Soaking Aquarium Wood

[EllRog]

I've always soaked wood for my aquariums before putting it in the tank. I think I've only done this after once hearing its the 'to do' thing. I can think of reasons you would do this if you've collected the wood yourself, but I assume store bought aquarium wood would already be safe?

Out of curiosity, I googled why we should. I expected to read about removing parasites or toxins. Instead, all I really read was that its to remove tannins. Personally, I'd rather have those tannins in the aquarium than wasted.

So do I actually need to soak the next lump of wood I purchase and why?

 

[mbsqw1d]

I think the soaking aspect is done to both; remove tannins and help make sure the wood sinks.
Bogwood has always sunk in my experience but other types might not.
I will drop wood in hot water for a few hours and give it a scrub to remove any debris but thats about it

 

[Circus]

With my store bought Mponi wood, I just soak it in hot water for a bit, then rinse it off. For spiderwood, if the pieces are small I will soak until sinking. If it is larger, I will do a short jot soak, then weigh down with rocks until it stays that way. Haven't trusted myself with found wood.

 

[Essjay]

I only soak wood until it sinks. Since my wood all has plants growing on it, I want it to stay on the bottom of the tank.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I soak to sink, not to remove tannis. The majority of my wood is store bought, but the ones that I do collect are so small, they don’t really make a difference.

 

[Lajos_Detari]

I read from the internets that its good to soak in case they used chemical or sand blasting to treat the wood.
Also, if the wood are collected from the rivers, it may carry some parasites or worms.
I like to rinse the wood a few times and soak it in hot water every time I bought new wood.

 

[Slaphppy7]

I soak to sink only (store bought wood), I want the tannins, they're good for fish.
I don't collect wood from the wild where I live, too much pollution to risk using in my tanks.

 

[EllRog]

Thanks all. I had the same theory as @Lajos_Detari in regards to the possibility of toxins being present on the wood. I'll probably just give them a scrub in future and like the rest of you, give them a little soak to help them sink. I just felt my previous process of soaking them in boiled water for weeks was pointless and heartbreaking watching such rich tannins go to waste. I like my tanks to be really dark, even though some visitors think I just don't clean them

 

[Boundava]

I love tannins, maybe too much, lol. Took me many water changes to get this tank to sepia vs blackout. I also had to pull a couple large pieces mopani out.

It got darker than this before I pulled some wood out. Got to a point where no light could get through, melted quite a few crypts.

 

[EllRog]

I love tannins, maybe too much, lol. Took me many water changes to get this tank to sepia vs blackout. I also had to pull a couple large pieces mopani out.

It got darker than this before I pulled some wood out. Got to a point where no light could get through, melted quite a few crypts.

I know what you mean, my java fern is pretty much dead in one of my tanks

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I know what you mean, my java fern is pretty much dead in one of my tanks

LMK if you want some more java fern, loads of baby java ferns in the 57 gallon, more than I know what to do with, happy to send some your way! Plus some other plant trimmings if you want 'em Once the cold snap has passed would probably be best for posting plants if you want some