Cheap options on driftwood in large setups?

[aclockworkorange]

Hey all!

Some of you may have seen my recent 125 gallon setup post... Well, it occurred to me today that I really need some more driftwood, and after all the other fish stuff I've bought recently, don't really have the money to spend on the pricey stuff in my lfs--aside from the fact I can't find any BIG pieces for my tank.

So is there a cheap source or creative solution for this?

 

[gomezladdams]

I get all my driftwood free from the local resevoir.

 

[BooshWacka]

I get all my driftwood free from the local resevoir.

did the same thing

make sure the wood is hard if u can press your nail into it and leave a mark

its NO good

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

did the same thing

make sure the wood is hard if u can press your nail into it and leave a mark

its NO good

Not nessicarily if the tree was originaly a hardwood tree (broad leaved tree) being soft means it's rotting and of course it is no good. BUT if the tree was a softwood (conifer) being soft is inherent in the type of tree it dosen't nessicarily mean it is rotting. Just make sure there is no bark left on it and it looks like it's been there for a while.


Alot of people will tell you conifers can't be used as driftwood DON'T LISTEN TO THEM! Any resonably intelligent person will tell you that assuming the wood has been properly weathered all saps and resins will have been broken down by bacteria long ago or leached out. They will also tell you the resins are not water soluble and the fish won't be able to "inhale" them anyway.


I've had a very nice log in my 150 for about a year now and due to the grain of the wood and the texture im positive it's cedar and you don't see all my fish dead do you?

Just stating this becuase in all these threads atleast one person will end up saying "Don't use coniferous wood in your tank" and then the OP believes them and it perpetuates the misinformation.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I live in Portland... lots of rivers and streams... hell there is a river separating the whole city!

So you're saying I can just cruise to the local river/stream, and scoop up some wood, as long as it's not soft (with other exceptions other people mentioned)?

Seems sketchy, but maybe that's what all the people selling driftwood WANT me to think! Heh

 

[David K. Bradley]

A.C.W.

Have you looked outside of Portland, like maybe Oregon City, Tigard, Forrest Grove, Hillsboro, lake oswego, Lincoln City, perhaps at other fish shops, outside of the Portland area. They might surprise you if as far as the cost of a good seasoned log or stumps for your 125. I'm not certain if this is a do-able thing, but it's worth a look. Call them up and see what they have to offer and see if it's worth your while to drive down to their store and purchase one.

Secondly, I really don't know if I'd really trust a piece of wood comming fro the Willamette River or not. I think the Columbia River would be a better choice on the Washington State side (easier access to the river bank in most places). I grew up by the Sellwood Bridge on S.E. Tacoma St. and the Willamette was pretty dirty when I left there 10 yrs. ago. I'd hate to take my chances with it now.

You might want to check the Clackamas River or the Pendleton River too, but they're probably to far to drive for you from Portland and wanting to be home in time for supper. So maybe these two suggestions only as a last resort.

Good luck with your search. Take care.
~David

 

[aclockworkorange]

A.C.W.

Have you looked outside of Portland, like maybe Oregon City, Tigard, Forrest Grove, Hillsboro, lake oswego, Lincoln City, perhaps at other fish shops, outside of the Portland area. They might surprise you if as far as the cost of a good seasoned log or stumps for your 125. I'm not certain if this is a do-able thing, but it's worth a look. Call them up and see what they have to offer and see if it's worth your while to drive down to their store and purchase one.

Secondly, I really don't know if I'd really trust a piece of wood comming fro the Willamette River or not. I think the Columbia River would be a better choice on the Washington State side (easier access to the river bank in most places). I grew up by the Sellwood Bridge on S.E. Tacoma St. and the Willamette was pretty dirty when I left there 10 yrs. ago. I'd hate to take my chances with it now.

You might want to check the Clackamas River or the Pendleton River too, but they're probably to far to drive for you from Portland and wanting to be home in time for supper. So maybe these two suggestions only as a last resort.

Good luck with your search. Take care.
~David

The Willamette...
Yeah, I have a car and all that, so I'm sure i will make it out to a river, it's supposed to get in to the 90s this weekend.

Thanks for the heads up, I will call around and see. Part of me does like the idea of coming across a really cool find on some river bank, and part of me is worried I'll pick a bad piece of wood and kill my tank.

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

So you're saying I can just cruise to the local river/stream, and scoop up some wood, as long as it's not soft (with other exceptions other people mentioned)?

Seems sketchy, but maybe that's what all the people selling driftwood WANT me to think! Heh

yep! where do you think most fish stores get all their driftwood ? From companies that go out and collect it from god knows where.

I should have mentioned the lake i got mine from was very clean and if you suspect a river of being too polluted don't use driftwood from there.

also you will need to give it some sort of treatment to sterilize it. A very strong salt solution i find to be the best becuase boiling often speeds up the breakdown of the wood salt on the other hand does not.


The solution should be at the very least as salty as seawater but more is better.

 

[BODYDUB]

Head down to the local lake or river and start walking.........

 

[wheatgerm]

i have even gotten dead juniper around here in northern utah and it wasn't even near a stream. i kept it in the tank for 5 months the only problem was it kept leaching tannins so i took it out but never killed anything. all my driftwood now comes from the local river but looks like a tiny stream compared to the colombia haha. your safe to use it. i never even wash mine off they go from the river to my tank. but it is a very clean mountain run off river.