Do I Need To Soak This Bogwood?

[babybell911]

My mum has a piece of bogwood we used to have in a fish tank a couple of years ago so it was tannin free and everything as it didnt cloud the water. Now I want to put it in my tank it's been on the shelff for a couple of years as decoration do i need to saok it again or will a half hour boil be fine?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i wouldn't soak it for the tannine's, it's not going to have picked any up sat on the shelf. Yes boil it though cos it may have picked up dirt, dust etc you don't want to put into your tank.

 

[babybell911]

ok thanks miss wiggle i'm off to find a pan big enough now wish me luck cos i dont think we have one!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i've had that problem too

 

[babybell911]

Wat did your find in the end?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

if you can find someone with a stockpot that's massive so should fit most things, might be a case of asking round friends and family for something big enough

 

[Qays]

you dont need to boil it.

Just wash it really well, and it is good to go.

 

[babybell911]

Well I've scrubbed it in boiling hot water in a bucket and now one ends soaking cos the it wont all fit in.

 

[Bloo]

Boiling wood is not good in my opinion. It loosens the internal structure and can just cause more leeching of tannins. Unless it's nuked, boiling will never ever get rid of any nasties that might already be in the wood. A rinse and a gentle scrub will suffice. If you want to lessen the leeching of tannins, then soak it in hot water changed daily until the colour of weak tea. It will almost never be clear. But once in the tank, normal filtration will take care of the rest. Though added carbon can help a bit as well.

 

[babybell911]

Well I'vealready done that and it shouldnt be leaching anymore as it's already been in atank beforeand never stained the water it's been cleaned and the water its soaking in ispractically clear so i may just put it in now