Collecting Natural Wood?

[hghlndr85]

what are the rules and guidelines on collecting natural wood pieces and treatign them for aquarium use

 

[flyin lizard]

Do not use pine of any kind. Take well soaked hardwood only from clean flowing water. Scrub then boil or bleach to kill nastys and if you bleach rinse many many times til you no long smell bleach then use de-chlor just to be sure.

 

[telepw]

You will have to soak it for at least 3 weeks in some plastic container, then clean it with wire brush and boil it for 15min.

best tool for that job:

 

[TRENT]

Soak it, then power wash it. Do this a few times and your good to go.

 

[gomezladdams]

Ive boiled or bleached it.Or soaked in a brine.
Pieces Ive found on the shore of the creek I colect from,already dried from the sun,Ive just rinsed and used.

 

[DrDoNothing]

I've found that the longer you boil it the better. I have a dozen or more pieces I've found myself, boiled and put in my tanks (usually, screwed or otherwise affixed to a rock or something). I boil for about 30 minutes typically. Some pieces never want to sink (ever). You can drill them full of holes (which I don't like doing) or just always keep them weighted down. When in doubt, throw it out. I once boiled a piece that exuded this tarry crud that ruined my wife's pot (she was mad) and stunk up the whole house. Should've just thrown it out first.