Coating to seal natural branches in a discus tank.

[Ofer Levy]

Hi all,
This is my first post and I am honored to be here. I have read quite a few of the recent posts and I know this is a good place to be.
I would like to put a few branches and roots in my new discus tank. Is there any safe material to cover them with so they won't rot and release harmful chemicals in the water?
Someone told me to consider Concrete Sealer or Epoxy resin.
Any advice?

Cheers,
Levy

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Levy and welcome to Simply. I have not ever heard of anyone coating their wood with any type of coating. Generally you want to ensure the wood chosen is fish safe so there is no need to add a coating. If you decide to try coating your wood be very careful to ensure what you choose is fish safe.
Pat

[Ofer Levy]

Hi Levy and welcome to Simply. I have not ever heard of anyone coating their wood with any type of coating. Generally you want to ensure the wood chosen is fish safe so there is no need to add a coating. If you decide to try coating your wood be very careful to ensure what you choose is fish safe.
Pat
Thank you for your comment Pat. I really like to use branches and roots I've found in a Mangrove swamp. They are very decorative and have a lot of 'character' but I don't think they'll last too long before starting to rot. I am sure there is some kind of fish safe material I can use to coat them with so they will stop rotting and won't release anything harmful to the water.

Idea anyone?

[Iminit]

Is the discus tank you’re only tank? I take whatever I find outside (rocks,wood) and clean it and add it to one of my other tanks. I’ll leave it in there for a few months. Than rinse it off and add to the discus tank. No I’ve never sealed anything I’ve added and won’t recommend it. Yes your new wood may break down and need to be removed later just the way it goes.

[danotaylor]

Of you look at this thread in how to build a DIY 3D background it has a product named to final coat styrofoam to make it water tight. You could us the same product to cover wood to seal it. It is fish safe as Steve makes home made backgrounds for all his tanks and this is his process
http://michigancichlid.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=5946.0

[Ofer Levy]

Thanks guys, fantastic input! That's exactly what I was after. Will give it a try and report once done.
Cheers,
Levy

[danotaylor]

The only issue will be that the wood will not water log and sink so you would have to secure to a piece of slate or something to keep it submerged.

[peewee1]

If you decide to coat the wood then you wood (pun) be depriving your Plecostomus of its favorite food source.

[Ofer Levy]

Thanks mate - that's easy to do.