Habitat - Indoor :: Cork Bark Problems

[hermeticcharm]

So a few weeks ago I picked up a piece of Cork Bark from my local pet store for new place for the turts to hang out on. I thoroughly washed it off and put it in the tank. Since day one pieces have been coming off of it. Lots of pieces. I ended up having to empty and refill the tank to get all of the pieces out of the water. Put it back in and it did the same thing.

Now I am making a new set up and emptied the tank again but I am worried about putting the cork bark back in because it keeps falling apart.

Also when I took it out today the cork bark itself has a small plant growing out of it!

Did I just get a bad piece of cork bark or is there something I can do to stop it from falling apart?

[marisa]

Was the piece you bought particularly dried out or "dirty"? Is it actually breaking down, or is it just surface pieces that are coming off?

I've never had a problem with corkbark breaking down so soon after I've purchased it...Before I put a piece in a tank, though, I gently scrub it with a brush to get rid of any loose pieces of the bark or lichen, etc., rinse it well, and let it dry (you don't want to rub off the outermost surface, though). Sometimes I'm surprised at how much stuff comes off. Did you clean the piece before you put it in the tank?

[SINI5T3R]

lol it has a plant growing on it? that is sorta cool, ide let the plant keep growing!

[hermeticcharm]

It may have been dried out. I bought it from a neat little local shop tucked away so it may have been sitting on the shelf for a while.

I did clean it off a bunch. After it started falling apart I cleaned it off again and gently rubbed all over the surface with my hand to try and break off loose particles.

I'm not sure the difference between surface pieces and breaking down. They arent large chunks just little pieces, some very small some the size of a BB or a little larger and theres a lot of them.

I have no clue whats up with the plant growing out of it. Its like a small sprout you would see in a garden.

[coreyvht]

cork bark is reall tree bark from the corktree lol it could have had a tree seed in it and know its growing a little tree

[hermeticcharm]

I washed it off again before putting it back in the tank and its still "shedding" but its much better this time, just a few pieces here and there. Got another question I figured I'd just ask here.

So the pieces of cork bark, bits of cuttlebone, and other various small debris seem to bunch up and stick to the sides of the tank/objects in the water. They never make it to the filter they just sit there. Just wondering, what's the best way to get that stuff out of the tank? When I try to use my fingers its very awkward and slides along the glass.

And one more question. I recently added some anacharis to the tank and all the bits and pieces just get sucked right up against my cascade 1000s input, I mean this sucker is COVERED in leaves hehe. But it doesn't seem to obstruct the flow at all. Is it okay to leave it there? The turtles nip at it now and then and the will probably end up cleaning it off better than I could.

[seano997]

I usually use a syphon hose to suck out any cuttlebone crumbs and whatnot. It seems to work pretty well on getting it out of the tank. Just like a little underwater vacuum cleaner.

[Seroster]

Python is useful for things on the bottom of the tank, I have a fish net to skim things that float around on the top. They're pretty cheap, <$5 for a moderate sized one, and it's much easier to get stuff out w/ it than w/ your fingers.

[hermeticcharm]

Thanks for the replies! Yeah I've been meeting to get a python but a new filter was definitely above it in the priority list.

Get a fish net, don't know why that never crossed my mind haha. Thanks.