Driftwood

[rob16d]

If I find driftwood on a beach can I treat it or anything to add into my freshwater aquarium? x

 

[fatheadminnow]

Of course, just boil it for a few hours to clean it up.

-FHM

 

[rob16d]

are u 100% sure? it wont alter pH etc? How do I boil it if its a big bit?

 

[fatheadminnow]

are u 100% sure? it wont alter pH etc? How do I boil it if its a big bit?

It might lower pH, but if it does it will not be significant amount.

Just stick whatever end you can in the pot and turn it a couple times.

Or, put it in a big bucket, big enough for the entire piece of wood can fit, and pour/fill the bucket up with boiling water form the stove.

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

Agree. The degree to which it will put out tannins and color the water varies with different types of wood and different individual pieces. I've got a piece of one of those dark bogwoods that's been soaking for three months now, with periodic dousings with boiling water on the weekend when I have time. I just put it in one of those large plasic box things they make for storage and keep it submerged when I'm not giving it a boiling treatment. The yellow is taking longer and longer to come out of the wood now.

It does put you ahead to have really dried out wood rather than anything new enough to still have sap or bark. If it really looked like driftwood you should be doing well. Sometimes driftwood will sink after getting completely soaked but sometimes it needs help weighting it down.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rob16d]

so i need to keep turning it for a few hours? where do i find driftwood on a beach??

When I bought some waterdrop i only needed to soak it for 2 hours lol!

My pH is about 6...I do a water change and it still seems to stay at this?

x