jewett
Site Contributor
I really like using drift wood in my newt tanks, for various reasons, but I got tired of the junk that would build up under the wood pieces. It was difficult to move the wood around without disturbing the newts (a lot) and then I could never get the wood back in the same position where I thought it looked the nicest. I also felt that too many black worms were obtaining refuge in the wood and that bugged me too. So I thought up a solution and I really have liked the way it looks.
I got 12lb fishing line and tied it to the ends of the drift wood. I liked the 12lb because it has been strong enough to support the wood, but thin enough to manipulate into knots. Also, it does not prevent my tank lids from closing securely because it is so thin. I left the ends of the fishing line long enough that I could keep the ends on the outside of the tank and secure them with suction cups (that are attached to the outside of the tank). I could then "cinch up" the fishing line, which resulted in the driftwood being suspended several inches above the bottom of the tank. This leaves the tank bottom free of any obstacles to my cleaning and water changes, and the black worms have not been able to use the wood as sanctuary.
I have been very please with the results of my "floating gardens." I think they look great with the drift wood all covered in java moss, and the newts utilize the extra space this created by the water surface, where they can hang out in the mostly submerged moss but can easily stick their heads up to breathe. I can also watch them better when they feed because the bottom of the tank is so much more easy to observe. And it has made water changes so much easier and faster for me.
I have done this in my Cynops pyrrhogaster tank, Cynops/Hypselotriton orientalis tank, and in the bigger set up I am working on for my Mesotriton alpestris colony. In the fire belly tanks the wood has been suspended since this past Spring and every thing has held up very well.
At first I thought I would have to spend a bit of money on "fish tank safe" suction cups, but then realized that I could in fact go with the cheap ones from the dollar store because the cups would not actually be in the tanks as they are attached to the outside, and therefore could not leech any weird chemicals in to my water. And to the best of my knowledge fishing line is fairly inert and so does not cause a problem either. I was also very careful to make sure that I left no fishing line looped where a newt could get entangled and drown, or get cut on. I have had no problems so far, and because the line that the newts have direct contact with is heavily covered by java moss I do not see this ever being a cause for concern.
Sorry no pictures, though! I am a horrible picture taker so all the pics have turned out goofy, and it always takes me forever to re- size pics to post, anyway. I bet the idea would look better in your imagination than my actual tanks, anyway!
Heather
I got 12lb fishing line and tied it to the ends of the drift wood. I liked the 12lb because it has been strong enough to support the wood, but thin enough to manipulate into knots. Also, it does not prevent my tank lids from closing securely because it is so thin. I left the ends of the fishing line long enough that I could keep the ends on the outside of the tank and secure them with suction cups (that are attached to the outside of the tank). I could then "cinch up" the fishing line, which resulted in the driftwood being suspended several inches above the bottom of the tank. This leaves the tank bottom free of any obstacles to my cleaning and water changes, and the black worms have not been able to use the wood as sanctuary.
I have been very please with the results of my "floating gardens." I think they look great with the drift wood all covered in java moss, and the newts utilize the extra space this created by the water surface, where they can hang out in the mostly submerged moss but can easily stick their heads up to breathe. I can also watch them better when they feed because the bottom of the tank is so much more easy to observe. And it has made water changes so much easier and faster for me.
I have done this in my Cynops pyrrhogaster tank, Cynops/Hypselotriton orientalis tank, and in the bigger set up I am working on for my Mesotriton alpestris colony. In the fire belly tanks the wood has been suspended since this past Spring and every thing has held up very well.
At first I thought I would have to spend a bit of money on "fish tank safe" suction cups, but then realized that I could in fact go with the cheap ones from the dollar store because the cups would not actually be in the tanks as they are attached to the outside, and therefore could not leech any weird chemicals in to my water. And to the best of my knowledge fishing line is fairly inert and so does not cause a problem either. I was also very careful to make sure that I left no fishing line looped where a newt could get entangled and drown, or get cut on. I have had no problems so far, and because the line that the newts have direct contact with is heavily covered by java moss I do not see this ever being a cause for concern.
Sorry no pictures, though! I am a horrible picture taker so all the pics have turned out goofy, and it always takes me forever to re- size pics to post, anyway. I bet the idea would look better in your imagination than my actual tanks, anyway!
Heather