Buying used driftwood?

[kageh124]

So, I'm thinking about buying some driftwood from someone and I was wondering if I need to do anything to it before I place it in my tank? The sellers add mentioned that the driftwood was parasite free... But that got me thinking of what needs to be done to make sure that it's parasite free...


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[Shenanigans]

Well, you have to think any parasite/disease that could be in an aquarium could still be on used driftwood. depending on size, you can always boil it. Or depending on type of wood, I cook it in the oven. I say that because some types of wood will take months to sink if you completely dry it out in the oven. theres always chemical options but I dont like that method since chemicals will absorb into the wood

 

[kageh124]

So, would your recommendation be boiling the wood? I figure that might be able to kill 2 birds with 1 stone... getting rid of potential parasite/disease as well as allowing it to soak?

 

[Shenanigans]

boiling is common, alot of people boil the wood to try to get rid of the tannins. it will help keep the wood waterlogged and sterlize it. The only problem would be size limitations due to what you boil the wood in.

 

[Chuncan]

When I got some wood from someone I just boiled it. I probably should have baked it but my fish are fine


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[kageh124]

So I ended up buying some driftwood that is normally used for reptiles. I figure... Driftwood is driftwood, right? Even though the tag says it was already heat-treated.... I'm in the process of letting the pieces sit in boiling water anyway.


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[Shenanigans]

driftwood is driftwood. Some species arnt great for tanks(alot of tannins or oils) but I collect my own outside as well as buying aquarium and reptile driftwood. I either boil or bake, depending on size. The stuff I collect myself tends to grow a fungus or algae(dont know what specifically, and different types) but my plecos clean it off quickly. If my small plecos dont do the work in my tanks, I just relocate and use one of my bigger plecos from another tank. The bigger appetite gets them to clean it off quite well

 

[F1 VET]

So I ended up buying some driftwood that is normally used for reptiles. I figure... Driftwood is driftwood, right? Even though the tag says it was already heat-treated.... I'm in the process of letting the pieces sit in boiling water anyway.


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It prlly wont sink to the bottom, very pourus stuff. Drill a hole attatch a weight or use rock.
GL

#1 S. Vettel

 

[kageh124]

Thanks for the advice. This morning I actually put the pieces in a large rubbermaid bin and poured in the hot water.... I figure i'll let it sit there from now until tomorrow and we'll see how that goes. I did notice that they weren't sinking, so I put a brick in there with it to keep it totally submerged under water.

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[Shenanigans]

When I put a large piece of reptile wood in my tank, it took about 20 lbs of rocks to keep it down, took another 2 1/2 months before it stayed down on its own, very dense