Rescaping - Hopefully Unscathed

Well many facts on here now I need plenty of brain-dead things when it comes to keeping discus. I've gotten tired of the current Aquascape that I have had for a while now and I'm going to move things around. Also going to add some new pieces of Driftwood as well as we use some of the old ones. I do know that some of the new wood is Cedar. Cedar Driftwood is usually a "No-No" according to about 90% of light is on the internet. I used a huge piece in the past and I swear it was magic when it came to fish breeding like crazy, colors popping out, and whatnot. I have found a few threads throughout the internet where people also have the exact same experience with cedar driftwood. I'm willing to bet it really depends on what type of cedar and how far along the process of it being true driftwood. I believe I have red cedar. If anything else then this is a good thread to read in case I royally screw up.

The second point, I know there will be a lot of crap stirred up once I take the old pieces out. I honestly do not do a great job of siphoning my sand substrate. I know there's all sorts of old organic stuff underneath some of the deeper portions with in the tank. I plan to yank everything out at once, therefore stirring that puppy up, adding all the new stuff, and then doing 80% WC ( going to start draining the tank halfway before I pull stuff out), and then we'll probably do another water change tonight.

Don't be surprised if my dumb@** kills everything :p. Hopefully all the fish come out unscathed. Everything else, might be some good entertainment for you all. I will take pictures before hand after.

Wouldn't it be simpler to put your fish in a bucket before doing the rescape?

Maybe a spare tank? I have done this before. Good luck with your scape. I have a huge branch of Manzanita and my Discus love it. Too bad it stopped releasing tannins. I hope to rescape my tank in the near future, I just don’t have materials for it right now.

Good luck! I've removed sand from an aquarium without even making it murky. I used a clear tube hose to siphon starting from one corner to the other. as long as you move slowly, you will pick things up before it even rises. But, I would do as they suggested just in case you cannot contain the scum and let out all those gases.

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Here is one before shot. How upload a few more in a couple hours. Have to run out and go do an errand. Then hopefully the tank settles a little bit by then. All fish are doing fine so far. Still too soon to count my chickens before they hatch though

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I have better "before" pics but can't shrink file size (figuring out new phone)

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So far. Still have to fix wood, syphone debris, attach java, but hard part of removing old stumps and thinning plants plus adjusting sand levels is done almost.

Ummm... unsure why that pic is upside down :confused:

Anyhow, learning more about my wood (driftwood, that is... ;) ). It's Eastern Red Cedar. Supposedly toxic to fish according to many unofficial wood specialists who have aquariums. Funny thing is, no posts on any aquarium forum I read disclosed firsthand bad experiences... So, I will either be the first OR I'll be one to say that I my wood is safe for all to try :D

Also learned that Eastern Red Cedar & Southern Red Cedar are the same damn thing.

As of today, all fish are fine... in fact, more colorful and active. While it may not be because of my wood, I will say the more colorful aspect did not start until today. The two red cover females I have have been fine as ever before the whole change but today their red coloring is really popping as they once did. Who knows, it could have been Driftwood in the tank prior to the Driftwood I just took out that provided some sorts of Mojo for them. That said, I do remember in the past having a huge piece of Cedar Driftwood in the tank and I could not get fish to stop breeding. I had a decent cutting that was in my wife's fish tank in her classroom and I cut a piece of it only to discover that yes it is the same type of wood.

Wow this might be the most boring thread too many, hopefully it helps people out in the future if they run into wondering whether or not it is safe to use. By no means is this thread done because it could be a month or two from now that something could leak out of my wood and cause chaos. Also, if you are bored and have not picked up on any of the humor in this thread or many of my other postings throughout my time on this forum, please re-read with a glass of wine for a few beers ;)

I'll get some more pictures up soon but some of the new pieces need a little more time to sync. It is not near what I plan to have it looking like.

Few quick pics. Discus hiding since added extra small canister to help clear up quicker.

Ember tetra out though!

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Definitely NOT to where I want it yet. Waiting on a few pieces of wood to sink, need to trim sword more, attach java ferns, relocate valve, anubis, and a few other things.

You are really doing a rescape Elliot and bet it will be awesome once done and settled. I am slowly redoing my 230. Hope the red cedar works out.
Pat

Thanks Pat!!!!! Pics?

It really looks like crap now but it'll be better once 2 more pieces stop floating. Also will add a few pieces that are very then with lots of branches. I'm shooting for the "island" technique yet with a few caveats.

Elliot I'd like to comment on your wood cedar does contain toxins red cedar containing the most, now the toxins are natural antifungals or pesticides if you will, red cedar being a popular choice for outdoor furniture because of that now with any driftwood you want it to be aged and your wood does not appear to be overly large given the size of the tank any water discoloration can be cleared up with carbon and over time with regular water changes the toxins will dissapate, you should be ok and I would like to say that in reading your posts that you are enjoying the hobby and having fun with it

Jeanne

Thanks Jeanne! And I totally believe in the toxins since my life and I have used red cedar Lumber for raised beds as opposed to treated wood. I just remember in the past when I first set this tank up over 10 years ago had a huge piece of driftwood and that's Hank for several years. I have no idea what type of what it was and just put it in. During that time nearly every type of South America and fish to include discus ended up multiplying. When I finally decided I wanted to change up the Driftwood, I took the whole piece out and cut it up for a smaller tank that my wife wanted me to set up at her school classroom. I was shocked to realize, "OMG... that's cedar?" I've used other Driftwood since then and have had fish spawn but nothing like during the time when I had that first piece. Could have just been a crazy coincidence but I thought it would make for a good thread. If I have the same response this time, then might be interesting to others.... and if I kill all of my face, then at least it will provide entertainment for others :antlers:

Still waiting on one more piece to sink. It's a loooong one so it keeps me from being able to at least set up everything in the time being.

Well, I think the cedar DW needs to come out. I had a large piece (red) a long time go that fish seemed to live but the current pieces (yellow cedar) I think may be the culprit for fish not being themselves. Got new DW non-cedar.

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Took out cedar pieces. Inserted new DW. Literally threw new stuff in without arranging. I'll do that later. Meanwhile, my group is acting different in a a good way. Hope it continues that way. And man I love my new RC and two 3Rs! So darn red