Coating non-driftwood with fiberglass resin?

[CHOMPERS]

...and is toxic to the tank and can be harlful to the fish.

To start with, what kind of wood is it? Most wood species are not toxic. The issues are in the softwoods (evergreens) ...and Poison Ivy. That doesn't look like it is from an evergreen.

Well, come to think of it, many woods contain unknown levels Dihydrogen Monoxide.






Dihydrogen Monoxide:

• is called "hydroxyl acid", the substance is the major component of acid rain.
• contributes to the "greenhouse effect".
• may cause severe burns.
• is fatal if inhaled.
• contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
• accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
• may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
• has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

• as an industrial solvent and coolant.
• in nuclear power plants.
• in the production of Styrofoam.
• as a fire retardant.
• in many forms of cruel animal research.
• in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
• as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.

 

[bahamaqt00]

Thanks for the info! I'm not sure what kind of tree it is, but I know it is not from an evergreen. What are your opinions on coating it with sillicone?

 

[boldtogether]

Dont do it. Unless you are totally in need of a project. Go get a trash can from the local hardware store and soak that wood!! You dont have to scrub the wood till your fingers bleed, your not sanding it...use a toothbrush if its delicate. Coating it will only make it look shiny underwater

 

[bahamaqt00]

Coating it will only make it look shiny underwater

But is it safe for the fishies?

 

[BadOleRoss]

Assuming the wood is unsafe for the fishes, I think it would be very difficult to coat the entire piece with silicone for it to be considered safe. If you could coat it 100%, I see not reason why it would not be safe. But I am just guessing!

 

[Modest_Man]

To start with, what kind of wood is it? Most wood species are not toxic. The issues are in the softwoods (evergreens) ...and Poison Ivy. That doesn't look like it is from an evergreen.

Well, come to think of it, many woods contain unknown levels Dihydrogen Monoxide.






Dihydrogen Monoxide:

• is called "hydroxyl acid", the substance is the major component of acid rain.
• contributes to the "greenhouse effect".
• may cause severe burns.
• is fatal if inhaled.
• contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
• accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
• may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
• has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

• as an industrial solvent and coolant.
• in nuclear power plants.
• in the production of Styrofoam.
• as a fire retardant.
• in many forms of cruel animal research.
• in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
• as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.

I'm drinking some right now.

I harvest wood all the time and have never had an issue with it in the fish tank. Am I just lucky or are most people way to anal when it comes to their tanks? Who knows. I even use rocks that are from the outdoors

 

[CHOMPERS]

Thanks for the info! I'm not sure what kind of tree it is, but I know it is not from an evergreen. What are your opinions on coating it with sillicone?

Silicone doesn't bond well with porous materials. Wood is high on the list. I wouldn't coat it at all. Most coatings will look tacky or unnatural up close. Soak it and call it good. You'll want to change the water several times until it no longer tints the water (I don't think it will anyway).

Dont do it. Unless you are totally in need of a project. Go get a trash can from the local hardware store and soak that wood!! You dont have to scrub the wood till your fingers bleed, your not sanding it...use a toothbrush if its delicate. Coating it will only make it look shiny underwater

But is it safe for the fishies?

Yes. They swim with wood in their water all the time. Here in Florida, the St. Johns River is so heavy with tannins that you can't see more than six inches down.

I'm drinking some right now.

Me too. Just don't inhale any of it. It could be fatal.

Am I just lucky or are most people way to anal when it comes to their tanks?

Yep. Consider yourself blessed.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Well, come to think of it, many woods contain unknown levels Dihydrogen Monoxide.










Dihydrogen Monoxide:

• is called "hydroxyl acid", the substance is the major component of acid rain.
• contributes to the "greenhouse effect".
• may cause severe burns.
• is fatal if inhaled.
• contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
• accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
• may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
• has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

• as an industrial solvent and coolant.
• in nuclear power plants.
• in the production of Styrofoam.
• as a fire retardant.
• in many forms of cruel animal research.
• in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
• as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.

Dihydrogen Monoxide is water.

... the term "Zohnerism" to refer to "the use of a true fact to lead a scientifically and mathematically ignorant public to a false conclusion.

The whole point in this is that message boards are filled chock full with people who have an opinion that frequently is not their own. It is far easier to repeat what someone else said than to stop and think about what is at hand.

For instance, the default response for any question involving driftwood or wood in general is to "boil it". If you buy it, "boil it". If you find it, "boil it". You want it to sink? "Boil it." It's eight feet long... "boil it".

Of course, there is no harm in boiling something that is going into your tank (usually). It's just that default answers/responses are frequently a disservice to the person who is seeking good advice. For instance, you asked previously in another thread elsewhere if it was safe and the response was that it was toxic. At the conclusion of that thread, the species was still not idenitfied.

 

[hemundr]

I you want it shiny coat it with epoxy resin. I you want it in your tank tie it to a rock so it wont float.

Tried and true process with collected wood

 

[bahamaqt00]

No the species was never identified but someone said that it was forsure toxic. So I don't even know if that is a true statement. We coated a part of a branch and broke it off and dropped it in our empty 55gal and it looks fine. Not really shiny at all so i'm not worried about that.