Loaches Online Forum

I am upgrading from a 33 gallon to 150 gallon tank. We set up the 150 gallon yesterday. We used several pieces of petrified wood in the tank. I was told at the pet smart that sometimes petrified wood could release copper esp. if alot of gold or green in the wood. No gold or green that we saw. I've sent my hubby after a copper testing kit. I realize will need to keep testing for a few weeks. Does anyone have any experience using petrified wood in tank with clown loaches. I have 3 blood red parrot fish, 5 clown loaches, 3 cory catfish, 2 male guppies, 5 females and various sizes of baby guppies that escaped being live food.
Thanks so much!

I have petrified wood in my 55g with Y Sidthimunkis. I haven't noticed any problems - i didn't know there could be any problems - but i'll be watching this thread to see what others say. Incidentally, I've also got amano shrimp in there, which are extremely sensitive to copper. They're doing very well, and we just added some cherry shrimp (though we have yet to see them again - they're still babies, and its a very jungle-ish tank). Our petrified wood is more on the pink and dark brown side, and we got it from our favorite LFS.

Whew, that's a relief! My clown loaches are my favorites. I call them the Ringling Brothers! Will also be looking forward to other people's responses. I will post results of copper testing!

Here's some rock info from The Krib:

http://www.thekrib.com/TankHardware/rocks.html

Seems petrified rock is usually fairly inert.

Martin.

It is extremely heavy though, too much in the wrong place could cause a crack

As a geologist I feel pretty comfortable tellling you that pertified wood is not only safe but almost totally inert. Would say completely but then Mother Nature loves to pull sneaky tricks every once in a while but I would feel ok using it. This rock is formed by the replacement of orginal material by minerals, specifically silica in the form of chert. You shouldn't have a problem with it. Just be careful of sharp edges. A sharp edge on a piece of chert can cut thru 8 layers of paper so you can imagine what it might do to one of your loaches. Good Luck.

zmo63 wrote:its a very jungle-ish tank

I love jungle-ish tanks, and I would love to see an example of petrified wood in an aquarium. I've never heard of that before. How about a picture.

PW does not leetch harmful chemicals that cause problems for your fish & imo looks great !!
I too would love to see some pics of your setup using PW. Hint..hint...lol.

limecharacin wrote:

zmo63 wrote:its a very jungle-ish tank

I love jungle-ish tanks, and I would love to see an example of petrified wood in an aquarium. I've never heard of that before. How about a picture.

I think it might end up being a disappointment, but here you are - http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=7299. It's the last photo in the series. I have about six pieces of Petrified Wood, but took all but two out because it was getting so crowded. I do really like the look though, and might work one or two pieces back in. This tank has grown out a lot since I took this picture, and I had new ones ready to post (with closeups!) and my harddrive suffered catastrophic failure. Just haven't had time to pull out the tripod and do it again.

zmo63 wrote:

limecharacin wrote:

zmo63 wrote:its a very jungle-ish tank

I love jungle-ish tanks, and I would love to see an example of petrified wood in an aquarium. I've never heard of that before. How about a picture.

I think it might end up being a disappointment

Are you Crazy !! Simply the best !! So so nice !!
I'd love to live there if i was a fish.

Have been testing for copper and has been completely negative. Been having some problems with new tank sydrome, no fishes losses so far. That's what I get for listening to fish guy at Pet Smart. Since tank was 150 gallow and i had bio filter, mechanical filter and gravel from healthy set up tank he said to go ahead and set up and let sit 24 hrs and add my 3 Blood red parrot fish. The each day after if testing was OK add more fish. Well after thinking thru I added some guppies first which did fine for 24 hours. Then next day I returned from the store and dear hubby had moved everyone!!! The 3 parrot fish, 5 clown loaches, 3 cory cats, 1 small pleco. Everyone seemed to be in fish heaven, swimming, examining and digging in sand. Until next morning when everyone was gasping at the top of the tank. I was able to catch 2 of the Parrot fish but none of the other. Very hard in a tank that big with many caves! Water test showed amonia at stress and everything else safe levels. Added 2 air stones. Did a 30% water change. That afternoon went and bought a power head to blow more air into tank. Also did another 25% water change. This morning test strips still about the same. I don't think these test strips are aqurate, maybe cause I'm using Prime. Going to buy the test kit this afternoon. The loaches seem fine, going over everything with their barbels, sometimes looked a little bleached out, the one Parrot that I couldn't catch is now hiding in a cave, the cory's are rooting around and going to the top to get a gulp of air every once in a while and guppies are staying pretty much at top of tank. Sorry this is so long. Any suggestions would really be appreciated. I really don't want to lose fish. I could strangle my hubby but he was just trying to help and didn't realize danger.
I will send pictures as soon as crisis is past! The tank actually looks pretty good.
Thanks Cordell

This is a great looking tank. You have nothing to worry about in that department. I'm glad the PW is working out for you. As long as you stay with rocks that are composed of chert or quartz you will be ok. Good Luck.