Driftwood Question

[Dobsie]

where did you find or buy it from? maybe its naturally bouyant? try boiling or soaking it in HOT water.

I was riding my wave runner at the local lake. I almost hit it went back to see how big the wood was and thought it looked cool. It's been soaking in that rubbermaid tub for maybe three weeks in a low dose bleach/ hot water. I drain the tub every week and fill it with new hot water (as hot as the tap gets which can burn me) and add a little more bleach. Next week I will rinse out the tub add just hot water and some dechlorinator to counter the bleach and let soak for another week.

I have the rocks on top to keep it fully submerged.

 

[Toby_H]

I have had a 5' Oak tree branch in my 125 gal for 4+ years and it still doesn't fully sink. The thin end 'sinks' but the slightest current will move it around... the thicker end stays submerged but 'floats' just below the surface of the water...

Hardwoods take much longer to become saturated, although they are far less prone to deterrioration...

Knots are much denser than straight wood and therefore will take even longer to become saturated...

Consider using fishing line to anchor it to a rock or something to hold it down...

 

[boldtogether]

Some hardwoods may NEVER sink. Ever. The pore structure in some hardwoods is just to dense. Those woods are often used for outdoor furniture for that very reason.
A good boiling or hot water submersion is usually all it takes for stuborn wood to sink. I have also found that wood left in a container weighted down for "x" amount of time will have a tendancy to develope a slick slime/algea coating that, I have heard, can act as a "seal" preventing further saturation. Therefore, change the soaking water daily and keep the wood scrubbed clean. Try and soak out of sunlight.
I have also heard of people drilling/boring small holes through-out the piece to aide in the bogging process, being careful not to drill these holes in plain sight. The holes, however, could accumulate gunk and be an issue later.
If you weight it down with a piece of slate and decide not to use fishline, the flat rock can then be buried with substrate, be sure to use stainless steel anchors.(screw,nail,etc.)

 

[bud]

I have a piece a Walnut root ball that has been int the tank for yrs and still will not sink.

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

we cant all be lucky

 

[killclock]

I had driftwood that just wouldn't sink so i used fishing line and tied it to a suction cup i put on the bottom of my tank.