Introducing bogwood to your aquarium: a beginner's guide

[dorvex]

I put new wood or plants from the lfs or fellow fishkeepers in a vinegar water solution with some 'no planaria' for good measure, then give it a good rinse. Next, I pop it into a tank with loaches for the day, just to be extra sure.

[darnasuspect]

I'll be leaving the bogwood to soak for a bit longer, just to be on the safe side. Since it's been in their planted tank, it's already fully waterlogged and sinks, which is a bonus. I had a chat with the guy at the shop today and he's adamant it's safe to put in, given that their tank only contains tap water treated with API Stress Coat+. Plus, we're in the same postcode, so the water parameters are essentially the same.

Still, I'm going to keep it soaking to see if any other unwanted passengers emerge. That shrimp was a bit of a surprise, and I'd rather err on the side of caution.

[littleking]

Here's what I do with new wood - I recently picked up a nice piece of bogwood from my LFS. Not the cheapest, but I liked it, solid and chunky. I asked the shop if it had been in one of their holding tanks with fish, and they said no, just in a container with other wood, soaking until it sank. Even better, it was all done inside, so likely no exposure to unwanted critters.

I took it home and put it in a bucket with clean tap water and a small powerhead for circulation. Since it hadn't been in a tank with fish, it probably wasn't exposed to pathogens, and it was already waterlogged. I scrubbed it with a scourer and poured boiling water over it. This one will only be in the bucket for a day or so before going into my tank.

But here's an example of what we don't want - I found a rusty metal staple stuck in the wood. LFS probably used it to attach the price label, but I didn't see it until I had it in the bucket. If I hadn't noticed it, I would've added the wood to my tank without realizing it was there. That's a risk I wouldn't take, especially for inverts and shrimps - rusting metal could release toxins, and I don't want to find out the hard way.

[darnasuspect]

I asked my LFS if the wood was kept separate from fish, and they said yes, it was stored in a separate area. That's a good start, as it reduces the risk of pathogens. I've also given it a good scrub with a small hard bristle brush, making sure to clean the areas not covered by the plant or roots. That's how I found the shrimp, by the way. Still waiting to see if anything else comes out.