How Do Treat New Drift Wood?

[EliteFishy]

I just found a cool looking piece of driftwood by the California coastline. I have no clue to treat this new piece of driftwood. Anyone knows how to treat driftwood?

 

[Teelie]

Unless it's for a saltwater aquarium, I wouldn't use wood found in the or around the ocean and brackish areas. It's likely to be too salty and give off a high pH for most freshwater aquariums. Treating the wood is the same for either fresh or salt though which is first baking it or boiling it for a short time. Too long and it will disintegrate into mush, then if you're worried about tannins, letting it soak in water for a few weeks to months, depending on how much it gives off tannins.

 

[EliteFishy]

do I have to bake it or boil it. What does baking and boiling do to the wood?

 

[phoenixfire]

baking kills all the harmless germs and anything that will hurt your fish...boiling gets rid of the tannis which is really ugly in tanks....unless your going for that affect...so i would do both...lol probably to late for this return though

 

[steelhealr]

There's one thing that baking or boiling WON"T get rid of.....toxins or chemicals absorbed into the wood that might have been picked up at sea. Who knows where that piece of wood floated? I wouldn't put it in my tank. JMO. SH

 

[phoenixfire]

i do agree with you steelhealr....but if your looking for pieces to put in...maybe go to a bog? i find its the best wood u can get for your tank...well...after u clean it that is

 

[Teelie]

The downside to bogwood is it's the worst kind for tannins as it's been sitting in acidic peat for decades and possibly even centuries. The acidity prevents the wood from decaying (from bacteria or fungus), which is good but it also lets it soak up whatever else is in the bog.

Ironically the safest wood to get is the worst at "dirtying" up the water.

 

[EliteFishy]

I found this new driftwood from ebay and im wondering if this is safe for my aquarium.http/cgi.ebay.com/Driftwood-fish-reptile...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Teelie]

It's been in saltwater definitely so there's no telling what it might have gotten in the ocean. I'd test it in a tank with some kind of experimental fish or inverts first if you decided to get it.

 

[phoenixfire]

thats what i do i use the feeder gups for my turtle to test out the bogwood after its been treated for 5 weeks...i do agree bogwood is terrible with tannins but i soak it for a long time and bake it at least 2 times...lol i dont do those with my tank...but i do it with my uncles because he has a 150 or something like that gallon tank...he lets me do whatever with the tank...so i get to decaorate it...lol and he pays me for it..so im happy

 

[EliteFishy]

How do I bake my wood?

 

[Teelie]

In the oven. Seriously. If it's too large though, then you'll either have to chop it up or find some alternattive way to bake it or just boil it.

 

[EliteFishy]

How long should I bake it and at what degrees?

 

[Chuck]

You might want to try this guys method

http/stores.ebay.com.au/Marty-and-Lyndas...1QQftidZ2QQtZkm