Large batch of Manzy 4: now with pics of how to position, mount and stabilize

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,702
792
113
This is the latest batch all pre soaked and cleaned up. Fair amount of variety with this batch. I decided to illustrate "how to" mount and what to use for doing this, the pics should be self explanatory. With respect to the positioning, this is where you might wish to think out side the box, think what and how things might appear like in a natural system, along a stream, lake bottom, deep river, shallow planted pool, backwater etc.

This is where you can get the most out of the wood and have it stay put. I'll also take some pics to help folks think about how their wood will look like after the plants grow in some. I think many end up burying their wood too much and add too many plants.
You can pre drill holes and use screws(best) You can also use epoxy or, gel super glue. Be sure to lard on the glue, you'll need it and then make sure to wipe off excess. The other method is to use slate and pre drill with a ceramic drill bit and then screw on to the slate. Make a nice clean flush flat cut in the base of the wood at the angle you desire, this will keep the connection at the wood/slate tight and not loosen later on.

This wood also offers a lot of opportunities for non CO2 ideas or pure wood scapes for say, Shrimp or plecos or even herbivores.

I'll be adding these pics tomorrow and a whole new list of a wood.
Gerry has 1st pick:cool:

From there, others can go after it.
In general, you pick the pieces you want, then I toss in a few extras depending on what I have and the size of the order. I will add more extra freebies as folks buy larger amounts of larger pieces to best complement what your scaping goal is.

In general, 2ft pieces, : 15-20$; 3ft around 20-30$, 4ft and larger 40-60$.
Nicer gnarled pieces, ask. Small burly stumpys: 15-25$. Small collection for 10-20 gallon of smaller branches(great if you do the slate attachment and saw off the ends to screw on) maybe 20-30$. You can do many cool layouts with the about 8$ worth of slate, drill bits and screws.

I can ship up to about a 55" inch long piece or so.
USPS parcel is cheap to ship. UK cost about 100$ for largest max box sizes, but I can get a lot of wood in there, Canada is not bad either, maybe 50-70$ or so.
I've tested this stuff with high grade CRS's SS+ grades etc......they love the stuff.
Plecos, loaches, tetras etc.

If you are not happy, PM me, I'll take care of it.

Regards,
Tom Barr




Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,702
792
113
Gilles;57333 said:
Hi Tom, how much would a box be (including wood) to the netherlands?

About the same as to the UK I would think.

For a larger box, say 150 cm x 45cmx 25cm or so............100$ to ship.
The wood?

Well depends, I can stuff a lot of smaller pieces in there, or add a nice larger display and then pack smaller branches etc, whatever else fits good.
Typically, about 150-200$ depending on the pieces. It is a lot of wood though.
Smaller boxes can be done no problem also. So 30-50$ shipping and then abpout 50-100$ worth of wood etc.

Depends on what you want to do, some have bought larger boxes, then sold off the 1/2 the wood to pay for the entire shipment.
Some do not wnat to be bothered.

Takes about a week of transport.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,702
792
113
This is an example using a burl base and java fern needle leaf.

IMG_3860.jpg


IMG_3861.jpg


As you can see, most of the base is not viewable.
Something think about when scaping with wood, how much do you want to show?


To mount and stabilize wood, drilling some slate and making a flat flush cut can help a great deal. To do this, use a ceramic drill bit and slate tiles(maybe 1-2$ ea), this allows you to adjust the angel of the slope to have that branch hang over the foreground plants etc.

Or you can place several small branches on one or two large slate bases to make a "twiggy forest". This way you do not need stabilizing rocks which fall over and do not make it easy to keep the wood where you want it.

IMG_3816.jpg


IMG_3817.jpg


To trim up the wood:

IMG_3818.jpg


A small cut to start and then break it off to leave a more natural looking tip is helpful. Or trim from the base to shorten, or snip off the branches to fit the piece better into the design.



Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,702
792
113
30
IMG_3850.jpg

31
IMG_3851.jpg

32
IMG_3852.jpg

33
IMG_3853.jpg

34
IMG_3854.jpg

35
IMG_3855.jpg

36
IMG_3857.jpg

37
IMG_3858.jpg

38
IMG_3859.jpg


This should keep folks out of trouble, the board is 48" long for a size reference.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Gerryd

Plant Guru Team
Lifetime Member
Sep 23, 2007
5,623
22
38
South Florida
Tom,

My top pics:

4 or 25, but most likely #4 will be it...

I will review a bit more and make a decision asap so others can bid..

Are there more pics to come or is this it :)

Very nice java fern oh by the way...is that with or w/o c02 and EI?

Thanks.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,702
792
113
Gilles;57379 said:
will 25 and 35 fit into 1 large box?

One of them might, 35 is massive, it'd have to sawed down.
25 I might be able to squeeze into a box. I'd have to trim 35 down for sure, I could split 25$ and make it I think, then you'd screw 25 back together.
35 is simply too large for your tank and most people's tanks. I'd planned on trimming it down anyway.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,702
792
113
Gerryd;57374 said:
Tom,

My top pics:

4 or 25, but most likely #4 will be it...

I will review a bit more and make a decision asap so others can bid..

Are there more pics to come or is this it :)

Very nice java fern oh by the way...is that with or w/o c02 and EI?

Thanks.

Java is from my own tank with CO2.
I'll use it for the 120 Non CO2 most likely.

Is the design you have in mind coming from the top into the water?
If so, then consider a batch of branches, then zip tie, screw them together and then cover with xmass moss and then grow HC, Staro etc on that above the tank.
This would give a nicer effect and be more modular, adjustable to the scape design overall.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,702
792
113
Over a meter tall and the truck is about 25cm in diameter, weight, about 20-25 kg.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Gerryd

Plant Guru Team
Lifetime Member
Sep 23, 2007
5,623
22
38
South Florida
Tom,

Is the design you have in mind coming from the top into the water?

Somewhat. I am thinking some from the top and some on the bottom...Still a bit vague, but I keep thinking of a clearing in the forest that is flooded and what the AFTERMATH would resemble. Branches would be all over angled here and there. Plants would be scattered here and there. Other than that I am trying to get the pieces I like the most and that would provide various configurations. I know that I change my scape often compared to others, so I want to be congizant of that.

If so, then consider a batch of branches, then zip tie, screw them together and then cover with xmass moss and then grow HC, Staro etc on that above the tank. This would give a nicer effect and be more modular, adjustable to the scape design overall.

I did this merging a bit in the last scape with some smaller branches and it worked out well and is a great idea.

Overall I have plenty of smaller branches plus the extra smaller ones from the next shipment would provide plenty.

I like #4 as I can see me having fun with those and providing many 'looks'. Maybe not even at the same time as I already have some nice branches in there and I need to leave some room for plants and fish :)

However, #38 is growing on me. Decision soon I promise!

What magnificent specimen do you have in the private archives that you would part with :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Gerryd

Plant Guru Team
Lifetime Member
Sep 23, 2007
5,623
22
38
South Florida
Ekrindul;57424 said:
#4 has a sinister look, Gerry. Top left looks like a skull.

I agree and is why I like it..Would you still get it????? Or would it creep you out eventually? Maybe scare the FISH to death someday LOL?

Tom,

Did I send sufficient $ for #4 AND #25? Do I need to send the Brink's truck? Those two combined with what I already have and the few new extras to fill the box(es) will make me the envy of my friends...

If I can't do something with all of that, then I am absolutely hopeless as a scaper, and will retreat back into my shell...I suspect I AM hopeless as a scaper, but as long as I like it, is okay as I am the one looking at it :)

Java is from my own tank with CO2. I'll use it for the 120 Non CO2 most likely.

Will be interesting to see 6 months later w/o c02....


Let me know.
 
Last edited by a moderator: