Aquarium Decoration (Rocks, Plants and Substrates) • Types of wood

[summerboy1958]

Anyone know if there are kinds of wood that you shouldn't use for SA cichlids? The reason I ask is there are several corkscrew willows in our neighborhood that are dropping branches. If you don't know about this tree, the branches look just like tree roots, all "twisty". I was going to collect some and soak them, but I won't is anyone knows that willows should be used. Here is a link.

http://www.tytyga.com/Corkscrew-Willow- ... w-tree.htm

http://www.nettletonhollow.com/corkscre ... nches.html

Also, if we think that they are OK, should I strip off the bark before soaking?

[fmueller]

Willow will be ok, but they will leach some amount of tannin into the water, which could give it a tea color. The effect will be stronger if you leave the bark on, and obviously also if you use lots of the wood. The effect can be desirable for a South American setup (blackwater) and even for an African riverine tank, but you don't want this in an African rift lake aquarium. It could be deadly for very sensitive rift lake cichlids such as Tropheus. Last but not least, I'd give thin branches a lifetime of maybe a year in a tank before they start rotting and need to be replaced.