drmanny

hi all
i have a 3 ft aquarium with swordtails, mollies and danios and tetras, and a pleco, they are all doin well and i havent lost any fish in the last 4 months

i wanted to add bamboo logs to provide hiding place for the pleco during the day.. is it okay.. do they foul the water coz i really dont wanna kill my fish if it does.. ( they arent plants .. just logs of bamboo )
thanks..

agabr123

hi and welcome to fishlore

i'm not sure if this is the same thing, but i have and other people have bamboo planted in their tanks, so i imagine that bamboo logs would probably work, but hopefully someone else can give you a more definitive answer.

sirdarksol

Yes, bamboo works well in the tank. If you put dried bamboo in, it will slowly deteriorate (nothing wrong with that, it happens with driftwood, too.) You can coat it with an aquarium-safe shellac, though, and it will last as long as your aquarium does. It depends on the look you're going for.

Alex: The stuff that people put in their aquarium is called lucky bamboo, and isn't really bamboo. It kinda looks like bamboo, but it's not a grass. It's a member of the dracaena family. Lucky bamboo works well alive, but it rots pretty quick if you put dead stalks in. Real bamboo probably wouldn't survive if you put it in the tank, but the dried stalks work well as decor.

agabr123

lol, i figured it wasn't the same thing, thanks for the info

drmanny

thanks for the help
appreciate it..

Nate McFin

Lucky Bamboo will not live forever submerged. It is a non aquatic plant. It will eventually rot and foul your tank.

sirdarksol

No, but it does very well immersed.

drmanny

well i put cut n hollow bamboo logs in the tank.. there was a little fouling of the waterwith the colour goin a muddy shade.. guess thats from the tannins and from the wood swelling up a bit.. i did a partial water replacement which was due anyway..the water s perfectly clear now.. my fish love the new hiding places.. and the pleco s found its own place to sleep all day

Nate McFin

Sounds like a cool cave.
Keep an eye on the pH over the next few weeks. If it acts the same as wood it may lower your PH some.
BTW Where are the pics?

drmanny

they ll be up soon Nate
got my USMLE board exam comin up .. too much studyin . hate it!

Chrisson

Can't wait to see how you made it! I imagine it like half a thick peice of bamboo... anyways good luck with the exam.