Around where I live there is literally tons of awesome driftwood. My question is what do you guys think about collecting local driftwood for aquariums? The sizes of the pieces im after are insanely expensive at the LFS in my area. Im wanting to get this really nice piece I found, but I also dont want to contaminate my tank with parasites. The piece is large, and there is no way im going to be able to boil it or even heat it for that matter. Any suggestions or experiences with doing this? Thanks in advance...
Collecting local driftwood
- Thread starter Venom SS
- Start date
I just got 3 small ones from a local "dirty" river. It has minnows in it so it's not *that* bad but it's not clean. So far I have just sprayed them off with my hose at UBER high pressure a few times and now they've been sitting on the back porch baking in the sun for a couple weeks. I want to blast them with a pressure washer and then soak them prior to putting them in the tank still. Some of the stuff on the outside is soft and flaky, I am hoping the pressure washer removes all that and leaves solid wood only.
This wood comes from a lake, and some of it from a river that drains out of this lake. It is a fairly healthy ecosystem but by no means pristine. I wish I had a seperate tank to test it in with some cheap fish. Ive heard of lots of guys using local wood but Ide just like to know what I need to do to make it "safe".
all driftwood has to come from somewhere, so i think youll be fine. just try to soak it for a few days before going in your tank and rinse it off as best you can
One of my favorite wood pieces in a tank is from a log we cut up, it has slowly turned into driftwood. At the time, the only thing we have did was wash it intensely with soap and water, then just water.
Soaked it a while then put it in my tank. I may have been lucky, but it has been in 2 different tanks with very health fish over the last year.
I have heard people say that you should put it in boiling water to kill any bacteria or harmful organisms. Better to be safe than sorry.
Soaked it a while then put it in my tank. I may have been lucky, but it has been in 2 different tanks with very health fish over the last year.
I have heard people say that you should put it in boiling water to kill any bacteria or harmful organisms. Better to be safe than sorry.
Maybe you can get a metal 55g drum, fill it w/ water and start a fire under it to boil the driftwood. I would at least power wash it and pour boiling water over it.
I would imagine that drying it out in the sun until fully dry would kill any unwanted creatures that where living in the wood.It might take a few weeks,it would take months with the weather we are having over here.
