Using "Found" Wood In Aquariums

[Wills]

Hi there, similarly to most of you I imagine but I am absolutely appalled at the price of bog wood that stores demand for wood especially branchy parts like sumatran and redmoore. I mean the other day I was there piecing together branches of sumatran and then realized it was the best part of £50 for the bits I wanted and at the end of the day they are just twigs and I mean most of these were literally twigs and that's why the cost built up.

So, I wanted to ask about using "found" wood. I know people use it and it looks really good most of the time but I am just a bit concerned about what to do with it and how to gather it. I know about making sure it is hard wood with the fingernail test but thats about where my knowledge ends. So the questions are

1. Do I need to find fallen wood or can it be taken off trees? Are the any advantages to either of these?

2. Do I need to strip the bark?

3. How long do I need to soak them for?

4. Are there any types of trees I should avoid?

5. Are there any types of trees that are really good for tanks?

All help is really appreciated so thanks in advance
Wills

 

[llamalord305]

Since no one has replied, I'll try to help with my limited knowledge.

1. Not sure. Needs to be dry, but not rotting.
2. Not sure again, but most wood you see has no bark.
3. Until you get all the tannins out by boiling. I have heard of sterilizing with bleach
4. No idea. Common sense would avoid sappy trees, or trees treated with pesticides.
5. No idea.

 

[Neesmo]

i asked this at a local fish store and was told by the nice fellow there

1- make sure that the wood you choose will snap and not bend. ie completely dead but not rotting
2- boil it, and if its too big then put it in a clean tub(making sure all no trace chemicals in tub) pour boiling water over the wood and scrub with new heavy brush.
3- use AQUARIUM salt in the process to help with cleaning
4- try to remove bark

im sure there is more you can do but he said just generally clean it as well as possible. try to use peices that are small enough to soak for a month or however long until colour isnt being expelled, to remove the tanins. branches shouldnt take too long

Kyle

 

[jjkremp]

also might i suggest try and get the wood from the lowest part hell best to get shown roots on riverbeds the higher up you get the higher the amounts of any said chemicals or etc. the tree "Might" have absorbed. less i also note wood or roots from under the ground level also are better since its compilation is better set up for handling moisture this will help prevent rot since even the hardest woods do in time rot.

(this comes not from fish-keeping experience, but from my knowledge and experience with plants and farming)

oh i just noticed its you wills the first person to give me help on this site... well my fish Thank you and so do I. i have MTS bad now but its ok and well look i got a chance to give you some advice even a little amount . =) have a great one