drift wood?

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duster1971

duster1971

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 14, 2009
700
0
46
Iowa
im sure this has probly been asked befor but here it goes. im from iowa wish i wasnt. but the ?? i have is if i can go pick up drift wood from banks of local rivers and lakes and use it in my tanks. after soaking and boiling of corse. if anyone has done this befor let me know what you did to make it safe and what types of wood wuld be best to use . thank you all in advance.
 
i know im being cheap but im being seriouse i know pine is out of the question. i was also thinking of some native plants aswell any advice is well acepted.
 
im about to go out and find some drift wood for my pond. I think after you boil it it should be fine.
 
Scrub it down good to get any debris off you can, boil it to kill any living thing and let it soak depending on size to get any brown coloring out of it........
 
Ive collected straight pieces of wood from lake Erie by my house and another very cool looking piece from a small stream at a park by my house. Ive only bought drift wood once and wasn't happy with it so i just find my own now. Definitely boil it, also power washing or using a knife to scrape off the bark or loose pieces is good.
 
Soaking it in a warm/hot salt bath will help preserve the wood...

The salt will also kill most fungus/bacteria/etc...

Boiling the wood can contribute to disintegration...
 
If he has plecos, he wants disintegration.

Most fruit tree woods are okay. No conifers are okay as far as I know. Pine, fir etc. is highly toxic. Untreated hemlock lumber can be shaped and is very safe for some reason. I used it for my panaque and he'd eat a 2x2 block in a week.
 
thanks guys i will keep in mind the salt soak. i dont have plecos they seem to either get eaten or get killed. and yeah no trees like pine i know they are toxic to fish.
 
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