Drift Wood

[Ristof]

I have had a bad experience with putting wood in my tank that I have found.
I soaked it in the bath for a week stripping the bark of it but still not thinking put it in my tank and of cause the wood the still a bit green.
Lost half the tank before accually relising what was going on

I am after some decent size bits of wood for my tank so the bottom 1/3 is not the only part covered.

I am just wondering if anyone else has ever collected their own wood for their tanks and what kind of wood they used.
Was it in a river/ stream or close by or was it from a forest/ woods area that had fallen and was sitting on the ground for a while.

Around where I live the peices the guy stocks if he ever has any are about the 10cm size.
My tank is close if not more then 50cm heigh so it needs to be closer to theat and I don't want to know what they charge for bits that big.
Hence the reason if I could find something that was safe then I would prefer that.

Any help on this or how I could cure a peice that would be safe would be great

thanks

 

[Azaezl]

Hi there's an article that may be of interest to you [topic="54177"]Here[/topic]

I've only ever put shop bought mopani & bogwood in my tanks so have no experience with collecting my own. Hopefully someone with some more knowledge of this can help you a bit more

 

[Ristof]

Hi there's an article that may be of interest to you [topic="54177"]Here[/topic]

I've only ever put shop bought mopani & bogwood in my tanks so have no experience with collecting my own. Hopefully someone with some more knowledge of this can help you a bit more

Thanks for that very helpful

I think my best bet is to find some that has been in a river and pure boiling water over it

Would this be correct

 

[madmom]

I collect my own driftwood. Wood found on the ground can be used if it is weathered enough. Try to find out if the river is polluted or not if you get your wood from there because toxins are nearly impossible to remove. Avoid softwoods like cedars and firs. Press your thumbnail into the wood. If it goes in easily it is probably softwood. Sometimes smell tells you the type it is. Brush thoroughly to remove loose bits and sand off any rotten pieces. Boil the heck out of the wood to sterilize it. This also releases tannins. After this check again for rotten or soft pieces and sand or cut them out. Soak it in a container of water changing the water every day until the wood sinks.

 

[Ristof]

I collect my own driftwood. Wood found on the ground can be used if it is weathered enough. Try to find out if the river is polluted or not if you get your wood from there because toxins are nearly impossible to remove. Avoid softwoods like cedars and firs. Press your thumbnail into the wood. If it goes in easily it is probably softwood. Sometimes smell tells you the type it is. Brush thoroughly to remove loose bits and sand off any rotten pieces. Boil the heck out of the wood to sterilize it. This also releases tannins. After this check again for rotten or soft pieces and sand or cut them out. Soak it in a container of water changing the water every day until the wood sinks.

Thanks for that - Makes sense

Now I just want to go out and find some but I can't I have to go to work