Tank decor??

[NooB1]

I've been trying to find a certain type of decor, a tree branch style about 2 1/2 -3 feet long. But dont really want real wood. I would much rather have fake decor.

Where does everyone here go for there decor?

Any online sites you can link me to?

[Zakk]

i just covered my white sand with some multicolored darker pebbles.

[Toshogu]

eh... might look into terrarium/reptile stuff, they have plenty fake branches and stuff like that.

[hXcChic22]

Originally Posted by NooB1 I've been trying to find a certain type of decor, a tree branch style about 2 1/2 -3 feet long. But dont really want real wood. I would much rather have fake decor. Where does everyone here go for there decor? Any online sites you can link me to?

Big Al's http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...wType=Category (that is specifically to driftwood-type deco but they have tons of other stuff)

That Pet Place http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/...8/category.web

Never bought from either of them but they have tons of selection. When we start our next tank we might buy some deco from one or the other.

[NooB1]

Originally Posted by Zakk i just covered my white sand with some multicolored darker pebbles.

I bet that looks pretty cool too.

Originally Posted by Toshogu eh... might look into terrarium/reptile stuff, they have plenty fake branches and stuff like that.

Seriously would have never thought of that, great idea thanks!

Originally Posted by hXcChic22 Big Al's http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...wType=Category (that is specifically to driftwood-type deco but they have tons of other stuff) That Pet Place http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/...8/category.web Never bought from either of them but they have tons of selection. When we start our next tank we might buy some deco from one or the other.

Thanks for the links I'll check them out, appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Thanks folks appreciate it.

[Cacatuoides]

Why not use real? The fish love it.

[NooB1]

Originally Posted by Cacatuoides Why not use real? The fish love it.

I'm sure they do, but I'm just getting into the hobby. So correct me if I'm wrong but isn't a tank harder to maintain with live plants? Don't get me wrong eventually I woulD like yo give it a try. But right now I don't have the lights for it or any experince with live plants.

[hXcChic22]

Originally Posted by NooB1 I'm sure they do, but I'm just getting into the hobby. So correct me if I'm wrong but isn't a tank harder to maintain with live plants? Don't get me wrong eventually I woulD like yo give it a try. But right now I don't have the lights for it or any experince with live plants.

Not necessarily as long as you get real aquatic plants. We learned the hard way that Petsmart's "aquatic plants" are not usually real aquatic plants and suffocate underwater. Sometimes plant matter can also start rotting and raise the nitrates in your water (not good).
If you want to start out with plants, get a stalk of bamboo from the pet store and put it near the back of the tank under the filter opening, so it can grow out of the opening and get air once it gets tall enough.
Another easy plant you can try is a "banana plant" http://livingaquatic.com/product_inf...070ef5a1e26624 We've had great luck with ours. Within days of placing it in our tank, it started sending out roots and shoots.

[br00tal_dude]

java fren is another good low maintenancelow light plant

[Cacatuoides]

okay, So bamboo can be put totally under water for a while? And any how, Noob, i was talking about the drift wood

[hXcChic22]

Originally Posted by Cacatuoides okay, So bamboo can be put totally under water for a while? And any how, Noob, i was talking about the drift wood

Yeah, ours had been completely underwater until right before we moved it into our planted tank. Right before, the leaves on the top breached the surface of the water. Now it sticks out the top of our 20 long.

[NooB1]

Originally Posted by hXcChic22 Not necessarily as long as you get real aquatic plants. We learned the hard way that Petsmart's "aquatic plants" are not usually real aquatic plants and suffocate underwater. Sometimes plant matter can also start rotting and raise the nitrates in your water (not good). If you want to start out with plants, get a stalk of bamboo from the pet store and put it near the back of the tank under the filter opening, so it can grow out of the opening and get air once it gets tall enough. Another easy plant you can try is a "banana plant" http://livingaquatic.com/product_inf...070ef5a1e26624 We've had great luck with ours. Within days of placing it in our tank, it started sending out roots and shoots.

First let me say thank you, i think you've hit all my threads aswell as been extremely helpful. Th ename says it all I am a noob to this so i apppreciate the feed back.

Also i will look into the bamboo, but y tank is pretty deep i believe 24 inches tall, i have remeasure but fairly certain, would a small bamboo last that long under water?

Also would i need to ge an MH light?

Originally Posted by br00tal_dude java fren is another good low maintenancelow light plant

Thank you for your input, I will look into that. I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Cacatuoides okay, So bamboo can be put totally under water for a while? And any how, Noob, i was talking about the drift wood

Ah.. I see, went right over my head. But i dont want to use real drift wood neither, cause it turns the water brown correct? I dont want the water to look brown. But if there is a way that you can keep the color looking freash i may try it.

[Cacatuoides]

The reason the water turns brown is because Tannins leak out of the wood. If you boil the piece(s) for a bit it pulls a lot of this out. It might still turn it a slightly teaish color, but personally I think it makes it look natural, and the fish like it and there colors seem to be more "true" in my opinion. They aren't stressed at all.

[NooB1]

Originally Posted by Cacatuoides The reason the water turns brown is because Tannins leak out of the wood. If you boil the piece(s) for a bit it pulls a lot of this out. It might still turn it a slightly teaish color, but personally I think it makes it look natural, and the fish like it and there colors seem to be more "true" in my opinion. They aren't stressed at all.

Thank you for your opinion and advice, and i aactually think i have seen this. I was at the fish store, and i seen some fry in a regutar tank with no real wood, there color fairly bland. Then i seen the same type of fry from the same parents in another tank with a peice of wood, the water did have a teaish color to it, but the fish's color was wayyyyyyy more apparent and stood out. If that is the case then i would probably give real wood a try the color difference was amazing.

Is there a chemical in the wood that makes that color happen?

[hXcChic22]

Originally Posted by NooB1 First let me say thank you, i think you've hit all my threads aswell as been extremely helpful. Th ename says it all I am a noob to this so i apppreciate the feed back. Also i will look into the bamboo, but y tank is pretty deep i believe 24 inches tall, i have remeasure but fairly certain, would a small bamboo last that long under water? Also would i need to ge an MH light?

Yes, your bamboo should be fine underwater. I don't know what size tank you have but ours was in a 29 gallon and was, in fact, the only plant we put in there that survived. It started sending down roots from the leafy part at the top, even though they never hit the substrate.

I don't think you need a special light either... bamboo is one of those miracle plants that can live with almost any light level, I believe. I mean, my grandmother had a grove of it that was in almost constant sunlight, but in China, it grows in forests where I imagine it doesn't always have the best lighting. I've heard mixed reviews on having bamboo in tanks. We personally had good luck with it and didn't have a special light (it was just the one that came with the setup kit) or put any type of plant food into the water.