Am i sinkking this driftwood properly
- Thread starter Lazybum34
- Start date
I have seen countless comments on MFK over the years, outlining how this piece or that chunk of driftwood sinks after only a few days or weeks in the water.
Honestly, I don't get it. Either these folks are using driftwood about the size of a chicken's foot, or there is some sort of magic at work. I have had many, many large pieces of driftwood that require a year or more, sometimes much more, before they waterlog and sink. If any piece, regardless of size, sinks within a couple months I consider it a rare bonus.
I guess it must have something to do with the origin of the wood. I don't buy wood, I just collect my own from beaches, riverbanks, etc. and let nature take its course. Our special Canuckistani high-buoyancy wood requires extra patience to get it to sink...so I must wait...and wait...
Honestly, I don't get it. Either these folks are using driftwood about the size of a chicken's foot, or there is some sort of magic at work. I have had many, many large pieces of driftwood that require a year or more, sometimes much more, before they waterlog and sink. If any piece, regardless of size, sinks within a couple months I consider it a rare bonus.
I guess it must have something to do with the origin of the wood. I don't buy wood, I just collect my own from beaches, riverbanks, etc. and let nature take its course. Our special Canuckistani high-buoyancy wood requires extra patience to get it to sink...so I must wait...and wait...
I have seen countless comments on MFK over the years, outlining how this piece or that chunk of driftwood sinks after only a few days or weeks in the water.
Honestly, I don't get it. Either these folks are using driftwood about the size of a chicken's foot, or there is some sort of magic at work. I have had many, many large pieces of driftwood that require a year or more, sometimes much more, before they waterlog and sink. If any piece, regardless of size, sinks within a couple months I consider it a rare bonus.
I guess it must have something to do with the origin of the wood. I don't buy wood, I just collect my own from beaches, riverbanks, etc. and let nature take its course. Our special Canuckistani high-buoyancy wood requires extra patience to get it to sink...so I must wait...and wait...
Or it could be bad karma.
Have you kicked a puppy? You didn't kick a puppy did you?!
I'll have you know that my karma is spotless and perfect; I could give the Buddha lessons in clean living.
As Homer Simpson said to his spirit guide: "Now gimme some inner peace or I'll mop up the floor with ya!"
How's it going. The stones & wood positioned like that look really risky! I had a big Irwini cat move some wood I had sinking with more wood. That wood flew like a torpedo & busted my acrylic top!
With a glass I would think it's also risky if a stone falls.
Cool piece of driftwood!
With a glass I would think it's also risky if a stone falls.
Cool piece of driftwood!
It all depends on the type of wood.... yes ?I have seen countless comments on MFK over the years, outlining how this piece or that chunk of driftwood sinks after only a few days or weeks in the water.
Honestly, I don't get it. Either these folks are using driftwood about the size of a chicken's foot, or there is some sort of magic at work. I have had many, many large pieces of driftwood that require a year or more, sometimes much more, before they waterlog and sink. If any piece, regardless of size, sinks within a couple months I consider it a rare bonus.
I guess it must have something to do with the origin of the wood. I don't buy wood, I just collect my own from beaches, riverbanks, etc. and let nature take its course. Our special Canuckistani high-buoyancy wood requires extra patience to get it to sink...so I must wait...and wait...
After all not all woods have the same density or ability to absorb water both playing a role in when they sink.
The Yin or Yang of Maharishi jjohns Karma a side, some wood never sinks, or satrurates, as said above.
When in the states, I sometimes had to soak large pieces, and weigh them down, over an entire winter in a rain barrel to saturate and sink them.
I now have almost 6 ft logs sunken in my current 6ft tank.
Its all about wood density.
I pick mine up on the beach these days, already saturated by the sea
Certain tropical woods sink better that others, and other times it takes the patience of Siddhartha to unravel the mysteries that jjohnwm uses.
And as you can see by the tannic color some wood imparts, it sometimes takes a number of water changes to clear up the result of tannins in some logs.
But I like the temporary antibacterial effect the tannins provide, and usually go with the karmic flow.
When in the states, I sometimes had to soak large pieces, and weigh them down, over an entire winter in a rain barrel to saturate and sink them.
I now have almost 6 ft logs sunken in my current 6ft tank.
Its all about wood density.
I pick mine up on the beach these days, already saturated by the sea
Certain tropical woods sink better that others, and other times it takes the patience of Siddhartha to unravel the mysteries that jjohnwm uses.
And as you can see by the tannic color some wood imparts, it sometimes takes a number of water changes to clear up the result of tannins in some logs.
But I like the temporary antibacterial effect the tannins provide, and usually go with the karmic flow.
Ah hah!
duanes
has raised another salient point: tannins.
I know they have beneficial properties; I know they are natural in many bodies of water; I know that many fish and fishkeepers alike are fans of tannin-stained water, for any number of valid reasons, but...I can't stand 'em...abhor them...detest them...I just don't like 'em. And it seems that the more stubbornly a piece of wood resists waterlogging and sinking, then the more tannins it continues to release... forever.
I recall a 5-foot-long piece of wood that I found in a northern Ontario lake while fishing. It was so gnarly and full of character that I manhandled it out of the swampy corner in which it was located, heaved it into the boat, carried it around all day and then loaded it into my truck and took it home with me for my living room tank. It was already very heavy and mostly sunk; it was like a wooden iceberg, with 90% of it already underwater and only a tiny hint of its glory peaking above the surface.
All those tricks and schemes listed above to sink it were employed; I weighted it and tied it down and screwed it down; I drilled large holes and channels in unseen spots on it to speed the absorption of water; I even mixed quantities of lead shot into dollops of epoxy which were then hammered/squeezed/inserted into crevices and holes in the thing. It would sit on the bottom for day...weeks...months...and then, with no warning, it would ponderously shake itself free of its moorings and bob to the surface, usually with a grinding, roaring thump in the middle of the night. This happened over and over for many months; eventually I gave up on bending it to my will and simply left it to float, tied loosely to a crossbrace to more or less keep it where I wanted it.
This entire time, my tank would get at least an 80 - 90% water change each week. And the entire time, the water would be noticeably stained with that detestable tea-coloured look that I hate so much. Do a big water change, smile and nod at the lovely clear water afterwards...and sure enough, a week later, it had started to look like pee...er, sorry, tea...once again.
And yet, that dang hunk of wood just looked so cool that I seriously considered schlepping it over 2000km with me when I drove to my current home back in 2011. In the end, I left it behind, and still kinda regret it...
duanes
has raised another salient point: tannins.I know they have beneficial properties; I know they are natural in many bodies of water; I know that many fish and fishkeepers alike are fans of tannin-stained water, for any number of valid reasons, but...I can't stand 'em...abhor them...detest them...I just don't like 'em. And it seems that the more stubbornly a piece of wood resists waterlogging and sinking, then the more tannins it continues to release... forever.
I recall a 5-foot-long piece of wood that I found in a northern Ontario lake while fishing. It was so gnarly and full of character that I manhandled it out of the swampy corner in which it was located, heaved it into the boat, carried it around all day and then loaded it into my truck and took it home with me for my living room tank. It was already very heavy and mostly sunk; it was like a wooden iceberg, with 90% of it already underwater and only a tiny hint of its glory peaking above the surface.
All those tricks and schemes listed above to sink it were employed; I weighted it and tied it down and screwed it down; I drilled large holes and channels in unseen spots on it to speed the absorption of water; I even mixed quantities of lead shot into dollops of epoxy which were then hammered/squeezed/inserted into crevices and holes in the thing. It would sit on the bottom for day...weeks...months...and then, with no warning, it would ponderously shake itself free of its moorings and bob to the surface, usually with a grinding, roaring thump in the middle of the night. This happened over and over for many months; eventually I gave up on bending it to my will and simply left it to float, tied loosely to a crossbrace to more or less keep it where I wanted it.
This entire time, my tank would get at least an 80 - 90% water change each week. And the entire time, the water would be noticeably stained with that detestable tea-coloured look that I hate so much. Do a big water change, smile and nod at the lovely clear water afterwards...and sure enough, a week later, it had started to look like pee...er, sorry, tea...once again.
And yet, that dang hunk of wood just looked so cool that I seriously considered schlepping it over 2000km with me when I drove to my current home back in 2011. In the end, I left it behind, and still kinda regret it...
