tolstoy21 Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 (edited) Safe for aquarium? Not safe? It was my understanding spiderwood is taken from azalea roots. If this is true, I'm wondering if cuttings from branches could be used as well. I ask because I had to prune back an old azalea this summer and I saved some of the oldest, driest cuttings, which have been sitting in my garage for a few months. I thought these--trimmed up, cleaned up and thinned out a bit--might look good in a blackwater, leaf-litter aquascape. Anyone have any experience in with this type of branch wood? Edited October 24, 2020 by tolstoy21 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Burke Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Very interesting. Did not know about the spider wood - azalea relationship. You could always sink the small piece in a bucket with a airstone. Could be a fist step anyhow. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tolstoy21 Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 6 minutes ago, Ken Burke said: Very interesting. Did not know about the spider wood - azalea relationship. Yeah, I could be wrong about that relationship, but I feel like I've read that online more than once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faydout Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Just now, tolstoy21 said: I could be wrong If you're wrong, I'm wrong too. I've read the same thing. I'm pretty sure you'd be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 I am still inclined to think azalea wood is aquarium safe, but interestingly as a beekeeper, I can tell you that some species of azalea (and for us locally in mountain laurels) are the source of the toxic 'mad honey' as they contain the toxin grayanotoxin. Grayanotoxin Poisoning: ‘Mad Honey Disease’ and Beyond WWW.NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV Many plants of the Ericaceae family, Rhododendron, Pieris, Agarista and Kalmia, contain diterpene grayanotoxins. Consumption of grayanotoxin... But what is important is that in azaleas grayanotoxin occurs in nectar, which is a long way from occurring in dangerous amounts in dried wood, so despite toxicity of the nectar, and to a lesser extent the leaves and flowers, I would still be inclined to run a test with azalea wood. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expectorating_Aubergine Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 (edited) I have some pieces in my 120 gal with my bichirs and rope fish. Haven't noticed any problems. Aside from the snails and the crayfish eating off the bark. I've also found melaleuca and ceanothus wood to work wonderfully in aquariums.... Edited October 25, 2020 by Expectorating_Aubergine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriskm Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Sounds like you're right about spider wood being azalea roots. Now to find neighbors who want to get rid of their rhododendron or azaleas! Azalea Roots "Spider Wood" Aquascape | The Driftwood Guide BANTAM.EARTH This definitive guide on Spider Wood (Azalea Roots) provides an in-depth look at the aquascaping driftwood. Care tips & preparation advice... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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