Zoo Med Mopani Wood Terrarium Accents
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Mopani has a stunning appearance. but. It bleeds into your tank's water for months at a time. I soaked mine for months in an attempt to remove the tanin, but every time I put it back in, my aquarium looked like it had been filled with tea. It's a real downer. It's supposed to be safe for your fish, and some of them don't bleed as much as mine did, but it's not something I'd recommend. I got a refund when I returned it. Vendors are aware of this, but they don't always tell you what you're getting yourself into.
It's not a huge space. And not the one depicted in the image.
I bought a small piece of mopani wood that was 10 inches long.
In my 29 gallon tank, I placed one medium piece. 6" x 10" is the size of the medium. A 55-gallon cichlid tank is also in my possession. I'd probably put two pieces in that tank because the wood leaching into the water is good for your health.
Selected User Reviews For Zoo Med Mopani Wood Terrarium Accents
br>br>I purchased this wood for my bedroom's 45-gallon freshwater tank. The wood is dense and heavy for its size, and it quickly sinks. The surfaces are tangled and irregular, with protuberances, knobs, twists, and knots strewn about; One side is a darker brown, while the other is a lighter tan. My work is 12x8x2 inches and is relatively flat. This wood is one of my favorites because it gives my semi-custom home a nice natural look. Tank with plants in it When my bristlenose pleco was less than an inch long, I bought the wood for him and he grew up on it. I'll still see him on it, gnawing on the various surfaces with my Amano shrimps, months later. TANNINS: br>br>TANNINS: br>br>TANNINS: br>br> br>br>Tannins have no effect on your fish. Many plants naturally contain tannin compounds, which are easily leached into ecosystems when trees die and fall into a nearby river. pH: pH: pH: pH: pH: pH: pH: pH: br>br>The tannins will slightly lower your pH, but not to the point where it becomes a problem. Obviously, putting a large piece in a small tank will cause a greater pH drop, which could be problematic. The medium piece of wood in my 45G brought my pH down to 7. 2 to 7. After about two days (my water is slightly hard), there was nothing. br>br>Color of the water: br>br>Depending on the age of the wood, your tank water, water temperature, and other factors, this wood WILL leach and turn your water anywhere from light tan to almost light coffee. There are a few ways to stop or mitigate this issue. The long way is to soak a new piece of wood in a bucket or other container for a few weeks or until the water stops discoloring. According to what I've read, it took one person six months, so this method is time-consuming and impractical for those who need the wood right away. The quickest method is to boil the wood, then let it sit in the water for an hour or so before reboiling and repeating until the leeching has stopped. The third method, which is not recommended, is to simply throw the wood into the aquarium (without boiling it) and let it slowly leach out the tannins, using a product like Seachem Purigen in combination with activated charcoal to remove the tannins. br>br>Keep in mind that tannins are not harmful to fish, plants, or invertebrates, and that chemical/artificial water purification is never recommended when biologically safer methods such as boiling/soaking are available. WARNING: br>br> Boil the wood in a pot that won't be ruined. It leaves this sappy, gunky, extremely sticky residue that is a B%(H to remove residue that is a B%(H to remove residue that is a B%(H to br>br>After boiling my wood three times for about 30 minutes each time, I let it soak overnight after the third boil before placing it in my tank. It STILL leeched tannin and slightly tainted my water. I didn't mind because it gave the tank a more natural, rustic appearance. Keep in mind that few aquatic environments in the wild are as clear as the aquarium tanks we prefer. The water cleared up after about a month of weekly water changes. br>br>Price:br>br>Amazon's prices for this product are very reasonable, especially when using Prime Shipping. I defy you to find a comparable size wood for the same price/shipping in a brick-and-mortar store. PROS: br>br>
- Very dense and heavy; sinks almost instantly. br>- tone, giving your tank a more natural appearancebr>- It's a hit with the fish and invertebrates. br>- When compared to a local fish store, Amazon offers lower prices and free shipping. br>- Without decomposition, it lasts a long time. br>- You won't be able to choose the wood that is delivered to you, so expect to be surprised (or not!). ) Dimensions may vary from what is shown. CONS: br>br>
- Many people don't like the ice tea color your water takes after soaking in tannins for a long time. br>- After a week in your tank, white fuzzy mold may appear (which I confirmed after a week, but my shrimps and fish ate it)br>- It can be inconvenient to boil to remove tannins. br>- You won't be able to choose the wood, so you'll be pleasantly surprised (or not!). ) Dimensions may vary from what is shown.
When buying driftwood online, it's a bit of a gamble because you have no idea what it'll look like or how big it'll be. You must accept this before ordering any driftwood anywhere online. br>br>If you have a vision in your mind of how the wood should look, what shape it should take, or how big it should be, you should go to your local stores or visit one of the dedicated driftwood websites that list individual pieces with ACTUAL pictures of each piece (although these sites' prices are very high compared to ZooMed or ExoTerra offerings that supply thousands of pieces in bulk to customers). )br>br>I was putting together a 150 gallon Paludarium and needed a TON of driftwood, and since most pet stores only have 1 or 2 pieces of Mopani wood on the shelves, it was nice to go to a store and pick out some cool pieces. However, Petsmart and Petco only have Grapewood in stock, which is only suitable for use in dry lizard cages and should not be used submerged in fish tanks or in high humidity/dripwall/misted plant tanks. Mopani, on the other hand, is exactly what you need in those wet tanks.
I've come to the conclusion that purchasing wood from the internet is a gamble. I received a lovely piece of Mopani Wood that was much larger than I had anticipated. It's 16 inches long and about 5 inches wide. It is 5 inches wide at its widest point and 3 inches wide at its narrowest point. At its tallest point, it measures 5 inches. br>br>Pros: br>It's beautifulbr>It's a nice size and weightbr>It's very sturdybr>Was smooth for the most part (only had to lightly smooth two very small spots)br>br>Cons: br>Getting exactly what you want is impossiblebr>br>I chose a star because, while beautiful, I would have preferred a little more height. In fact, I'd be willing to give up some length in exchange for more height. You're willing to take that chance. Remember that it's still quite lovely and would more than suffice for anyone else's requirements. Simply put, I'm a snob.
For years, I've had Mopani wood in my fish tanks. It's an extremely durable wood that will last a lifetime! After 15 years, I still have a few pieces that look brand new. Years, to be sure. br>br>My only concern prior to ordering was the actual size; this wood varies so much that it's difficult to know what you're getting without seeing it in person. Let me say that this wood is well worth the money; it's a large, well-detailed piece that arrived on time. It's about 15"x6"x2. 5". This wood is extremely dense and sinks quickly; the only disadvantage is that it contains tannins, which cause your water to turn tea-colored. Repeated soakings in extremely hot water, on the other hand, will quickly remove them. br>br>It was clean right out of the box, and it only took four days to stop the water from turning yellow. This is something I will definitely buy again!.
I've seen much nicer driftwood, but I've also seen a lot worse. I was looking for exactly what I found here. Despite the fact that I did not win the driftwood lottery, this experience was far from disappointing. These two pieces will look fantastic in my 55g planted container. br>br>The size is fine. The shape is fine. The color is very light on one side, but I assume this will darken over time. When I first soaked them, they turned the water a brownish orange hue in just a few hours, and I plan to leave them soaking until they clear up while I fully cycle the tank. br>br>I've included a few quick photos of the wood so you can get a sense of its size and color.
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