Marcels' driftwood find, please vote.

[m.lemay]

I found this awesome piece of oak driftwood and I would like your opinion as to which way looks better.Photo A or photo B ? It's about 18" tall and 35" across. Its going in my 75 gal.

[Phil Edwards]

Definately photo A. The second seems a bit too awkward. A looks like a stump which has decayed out and presents many more options for planting.

[Buck]

Nice piece Marcel,
Personally I think I would cut it because I like the larger piece the way it is in photo 1 and I like the smaller piece giving the effect of a root in photo B... :roll:

Left in one piece though I definately would go with A though for the same reason Phil has allready stated , planting option's abound... great find bro !

[m.lemay]

To be honest, I'd rather not cut it. I like option A also. If I plant on it, what are some plants that would take to the wood. I was thinking some java or christmas moss but I have neither. I also have anubias coffeefolia. What are some other plants that people are growing on wood?

The last time I tried java moss it wouldn't grow for beans but my fertilization was poor at the time. I'd love to try christmas moss, anybody have some they'd like to trade?

Marcel

[Buck]

No Xmas moss but I can send ya a handful of Java if ya like... I have it comin outta my ears. It needs to be thinned.
Maybe some of that Pellia everyone is talkin about, nice lookin stuff too.

[Momotaro]

Photo A.
I would like to see the smaller piece on a less severe angle.

Mike

[GulfCoastAquarian]

I have to dissent and say Photo B. Not only because of the thinner "root-like" piece everyone like but the "stump" section looks smoother, with a nicer color. The picture might not be accurately reflecting the actual piece, though. It's going to look a lot different under water so post pictures again once you get it in the tank!
Either way, it's a gorgrous piece. Great find!

[rdn2]

I can't put my finger on why but I think B looks better myself...

Ron

[Deuce868]

Yea, B lover here myself

[Wasserpest]

Though B looks interesting, to me it seems imbalanced, and I would probably go with A.

But, as GCA pointed out, under water with a lot of plants it will look different, and B might end up being more attractive...

Hmmm, choices.

[m.lemay]

I decided to go with picture A. I tried it both ways in the tank and decided "A" looked better in the tank. It also fit in better with the existing foreground that was already planted. It gives the tank more depth visually. The tank is a mess, but heres how it looks in the tank. I can't wait to get the wood all covered in moss

Marcel

[Deuce868]

wow, very nice. I was a B fan, but it looks good. Kinda like a volcano under water and all.

[Wasserpest]

Wow... looks beautiful! Where did you find it? Mother Nature, or perhaps a good store? Was it submerged? -->no problems with getting it to sink or affecting water quality?

[m.lemay]

Originally Posted by Wasserpest

Wow... looks beautiful! Where did you find it? Mother Nature, or perhaps a good store? Was it submerged? -->no problems with getting it to sink or affecting water quality?

I can't imagine what a piece like this would sell for at the store. I've seen smaller pieces than this sell for $100.

Oh man, I found the holy grail for driftwood. Theres a state park not too far from where I live that has a brook that winds and drops thru the forest with large oaks and maples growing along side it. I found this piece at the bottom of one of the waterfalls hung up on some rocks. It was mostly submerged, I had to climb about 100 Ft down a ravine to get it and then carry it back up. Theres some beautiful stuff in that park, I could have filled my pickup with driftwood. I'm going back with an axe next time :lol:

I couldn't believe the pieces I saw. There was this one root formation along the bottom of the brook that draped an area about 5'x4' with voids in between where the roots had fused together, I could imagine this piece blanketing the bottom of a large 6' tank with low plants growing up thru the voids. I'm thinking about harvesting some more and putting it for bid on aquabid or e-bay.

It sank right away, I pressure washed it to get the rot and crud off it and soaked it in a garbage can full of water for about 4 days. Its definitely leaching tannins, gives me an excuse to do twice weekly water changes till the tannins subside.

Marcel

[Buck]

Heh.....

So you ended up cuttin it eh? :lol: