missed this, but do you have some bloodworms to give him - not that many, and not frequently. Maybe a couple-three frozen ones, a couple times a week? You're giving him pellets? If he's a reluctant eater, you could soak them in garlic which could help entice him. You want his food to have a protein like fish meal, or black fly larvae as the first ingredient.

 

[Skwirlygurl]

I apologize if I missed this, but do you have some bloodworms to give him - not that many, and not frequently. Maybe a couple-three frozen ones, a couple times a week? You're giving him pellets? If he's a reluctant eater, you could soak them in garlic which could help entice him. You want his food to have a protein like fish meal, or black fly larvae as the first ingredient.

When we arrived on this forum, he was on death's doorstep. Big Box store told me I was over-feeding him when he was actually starving (emaciated, TBH, you guys showed me the chart). He quit eating the day after i found y'all. VIA advice from forum, currently, I'm giving him 6 bloodworms daily. It took 2 days to get him interested. I offer him Bug Bites, now, too, before bloodworms and today he finally ate one. Rooibos tea. Stress Guard. He's rallying and super-strong.

I'm fairly sure nobody expected him to live this long, given his emaciated condition. I found ya'll at 11:59 on the doomsday clock. He's now rewound to 11:00 and making progress. If I can find a balanced diet he will eat, he'll live another 2 years.

 

[Skwirlygurl]

I apologize if I missed this, but do you have some bloodworms to give him - not that many, and not frequently. Maybe a couple-three frozen ones, a couple times a week? You're giving him pellets? If he's a reluctant eater, you could soak them in garlic which could help entice him. You want his food to have a protein like fish meal, or black fly larvae as the first ingredient.

I used garlic to get him to eat the bloodworms. We're working on a balanced diet. It has only been 5 days since he quit eating entirely. 3 days on bloodworms. 2 days offering superior pellets. He swallowed one today. Going to offer him alternating with bloodworms another 2 days at least before I go all "tough love" on the pellets. He is not just underweight. He's death-camp. Extra boost in calories (I was told) is first priority.