I was thinking about adding a little driftwood to my tank. Is it ok just to look for one outside because buying one would seem pointless.
Driftwood?
- Thread starter jlsmonkey
- Start date
I'm not 100% on the rule of what wood can or cannot be used from the outside since I never actually used wood straight from "nature". However, of course I'd without a doubt ensure that I boil the piece of wood to potentially kill anything that would be harmful and soak it in water for days/weeks to release tannins. I've done this with all the wood I've ever used and so far, no issues even w/ water "browning".
Yea I would recommend it to be safe. Also, the process of having the water engulfed in water can help with driftwood which doesn't sink into place right away. I know from my experience this has helped.jlsmonkey;3296592; said:
Haha yea some pieces of driftwood though are worth it since we all know they make your tank look that much "sweeter" when it comes to aquascaping.jlsmonkey;3296608; said:
You could always try and see if others here on the forums are selling some wood or even craigslist. Sometimes the wood can come straight from well established tanks that they'll sink right into place and maybe you won't need to do any boiling if you trust the source.
Hard woods work better than softwoods…
Pine Sap is toxic…
True “Driftwood” has soaked in salt/brackish water, then baked on the beach… This process helps “cure” the wood, or helps stop / severely slow down the process of rotting…
Boiling driftwood helps remove tannins which can make the water tea colored and can lower PH… boiling in salt water can help “seal” the wood considerably slowing down the rotting process… baking it (in the sun or oven) after boiling contributes to this also…
All that said… approx 3 out of 4 locally collected pieces of wood that I have selected and treated have in one way or another proven undesirable (mostly either breaking down / rotting or growing mold/fungus).
The only locally collected pieces I’ve had pass the test of time were three oak branches that were soaked in saltwater, baked in the drive way (repeat, repeat, repeat)… Although an oak root ball put through the same process grew fungus…
In the end… I’ve settled on buying my driftwood…
Pine Sap is toxic…
True “Driftwood” has soaked in salt/brackish water, then baked on the beach… This process helps “cure” the wood, or helps stop / severely slow down the process of rotting…
Boiling driftwood helps remove tannins which can make the water tea colored and can lower PH… boiling in salt water can help “seal” the wood considerably slowing down the rotting process… baking it (in the sun or oven) after boiling contributes to this also…
All that said… approx 3 out of 4 locally collected pieces of wood that I have selected and treated have in one way or another proven undesirable (mostly either breaking down / rotting or growing mold/fungus).
The only locally collected pieces I’ve had pass the test of time were three oak branches that were soaked in saltwater, baked in the drive way (repeat, repeat, repeat)… Although an oak root ball put through the same process grew fungus…
In the end… I’ve settled on buying my driftwood…
nc_nutcase;3296704; said:
Picked up on shore while it was baking in the sun. Not sure what type of wood it is, nice looking shapely piece. But I think I will avoid the hassles & just buy from LFS or CL or MFK'ers. Safer I agree.
Anyone know what ironwood is? I'll try to post a pic on another thread. thks
sushiray;3296894; said:
I've collected quite a few pieces from a lake shore as well as river/stream shore and it all rotted... collecting from an ocean or brackish shoreline will be much better...
I've never heard of ironwood but Wikipedia seemed familiar - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironwood