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agreed boiling weakens the structural integrity of the wood.

Baking on the otherhand won't have that effect so I would recommend baking over boiling.

I went to the site this morning and I could see the pictures. Curious.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I can see the pics, the wood looks cool

Hi,

Sorry about the pictures, I havent used that site before and If someone else says they cant see the pictures I will post them elsewhere.

Also, I didnt follow your question, I think you are missing a noun, im not sure which thing you were talking about putting to the left of the wood.

Chaos

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- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -

Chaos,

I couldn't access any pictures. How are you going to use in your hardscape, plant it to the left of the wood?

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Hello,

I got the wood cut and baked it. This was accomplished with only a minor personal injury (one cut was a very hard angle to hold the wood) Still all is well and the basic layout can be seen in the pictures below. The wood doesnt sink as well as I hopped initally but I have slate and will get stainless screws today so that will work out well. I would like to thank you all for your advice with the wood. Im going to put these pics and a list of plants locally available on the planted part of the forum so I can get advice on that end of the tank.

Chaos


The tank, Nano Cube 12 DX

Front view with me modeling the wood

Side view

Other Side view

If anyone sees a good spot to have a little nub of wood sticking up about 2 inches through the gravel I may use that last little piece.



Last edited by chaosmaximus at 29-Dec-2005 10:23

Last edited by ChaosMaximus at 29-Dec-2005 10:26

__________________________________
- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -

Hi,

I now understand why you were worried. I belive you thought i was going to do somthing akin to splitting a log with an axe. That would be a bazare idea.

Chaos

__________________________________
- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -

Now if I have it correctly you are going to cut is "across" the piece of DW not down and through the center of the wood. That does make sense and certainly safe and easy to do.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
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Hi,

I wish i could avoid cutting it, but it is 18" wide the tank is 13" wide. Right in the middle of the picture is a narrow black slit this is the middle point of the wood. What you cant see is that its overall shape is like a Y that you are looking down on. I plan to cut of the right branch and with rock plant or wood will be able to conceal the cut. Its really hard to see what the wood looks like from the front, there are other branches sticking forward in the picture that look flat. If photoshop was working I could make my design idea plainer.

If it is comforting I subscribe to Norm's measure twice cut once philosphy and am fairly sure I can do this well with enough thought.

As for baking, is 220 degres ok or should it be hotter. Also are there any concerns about the wood cracking?

Thanks, Chaos

__________________________________
- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -

There is a saying "I would like to see that" I personally think you would be left with a useless pieces of DW. How did you intend to cut it down the middle? Being a wood worker all my life I would not even touch it.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Hello,

I just got [link=this piece]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7730674161 [/link] of mopani wood. I have a small tank and want to cut it in half down the middle and want the right side piece to stand vertically. I can get a little piece of slate and attach it, but i dont know what adhesive would be fish safe.

Also, for preparing the wood am i correct that these are the steps to take

Cut
set the one pice on slate
soak
scrub
soak (just till water clears as the wood shoud sink in water dry)

Thanks, Chaos

__________________________________
- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -

Boiling for too long will destroy the cell walls making it degrade faster.

For those of us that work with wild caught pieces of wood (they're hard to catch belive me ) we tend to boil or bake for a short time to kill any hitchhikers then soak till it sinks.

^_^

[hr width='40%'][/font]

Mopani wood will sink without soaking so you will not need the slate except as a base to hold it in a position. If that is the case, do a clean, straight cut across the wood at the angle that you want the wood to be presented in your aquarium. Use a stone or masonry drill to make a hole in your slate piece. Use a stainless steel screw to attach the wood to the slate piece.

By the way, it is a very nice looking piece. See if you can cut it to create two useable pieces. After you cut the wood, it is best to boil it for 10 minutes or so to kill potential pathogens.




Bob Wesolowski attached this image:


__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Hi,

I would not cut the wood if that were possible, but I am working with a rather small tank.

When you say it will ruin the wood am I correct that you mean visually? or do you mean it will rot faster or somthing along those lines. I should be able to conceal the cut edges well with the aquascape I am thinking of.

Chaos

__________________________________
- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -

Cutting and stuff will just ruin a wonderful piece of wood.

If the wood isn't sinking then soak it in a large tub of water until it does. I don't recommend boiling as it will weaken the fibers of the wood and shorten it's overall lifespan.

What I would do would be to really think out the Aquascape and position rocks in the tank to support the wood, if it won't tand on it's own.

You need Aquarium Safe Silicone.

You can also boil it if you want, but i think it's better to scrub it & leaving soaking for a few days.


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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
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Hi,

Sorry i wasnt too clear. I was tired last night. I want to take the piece of wood, cut it, and mount one piece to slate like you get from the store.

There is a link in the first post which has a picture of the item if you scroll down.

Am i correct that a silocone based caulk, like for the bathroom, is what you mean jasonpisani?

Do I need to boil at any point or will scrubbing suffice and should I decloronate the water the wood will soak in ?

Chaos



__________________________________
- - - Humorous Bit of Wisdom - - -

You can cut it & Silicone it to a piece of Slate. To make it Tank safe, you have to cut it, silicone it, let it dry & then soak & scrub it for a few days.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

I could not see any photo of the DW.

Depending on the thickness of the DW it can be screwed using stainless steel screws.

This would be possibly the strongest method. If you had to use any type of adhesive you could use the Aquarium Safe silcone as well as the screws

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Im not exacly sure what you want to do, but do you think using string would work?