DRIFT WOOD

[SHANTYMAID]

Hi ya folks just asking a simple query here if i found drift wood on our beach then how would i prepare that for my tank?. i would think that i would soak it to rid of any wild life and salt is this correct?, if that is the case then how long would the soak be for?
I have also seen some pieces that i liked in my local aquarium shop would that have been prepared or would i have to do it before putting into my tank
Thank you for reading this thread .

 

[rdd1952]

I had done some research on driftwood hoping to add some to my tank. You will actually need to boil (or bake) it for up to 8 or 10 hours and then soak it. The boiling/baking is to kill all bacteria that may be present. The time required naturally is dependent on the size piece you have. I ready somewhere that you should boil/bake 30 minutes per 1" in diameter. Soaking is required to let the tannins leach out so it won't turn your water brown. Driftwood will also lower your KH and pH so be careful if they are already low. Due to my pH running about 6.6 and KH being 1, I have ruled out being able to use driftwood even though I love the look. I may try some of the fake stuff. It does look pretty real.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...I wouldn't risk putting any 'foreign' driftwood into my tank at the risk of losing my fish. You can find some nice pieces of driftwood from reputable dealers on Ebay. Boiling 'wild' driftwood may kill bacteria and remove tannnins, but won't necessarily leach out toxins. Eg, if the beach driftwood was sprayed with insecticide, boiling it in water won't necessarily leach it out. SH

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

boiling the wood will also help to greatly reduce teh amount of tannins left in the wood, also the tannins do no harm just colour the ater and cn be got rid of with reg. water changes but i ave biled mine for a goood fews hours loads has come out but it still dies the tank some what