PlanetCatfish.com

+1 for pool filter sand.

And what's the word on using grapewood as driftwood? I've seen and heard conflicting things about it. Is it safe to use in an aquarium or should I avoid it? I have a nice piece that approximates tree roots that I was going to boil for a few hours and soak for a week or two, but if it's not a good idea I'll just bring it back to the store. What do you all think?

Safe in the sense that it won't kill your fish. Not so great in the sense that it won't last long (and may go mouldy if you don't have something that "cleans" the wood - an Ancistrus or similar).

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Mats

As Mats said, it will grow some nasty, thick slime fungus all over if there is not something in the tank to constantly graze on it. For a beautiful, natural look I think manzanita is about impossible to beat http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-driftwood.html

-Shane

Would pitbull plecs fit the bill? As I live in Florida, I think I might go foraging for driftwood along the beach and the canals for some real stuff. I find driftwood to be rather overpriced, and I mean, what could possibly go wrong looking for it myself?

if you pull your driftwood from water with traces of industrial waste in it, you'll find out pretty fast what can go wrong......


and ofcourse putting a baby gator in there will make things interesting, but only for a while

Whilst Alex's concern about industrial (and agricultural) [toxic] waste is a valid one, I think a much bigger reason for most people not using wood that they find on the beach/local river is simply the lack of suitable places to collect it.

As long as the wood is well dried, collected from a place where the wood is clean (from a "waste" perspective), and it's nice and old (not "green").

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Mats

Just to add my 2 pence (Cents) worth.

I think the very first consideration is what species you intend keeping and plan the tank set up to suit.

The term 'Corys' may be a standard one but their natural habitat conditions are not.

Substrates may vary slightly, but for most there will be a fine sand underneath them, this may have a smattering of leaf litter, none at all, or a dense layer. I collected C. delfax in a tributary of the Rio Mammon in July 2011, where the leaf litter was 10" - 12"deep, under which was very fine white sand. the water parameters were, pH 4.8, TDS 8.3ppm, temperature 76ºF.

There are many members here that have collected corys from various locations and I am sure once you have decided on the species you want to keep, they will be more than willing to help with habitat information.

Ian

Thanks for the input, Ian. Most of my cats are peppered cories, so the tank will be primarily geared towards them. I think most will be relatively happy with a riverbank root-snag kind of environment with clear water, low flow, lots of tree roots, and some leaves scattered on a sand substrate. I just need to find some root-like driftwood.

And what are peoples' thoughts regarding adhering rocks and such to the back wall of the tank via silicone?