Advertisements
Aquatic Avenue Banner Tropica Shop Banner Fishy Business Banner
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 51

Thread: Bogwood vs driftwood

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Hougang
    Posts
    64
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore

    Bogwood vs driftwood : what's the difference?

    Advertisements
    Fresh n Marine aQuarium Banner

    Advertise here

    Advertise here
    Hi everyone,
    This is a question for the experts.
    What is the difference between bogwood and driftwood? I recently put up two pieces of bogwood for sale but was told they are driftwood.

    According to my very rudimentary understanding, driftwood should be what the sea. It is wood that has fallen in water, drifted out to the sea and eventually gets washed up on a beach. Which is why driftwood is typically branchy and smooth, and parched.

    Bogwood on the other hand should be what comes out from swamps (or bogs) and have spent time stuck in the peat and mud. So typically, these pieces will be browned and has the appearance of rot, and will leech acids when put in aquarium.

    Can any expert confirm whether my understanding is correct?

    Thanks,
    AngelAddick
    Last edited by AngelAddick; 24th Aug 2007 at 19:23. Reason: add clarity to title

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    878
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore
    I call them all Driftwood. But then it's not sea. Driftwoods are found in freshwater/brackish systems, drifted by river.
    I'm back!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Hougang
    Posts
    64
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore
    How about hunks of wood that were recovered from the peat swamps of Malaysia? Are they considered bogwood?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    878
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore
    Bogwood comes from a bog
    Oops, driftwood is carried by sea also, my bad

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogwood
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driftwood
    I'm back!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Hougang
    Posts
    800
    Feedback Score
    2 (100%)
    Images
    18
    Country
    Singapore
    You may refer to this thread, hope it help

    http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=26858

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Hougang
    Posts
    199
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore
    You got DW and BW mixed up. Basically, DW is the darker and heavier one. BW is the branchy, lighter one.
    Last edited by vinz; 27th Aug 2007 at 16:08.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Hougang
    Posts
    221
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    12
    Country
    Singapore
    DW are those that looks darker and rotten but heavier... BW on the other hand looks lighter in color and more solid/hard...

    BWs are usually more branchy than DW.

    I think you have both mixed up
    ~| MakE ThE BesT oF EverythinG ThaT LifE BringS TheiR WaY! |~

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Singapore, Singapore
    Posts
    222
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    22
    Country
    Singapore
    So AngelAddick you got the information already as i just pm you back regarding bogwood and driftwood that i looking for and some AQ members has reply you with more information. cheers

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Telok Blangah, SGP
    Posts
    10,216
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Images
    78
    Country
    Singapore
    I'm not sure if I'm correct, my understanding for bog wood is taken from tree root whereas drift wood is taken from tree/brach.
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Hougang
    Posts
    64
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore
    Thank you all bros for your clarification. I believe I have pointed out a long-standing mistake in this forum which I hope can be corrected henceforth. I think it is important for AQ sice this forum prides itself on accuracy of knowledge as well as good English and spelling.

    Bro Aeon's two links to Wikipedia explaining bogwood and driftwood is in line with my personal understanding.

    Which would mean bro krabbie and bro daveteogh, who says I got them mixed up, may have gotten them mixed up themselves. I mean no offence but many people on this forum have the same believe as these two respected bros and have got them mixed up.

    I believe it stands to reason - and Wikipedia backs this - that bogwood should be wood found in bogs and swamps, often peat, which explains why it is often chunky, leeches tannin when sunk in an aquarium tank and continues to lower the acidity of a tank at it decays.

    And driftwood, should as the name indicate, mean wood drifted up to shore by water -- be it river or sea.

    I hope Moderators can help clarify this issue, with pictures, as it can avoid misundertandings. For example, a bro advertises that he wants to buy BW, when actually he wants DW or vice versa.

    Thanking all of you sincerely,
    Phil AA

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    878
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore
    Wikipedia should be reliable. Good discussion. I feel enlightened.
    I'm back!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Telok Blangah, SGP
    Posts
    10,216
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Images
    78
    Country
    Singapore
    that is why seller should post a photo if he/she want to sell anything. That should avoid any missunderstanding
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Hougang
    Posts
    64
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore
    Bro Shadow,
    I agree with you. However, just to clarify, my post is not specific to sales. Rather, it is to clarify what I notice on the forum a misconception about DW and BW, which I feel needs to be clarified.

    If we, on this site, pride outselves on correctness and accuracy of scientific names for fish in order to encourage all members to be more knowledgeable, why indeed would we not attempt to correct a clear error in definition for two of the most basic items in a tank?

    It's a small matter but probably a more useful matter to pursue than asking members not to use SMS language in their postings.

    Just my two cents, thanks.

    Phil AA

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Hougang
    Posts
    199
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    Singapore
    After reading this posting, it's really like a awakening for me if my understanding is wrong. LOL

    Anyway, don't trust everything from wikipedia cos it's created and can be authored by anyone ... no moderation required.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
    Posts
    8,958
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    Images
    104
    Country
    Singapore
    Stickified.

    When in doubt:
    - Provide pictures
    - Just use the words 'wood for aquarium'
    Vincent - AQ is for everyone, but not for 'u' and 'mi'.
    Why use punctuation? See what a difference it makes:
    A woman, without her man, is nothing.
    A woman: without her, man is nothing.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Telok Blangah, SGP
    Posts
    10,216
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Images
    78
    Country
    Singapore
    I thing the missconception was started of from the LFS. Becasue that what they call it when they sell the wood and it is hard to educate them.

    So which one to follow?
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Coughing Hills, Singapore
    Posts
    2,586
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    56
    Country
    Malaysia
    I can tell you for sure that there will be more confusion if you ask someone, for example, from the United States about driftwood/bogwood. Very often, common terms are used differently and interchangably in different countries.

    If you asked for "lava rock" overseas, you will probably get something quite different from what you are getting in Singapore.

    Try do do an image search in Google for driftwood or bogwood and you will see.

    Like what vinz said, always ask for pictures if in doubt.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    764
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    25
    Country
    Singapore
    Wiki definition of "bogwood" may be right. I learnt from a supplier that bogwood which is found in LFS here, the lighter colour and more branchy shaped type, are mostly collected at the mangrove swamp of the Philippines.

    "Driftwood" is commonly known to be the darker and heavier type which readily sink in water.
    Maurice Cheong
    A . M o m e n t . o f . T r a n q u i l i t y...

  19. #19
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    KL
    Posts
    2,913
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    26
    Country
    Malaysia
    I wouldn't judge it by the colour. Different trees have different colour wood, the same tree wood could be drifted onto shore or could be harvested from a bog.

    Just throw this discussion into the mix- how do you classify harvested branchy wood that has been slowly rotting in dams for a long time? Damwood?

    That's what the most of the ADA branchy wood is from. Years from now we may be getting those from China. -Damwood.

    I think just use common sense, as long as you are paying for what you get.
    You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Telok Blangah, SGP
    Posts
    10,216
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Images
    78
    Country
    Singapore
    Usually don't care about where its from and what its named, as long as meet my scape requirement.
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •