Is grapevine safe for aquariums?

[robroy]

My local reptile store has some great pieces of grapevine. Very natural looking and a good price too.

I've read conflicting reorts as to its suitability in aquariums but as a general consensus is it worth using?

Thanks

 

[Lusus_Naturae]

I've used it. It does take a LONG time to cure where it's not leaving tannins in the water and turning it yellow-brown. My fish loved it, the plecos loved chewing on it too. It will get some fungus looking stuff on it while curing out, my guess is the sugar sap is leeching out but it looks like fungus under the water - bonus was the fry and plecos ate it up as quick as it leeched out and grew a lot too. My gibby pleco put on 3-4 inches in 2 months chewing on the branches.