Driftwood

[schaadrak]

I wouldn't worry about chemicals that much unless you live downstream from some sort of industrial area. Chances are that the worst chemicals in the creek are fertilizer run-off from somebodies lawn or maybe soap from somebody washing their car.

BTW, do you know what kind of wood it is? Certain types of trees can be harmful to fish and inverts if any sap is remaining.

 

[Louie]

i heard you could bake it for 15 min on high heat, i would not use it though. even if you kill and bad bugs, that wood has been sucking in all the chemicals in that river for god knows how long.......after a while soaking they can eventually leach out..... i have had a peice of drift wood i bought from a pet store, soaked it in water for 2 weeks before i put it in my tank and 5 months later, the wood leaks tannis still, makeing my water brown...

ouch did not know that I picked up some big pieces at area lake and few smaller mopani at fishfarm.
ALL leach tannic acid I dont mind but prefer clear water its for firemouth,jewel cichlids in pond so its okay didnt think they could leach that long thought tops 2 months if that .
Overnight water stained light brown 2 weeks later pond is all brown

 

[schaadrak]

Using activated carbon in your filter will remove the tannins from the water.

 

[Louie]

I am using carbon but still very brown imagine its might take a bit to remove it as carbon might be getting used up fairly fast will just give it time.
I change 10 gallons of water a week if it pours which season should be soon will change more didnt realize driftwood water made water so brown as never used it before

 

[badisbadis101]

This has been underwater for a while. I was just thinking, i could simply coat it in a few layers of fish safe clear sealant/enamel/whatever and then i wouldnt have to worry about it Thanks for the suggestions though

However, what would be best for sealing driftwood?

 

[oOMO3NOo]

I am using carbon but still very brown imagine its might take a bit to remove it as carbon might be getting used up fairly fast will just give it time.
I change 10 gallons of water a week if it pours which season should be soon will change more didnt realize driftwood water made water so brown as never used it before

i had a huge brown water problem as well and i used Purigen instead of carbon and it works awsome not only does it suck up alot more of the brown but you can recharge it. you can find out more about it at the seachem site. but i would highly highly recomend this product. (o be sure to read the warning label caz it says it will become toxic if used with some slime coat type products)

 

[schaadrak]

This has been underwater for a while. I was just thinking, i could simply coat it in a few layers of fish safe clear sealant/enamel/whatever and then i wouldnt have to worry about it Thanks for the suggestions though

However, what would be best for sealing driftwood?

Urethane or epoxy resin would be best. You'll have to let the wood dry out completely before you apply it and then allow the sealer to cure for a week or two just to be safe. Sealing it will also keep it buoyant since the air will be trapped inside, so you'll have to weight it down somehow.

 

[Louie]

i had a huge brown water problem as well and i used Purigen instead of carbon and it works awsome not only does it suck up alot more of the brown but you can recharge it. you can find out more about it at the seachem site. but i would highly highly recomend this product. (o be sure to read the warning label caz it says it will become toxic if used with some slime coat type products)

I wil go read it now thanks chances are I am going to get so much leaching of the tannic acid that will just rely on water changes and time but if it can be renewd worth looking into will look now thanks again

 

[oOMO3NOo]

ya i didnt think it would help that much either but it really did i was amazed this is a picture on someone elses tank that had carbon in the filter and it was tea colored so they added this stuff and you can see how much clearer it is plus this is a good jornal to read if you going for a fully planted tank.

 

[Moontanman]

i can do that as well, but that doesnt get rid of any chemicals, if there are any

I've been collecting drift wood for my aquariums for more than 30 years and I've never had any problems. As long as it came from reletively clean water I would go ahead and use it. If it will fit in a 55 gallon plastic barrel you might try soaking it with about a gallon of hydrogen perioxide added to a barrel of water if you are really worried. If it came from a reletively clean stream it's doubtful it will contain enough chemicals to harm your fish.