i'm going to be putting some poplar branches into an aquarium i'm in the process of putting together. i'm not super worried about water born parasites or anything because the wood was cut from some trees at my cabin (so hasn't been in water before), but I am planning to just leave the bark on. most things I've read have said to strip the bark, but wont the bark just sort of rot and drop off anyway and then it would act like leaf litter? am I wrong in thinking this?. do we strip the bark just so that it doesn't make too much of a mess in the tank? my end goal is to make as realistic of an environment as possible. thanks
strip bark or not strip bark
- Thread starter jamntoast
- Start date
Certain barks leach poison when soaked. I don't know if poplar does. if you look into hide tanning there is a pretty comprehensive list as you need the acid poison to tan the hide. in the wild I'm sure nature does it's thing in a closed enviro I'm not so sure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_leather
The tanbark used in Russia was the poplar willow Salix arenaria or in Siberia the more readily available bast (dark inner bark, beneath the papery bark) of the birch tree.[SUP][1][/SUP]However it was also reported that spruce bark would be equally effective.[SUP][1]
[/SUP]http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/trees/populusbal.html[SUP]
And more then I care to know about the tree but the site does mention acid in the bark..
[/SUP][h=3]http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/media/magazine/articles/27-2-aspirin.aspx
the Chinese also used poplar bark and willow shoots to treat rheumatic fever, colds, hemorrhages, and goiter. One of the most noteworthy reports of the use of salicylic acid comes from the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates (460–370 BCE). He recommended chewing on willow-tree bark to patients suffering from fever and pain,[/h]Is salicylic acid harmful to the fish? That I don't know as I don't have a MSDS sheet on it or plan to use poplar in my next setup.
Hope the links help ya some.....
Rich
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_leather
The tanbark used in Russia was the poplar willow Salix arenaria or in Siberia the more readily available bast (dark inner bark, beneath the papery bark) of the birch tree.[SUP][1][/SUP]However it was also reported that spruce bark would be equally effective.[SUP][1]
[/SUP]http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/trees/populusbal.html[SUP]
And more then I care to know about the tree but the site does mention acid in the bark..
[/SUP][h=3]http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/media/magazine/articles/27-2-aspirin.aspx
the Chinese also used poplar bark and willow shoots to treat rheumatic fever, colds, hemorrhages, and goiter. One of the most noteworthy reports of the use of salicylic acid comes from the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates (460–370 BCE). He recommended chewing on willow-tree bark to patients suffering from fever and pain,[/h]Is salicylic acid harmful to the fish? That I don't know as I don't have a MSDS sheet on it or plan to use poplar in my next setup.
Hope the links help ya some.....
Rich
salicylic acid MSDS sheet read # 3 that will answer your questions. I'd say lose the bark after reading the sheet.
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927249
I would have included this link in above post and removed the other links but I don't see a edit button. Sorry
Rich
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927249
I would have included this link in above post and removed the other links but I don't see a edit button. Sorry
Rich
Thanks rich, that is actually very helpful and probably one of the most informed responses I've read on the topic as far as aquariums goes. Of course with the meds I'm sure they are referring to a much more concentrated solution but still good to know, being that this is a closed environment. I think I might try to strip as much bark as possible, nothing from what I read there mentioned the wood itself. As for tanning, that was the poplar willow mentioned there, not white poplar, but I have heard they are related species so I'm sure there are similar effects from the bark. Thanks. I really wish I'd peeled it when it was fresh, its going to be a pita now
