Originally Posted by
jbacker7
It does have a light cedar smell. It's not overbearing or anything. I'm sure with regular water changes and less build up it would be far less.
This is Eastern White Cedar. It's a lot less potent than Western Red Cedar, which is more commonly used in construction, and exponentially less potent than "Aromatic Cedar".
"Aromatic Cedar", commonly used for cedar chests, closets, etc. as a natural protection / repellent for insects is actually a species of juniper. I think this is what most people think of when they hear the word "cedar" and instantly think "toxic".
(I have a background in woodworking and cedar holds a special place in my heart.)
I've read tons online about whether cedar is safe or not for use in the aquarium, and the only thing I have learned is that the general public probably misidentifies what is and isn't cedar the majority of the time haha.