Manzanita ok??

[rottbo]

So I got this huge piece of manzanita... about 6' long and really covered in branches tops probally 2'x2' the trunk is about 6" in diameter at the bottom.. but I want to knwo if I can use it in my aquarium or if I have to wait and use it in a bird or reptile cage???????

 

[mjime714]

I have some manzanita in my aquarium. I picked it up from Paradise. A member of this board. They look great with some great color. They sink fast and have very little tannins. Dry them out good first and trim the sharper branches off. Maybe even sand down some of the loose bark. You should be good.

Here is what it looked like when I first put it in my 150.

 

[rottbo]

nice these peices are very old so no drying needed.. but I do need to strip the leaves and a little bark... the piece is huge I am gonna have to trim it to fit in my tank

 

[Fish Etc]

Yes you can use Manzanita Woods, we actually order it at www.manzanita.com , try to soak it first for like 2-3 weeks or boiled it for 30-1 hour to remove all the tannins that may leak.

 

[rottbo]

I am not too worried about the tannins I dont care if it stains my water there is no way I can boil these they are way to big.. and soaking I want them in my tank NOW..... ahahah

 

[Fish Etc]

well you can put it right now if you want, but like i said tannins may leak and dont forget that tannins lower the Ph of water so beware.

if leak may occur, put Activated Carbon on your filter or rent a Diatom filter on your LFS

dont forget to post some pic of your tank

 

[mjime714]

dont forget to post some pic of your tank

YEAH!! I want to see it as well!

 

[rottbo]

I o\wn A diatom and the tank its going in is filtere with carbon

 

[guppy]

Manzanita decays very slowly and is resistant to tannin leaching as long as it is dried before use and the bark removed. bead or sand blasting works great for that. Here is a link to a wikpedia article that specifically references it's use in tanks http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzanita I have used it in several tanks with out problems.

 

[rottbo]

thanks and its good to see you back on the board guppy long time since I have seen you on