Drift Wood

[fishaddict52]

Hi yall.Found this wood at the creek.Going to start a new 10g tank 3-4 weeks.It looks like it has been the water but it wes up on the bank and all dryed and cracked.Read if i boil it for a hour and then soak it in some change water for a week or so.All advice is welcome.

 

[Cazgar]

Don't boil it, that will cause it to rot down quicker.
Just run boiling water over it a few times, & change the water frequently

 

[silenthawk2x3]

Usually as long as it doesn't have any bark on it and the wood is hard and not squishy it will work as driftwood. You do need to boil and soak it repeatedly (up to two weeks) to leach out the tannis. Boiling speeds up the leaching much like a tea bag in hot water, but it also sterilizes the wood removing anything that could be living in it and perhaps be blooming in your tank. Tannis is a harmless chemical, but it does discolor the water. Hardwoods are best, but some woods can be poisonous like pine so finding wood is always more risky than buying it. Good luck!

 

[Cupster]

Usually as long as it doesn't have any bark on it and the wood is hard and not squishy it will work as driftwood. You do need to boil and soak it repeatedly (up to two weeks) to leach out the tannis. Boiling speeds up the leaching much like a tea bag in hot water, but it also sterilizes the wood removing anything that could be living in it and perhaps be blooming in your tank. Tannis is a harmless chemical, but it does discolor the water. Hardwoods are best, but some woods can be poisonous like pine so finding wood is always more risky than buying it. Good luck!

I have a 1' square piece of drift wood which has been soaking for 4 weeks now and has still not sunk, grrrrr.

 

[silenthawk2x3]

Usually as long as it doesn't have any bark on it and the wood is hard and not squishy it will work as driftwood. You do need to boil and soak it repeatedly (up to two weeks) to leach out the tannis. Boiling speeds up the leaching much like a tea bag in hot water, but it also sterilizes the wood removing anything that could be living in it and perhaps be blooming in your tank. Tannis is a harmless chemical, but it does discolor the water. Hardwoods are best, but some woods can be poisonous like pine so finding wood is always more risky than buying it. Good luck!

I have a 1' square piece of drift wood which has been soaking for 4 weeks now and has still not sunk, grrrrr.

I have a piece that isn't sinking as of yet (after a week) but after boiling they do become more prone to sink. Try boiling it for a few hours. If that doesn't work they can be attached to a stone.

 

[fluttermoth]

Really, it's honestly a bad idea to boil wood, it just makes it rot faster by cooking the fibres.

Let the wood dry out completely, then pour boiling water over it and let it soak; do that for a week or so, and as long as the wood itself is safe, it'll be ok to use. Weighing it down with a rock, while your soaking it, helps it sink faster

 

[silenthawk2x3]

Actually most aquarium enthusiasts agree that boiling driftwood is beneficial. It doesn't cook the fibers, nor does boiling make it rot or rot faster. In actuality it can kill any microbes, bacteria or insects living in the wood that would otherwise cause deterioration and rot in your tank. I have personally boiled driftwood and had a better time with it than driftwood that hadn't been boiled. It often reduces the chances of mold or fungus growing on it and sterilizes the wood beyond a shadow of a doubt. It also kills algae and any terrestrial or aquatic moss that may be growing on it. It also speeds up the release of tannis as I said before. What three or four weeks of soaking won't do can be accomplished in a few hours of boiling. Pouring boiling water over it doesn't ensure that the scalding water will reach the center of the wood and kill anything that is living there. Besides, if it does cook the fibers wouldn't pouring it on the driftwood do the same? But I suppose it is a matter of opinion and if you believe one way or the other do what you see fit. Personally I don't see the sense in your argument as pouring boiling water on it and boiling it in water both involve boiling water and having it contact the wood.

 

[BFM]

Put wood in a dishwasher on a cycle without a tablet is good

 

[fluttermoth]

Actually most aquarium enthusiasts agree that boiling driftwood is beneficial.

Some do, but I wouldn't say most

It doesn't cook the fibers,

It really does. Even shoe leather can be made edible, if it's boiled for long enough!

nor does boiling make it rot or rot faster. In actuality it can kill any microbes, bacteria or insects living in the wood that would otherwise cause deterioration and rot in your tank. I have personally boiled driftwood and had a better time with it than driftwood that hadn't been boiled. It often reduces the chances of mold or fungus growing on it and sterilizes the wood beyond a shadow of a doubt. It also kills algae and any terrestrial or aquatic moss that may be growing on it. It also speeds up the release of tannis as I said before. What three or four weeks of soaking won't do can be accomplished in a few hours of boiling. Pouring boiling water over it doesn't ensure that the scalding water will reach the center of the wood and kill anything that is living there.

If it works for you, then that's all that matters

Besides, if it does cook the fibers wouldn't pouring it on the driftwood do the same? But I suppose it is a matter of opinion and if you believe one way or the other do what you see fit. Personally I don't see the sense in your argument as pouring boiling water on it and boiling it in water both involve boiling water and having it contact the wood.

Well no, it doesn't work that way. If you pour boiling water over a potato, it doesn't make that potato cooked. It's how long it's in contact with the boiling water that makes the difference. As I said, if boiling works for you, then that's all to the good.

The dishwasher idea works great too.

 

[BFM]

On a side note I bought proper driftwood and put it straight in the tank, my bad??

 

[fluttermoth]

No, you'll be fine, as long as it was dry, there's nothing to worry about. Fish parasites/diseases can't survive being dried out; ok, there may be a few rare ones that can, but you're not likely to come across any of those.

 

[Aqua Tom]

If it is small enough put it in your toilet cistern. A complete change of water 10 times a day is great.


Tom

 

[BFM]

If it is small enough put it in your toilet cistern. A complete change of water 10 times a day is great.


Tom

You must have a large family or an irritable bowel.