Quick question about wood in the tank..

Im assuming it has been tried before, so I figured I would ask. I know when looking for ideal wood for the tank, it needs to be hard, no bark, etc.. But what happens if you were to just put in thats not "ideal"? I have been on the lookout for wood along the riverbanks and lakeshores around where I live, and I find alot of awesome wood and stumps that would look fantastic in my tank, but the wood isnt perfect. There are some areas where the wood has begun to go soft, and so on.

My question is, what happens if you put that in your tank? What are the negatives? Is it possible with certain situations? Or is it best kept perfect or none at all?

Thanks alot!!!

RWaltman said:

(also throwing something in that you "found" or that isn't properly sterilized can introduce fungi, insects and other nasties into your ecosystem)

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Yes I realize that, anything that goes into my tank gets boiled beforehand. I know you can put wood into your tank that you "FIND", same with rocks, etc.

I just wanted to know if anybody had done this before with wood.. that isnt quite "perfect", which the 30 page PDF didnt answer. A simple yes or no would have been much easier for you, and easier for me to understand.

lehrscott4 said:

Ive been adding wood pieces that i have found along local streams for years and have never had any negative affects. I just give them a rinse and scrub in fresh water and put them in! Here's a pic of my most recent piece i put in my 120.


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1st off... your tank looks fantastic!

2nd... does the wood you collect ever have soft spots? or is it always HARD wood? (not hard or soft wood (oak vs. pine), but as in any decayed spots, or spots of rot?

lehrscott4 said:

More times than not, the wood is still submerged in the streams i kayak. It is soft, and fully waterlogged. I have also collected many native species from these streams and they are strong and healthy, so im never overly concerned about adding wood and rocks from them to my tanks. I have also collected hard dry driftwood and find it more of a pain since it is so bouyant.

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Pefect! Thank you much!!!! Im going wood huntin.. haha!