mine appears tan as in the tank shots. those blue background close ups were taken without flash in low light, so the orange color is deceptive. I can't speak for all Manilla named rope of course, but most are simply treated with a bit of vegetable based oil during the winding process. other than that, they are natural, and I have not seen any tannins, oil slick, particles, or adverse fish and plant reactions since introducing it to my tank last week. Manilla rope is specifically used at water fronts, cargo netting, and in outdoor decor, so it has centuries of outdoor water and sunlight exposure history under it's lash. obviously if you see Manilla rope that's painted or waxy, I would be suspicious about using that. mine has a dry somewhat prickly texture.
|