driftwood... from the woods?

[Hybridfish7]

it doesn't appear wet or rotting, doesn't have bugs in it (anymore), and definitely appears old and weathered enough to where sap or tannins shouldn't be a problem.
I'm soaking it in 120 degree water right now, should this be good?

 

[kno4te]

Should work. Keep soaking and see if it leaks. If none then should be a good addition.

 

[fishguy1978]

Maybe. If it's not rotten and solid feeling might work. I prefer to collect wood that still has the bark on it so that I know what type tree. I don't boil or sanatize free range collected rocks or wood because the criters make for free food.

 

[koipie doll]

Nice looking piece.

 

[Toby_H]

I've used locally collected wood from the forest many times with a wide range of results. Probably 1 in 4 or 5 times it worked well and stayed in my tanks. I've never had one go so bad as to kill any fish.

I've had the best luck with dense wood. Specifically the core of the root ball of a small tree.

I try to boil it, or soak it in hot water if its too big to boil. The hotter the better.
Then I try to heat it in the oven after soaking.

Once in use, they often get a white fungus looking growth. This sometimes goes away in a week or so. Though it sometimes gets out of control and is the reason I discontinue use.

The most common reason I stop using such locally collected wood is that it simply starts falling apart and contributes to waste collecting on the sand.

 

[tlindsey]

That is a great piece of wood looks like Oak I would use that in a heartbeat.

 

[Jexnell]

With using wild wood you have to be sure it's hardwood.
Softwood trees have a natural antifreeze like chemical that cam kill off our fish in a closed loop system such as our tanks.

 

[fishguy1978]

I have L104s that are wood eaters so I have added alder, maple, and apple that has all been sources locally. I have some free range oak that is still freshly cut and needs to dry before use. I would recommend staying away from conifers as Jexnell said.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Maybe. If it's not rotten and solid feeling might work. I prefer to collect wood that still has the bark on it so that I know what type tree. I don't boil or sanatize free range collected rocks or wood because the criters make for free food.

some pieces of it are crumbly but for the most part it is solid and dry.

I've used locally collected wood from the forest many times with a wide range of results. Probably 1 in 4 or 5 times it worked well and stayed in my tanks. I've never had one go so bad as to kill any fish.

I've had the best luck with dense wood. Specifically the core of the root ball of a small tree.

I try to boil it, or soak it in hot water if its too big to boil. The hotter the better.
Then I try to heat it in the oven after soaking.

Once in use, they often get a white fungus looking growth. This sometimes goes away in a week or so. Though it sometimes gets out of control and is the reason I discontinue use.

The most common reason I stop using such locally collected wood is that it simply starts falling apart and contributes to waste collecting on the sand.

have you had experience with taking dead roots from upturned trees by any chance?

With using wild wood you have to be sure it's hardwood.
Softwood trees have a natural antifreeze like chemical that cam kill off our fish in a closed loop system such as our tanks.

Luckily there are no coniferous trees in the area I got it from so I can luckily be sure of its origin. Most likely oak, though if it were walnut I'd assume any toxins would be gone by now because of how weathered it is?

 

[Hybridfish7]

That is a great piece of wood looks like Oak I would use that in a heartbeat.

the best part about it is it is hollow underneath, it looks like it'll make a very nice cave for something.