collecting wood for aquarium

[bathawk]

I was wondering I could use branches from a plum tree in my aquarium my mother had her plum tree cut down yesterday and I collected some branches they are stil fresh at the moment she also had some camelia branches the lighter ones on left side of photo but she said that it was ever green she also has a dead conifer tree in her garden but is also ever green but has been dead for years can these be used onec cleaned and left to completly die.

 

[tlindsey]

I was wondering I could use branches from a plum tree in my aquarium my mother had her plum tree cut down yesterday and I collected some branches they are stil fresh at the moment she also had some camelia branches the lighter ones on left side of photo but she said that it was ever green she also has a dead conifer tree in her garden but is also ever green but has been dead for years can these be used onec cleaned and left to completly die.

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I personally collected dead parts of falling trees in my backyard. I have Oak Trees in my area they are hardwood. The Plum tree is hardwood. Your branches in pic may be too fresh to place in your aquarium not sure.

 

[bathawk]

yes they are very fresh as the tree was cut yesterday so I guess they will have to dry out I am going to pour boiling water over them just to be on the safe side as well.

 

[jjohnwm]

Just leave them outside exposed to the elements and they will be fine for use after about 3 or 4 years.

Kidding aside...no fresh wood should be used in an aquarium. There is still a great deal of fresh organic matter in it which will decompose, often stink to high heaven, and usually encourage the growth of a disgusting white fungus-like schmutz which you will not like. Ideally, wood should be hardwood...not conifers (evergreens)...and weathered to the point where there is no bark left on it, or at least the bark can be quickly and easily peeled off. Cutting it should expose no fresh-looking interior wood; yours looks like it will sprout leaves if put in a bucket of water.

If you want to collect your own driftwood...an activity I heartily endorse and do myself all the time...you should be scouring a nearby beach, looking for stuff that has been underwater and/or bleaching in the sun for years.

 

[Jexnell]

As mentioned stick with hardwoods. Softwood/evergreens have a natural antifreeze in them that can/will kill fish.
Again as mentioned stay with the already dried branches/driftwood. Try the bend test. Does it feel like rubber and easily bends,or is it restrictive and creaking feeling like it will snap in two?

 

[bathawk]

yes I will get rid of the ever green wood the plumb tree wood is fresh only cut yesterday so will have to wait for them to dry out .

 

[Wharf]

I found a guy on Etsy that sells old Eastern Cedar driftwood and stumps...he pulls them out of lakes in Tennessee. Although cedar does have resins in it; this stuff is ages old and felt fairly comfortable putting it in my tank. I had to find a stump that would fit in the top of my acrylic tank. It has been in there for years with no ill effect. My L091 has been attached to it since I got him a few years back. If I lived back home and not in LA now...I think I would love going to the lake and getting some wood for my setups.

 

[jjohnwm]

Salt water driftwood is just as good as fresh water wood for use in a freshwater tank. When you consider the volume of the wood compared to the volume of the tank, and then the fact that only a portion of that volume will consist of salt water, you quickly realize that using a piece or two of marine wood likely introduces less salt into your tank than many people add as a matter of course.

If you find yourself fretting about it, soaking for a few weeks in a few changes of fresh water will remove a large part of that salt; whatever actually gets into your tank will gradually be removed during regular water changes.

 

[bathawk]

I decided to chop up the fresh branches did some google searchs which states it can take up to 2 years for wood to dry out completely so bit the bullet and bought some aquarium safe wood from my lfs.

 

[Wharf]

C

I decided to chop up the fresh branches did some google searchs which states it can take up to 2 years for wood to dry out completely so bit the bullet and bought some aquarium safe wood from my lfs.

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Can check out Etsy sometime too....really cool pieces fairly cheap