Can I use any wood for driftwood?

[moneyman6891]

I have a newly setup 45 gallon tank. There is some dead trees in the river by my house, saltwater river, and want to know if I can use them in my tank. Its freshwater. I will of course soak and scrub them. They are not submerged right now but on the bank.

 

[WyldFya]

Certain woods are okay to use, certain woods are not. Do you know what type of trees are growing in the area?

 

[moneyman6891]

mangroves palm trees and pepper trees. IDK what it is ill get pics tonight.

 

[WyldFya]

Then the answer is no. The mangroves will work if they are live, but they don't do well dead.

 

[famous323]

many different trees carry different chemicals so i wouldn't

 

[Acer]

I don't know about the pepper tree... if it is the same species I'm thinking of (Schinus molle, invasive in S. U.S.) the sap can cause dermatitis and the wood is pretty resinous. May not be a big deal, but I'd steer away from it...