bleached driftwod?

[poorstudent]

Hi all - this is my first post here. I've been browsing and searching for a while now, but I have come up with a question for which I can't find an answer.

There is a nice piece of driftwood I have found that was cleaned and then soaked in diluted bleach water, rinsed in tap water, and then let dry.

Is this something I could use in my tank if I soak it for a few weeks and change the soak water every day or so? Or will the bleach residue still stick around?

Thanks!

 

[Ami]

I wouldn't consider putting anything that's been near bleach in my tank. In fact, I think a few people might suggest not putting rocks or driftwood that you've found in the tank either.

Normal practice for decor that might once have had something living on it is to boil it, replace the water, boil it some more, replace the water, etc until the water is clear.

I don't know if this would make your bleached wood safe though.

I'm sure someone else will though because everyone is always ready to help around here!

Ami

 

[GSD]

but driftwood made especially for foshtanks.Personally i dont use driftwood,too much hassle

 

[poorstudent]

Thanks for the welcome and the replies - That is more or less what I thought, but I figured I would ask anyway.

 

[qwikimpss]

I would say boil it.....a lot. Soak it.....a lot. And if it doesn't smell like bleach it should be fine. I clean out my tanks when something has gone horribly wrong (which has only happend twice) with bleach....never had a problem when I set them back up because bleach eventually breaks down into ammonia if you use the right chemicals (ones the turn chloramines into ammonia).

 

[playfulalliecat]

If you boil and soak it that should remove some of the bleach. Most people live in cities or towns where the water is treated and have to use Stress Coat or something of that nature in their water to remove chlorine and chloramines anyway so that should neutralize the bleach in the wood as well. When cleaning an aquarium, bleach is one of the few chemicals that is recommended so I wouldn't see where the wood could cause a problem.

Allie

 

[colen]

Welcome to the boards!

Does the driftwood still smell like bleach?

I ask because a few years ago I cleaned some rocks with bleach and then cleaned cleaned cleaned again and again and they still smelt like bleach... so I never ended up using them.

 

[poorstudent]

I don't know yet!

It was a great looking piece on ebay, perfect size, just what I was looking for as a center piece. It is very inexpensive compared to my LFS.

I think I'm going to buy it for as cheap as it is and give it a try.

 

[Mordinbar]

Boiling Water will destroy/denature bleach, its why you always use cold -bleach water with clothes.