Collection Of Twigs, Sticks & Wood From Outside For Planted Tank

[K-fee!]

Hi, I had a quick search but couldn't find much.

Somebody I was talking to today says he has a big collection of Twigs, sticks & logs from a river that he would like to use for his planted tank. Well any way he set it up tonight and it looks really good and best of all it was free! I want to do something simular.

Heres the question: Is it safe for plants/fish to use these materials? Basically fallen branches and pieces of wood lying around. He said that when you boil them it gets rid of bacteria/toxins in the wood. - does it?

Also I was under the impression that having this type of wood it starts to rot and crumbles away.

Thanks

 

[Themuleous]

This a tricky one, generally I would say you're ok to use this stuff, after all the stuff you by in shops comes from outside somewhere too!

First off, I would only use wood thats old i.e. has been dry for months if not years, this gives it time for any sap/resins to leach out, as you dont want these in your tank, particularly bad a soft wood pine/conifer species.

Second, if you can boil it then that deals with the bacteria side of things, if not I would soak it for a good few weeks, changing the water every couple of days and adding some melafix.

The best wood for this is drift wood you find on a beach, as its been soaking in the sea for so long that it should generally be fine to use in an aquarium.

All that said, if in doubt dont use it, if something goes wrong you'll kick yourself, at least buying it from a shop means you should have some sort of come back if the worst happens

Sam