how to get branches ready for an aqurium

[jagsandpits]

Ive decided I want to re-do the look of my aquarium. I want to do something more natural. I went to the beach today and found this big giant branch,took it home and its sitting in the yard. what I wanna do is put it in the aquarium so it could be part of the design. its a really nice branch its like a red mahogany type color (I don't know much about trees lol). what do I do to it before I put it in the aquarium do I soak it dry it or anything like that?. is ther an important process I should know about?. and when its all said and done is it going to still have its red color or whatever? I don't want my fish to die from a stupid mistake so can someone please help

 

[Siddons11]

Your suposed to boil the wood before adding it but that might be hard with such a large branch. Maybe soak it in salt water? Someone here should have some prior experience lol

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[901MFKer]

I normally place mine in the bathtub and use a nice scrubber and super hit water. After I place it in the tank and hope for the best. Nothing bad has happened


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[MTBjake]

Being that its from the beach, there's no telling what it's been exposed to. Definitely boil it if you can, if not soak it in HOT water in the bathtub. Web the water gets cold, drain and refill a few times. Might want to hit it with a pressure washer and a nylon bristle brush just for extra measure.


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[Oddball]

Boiling just causes the green (fresh) wood to deteriorate more quickly. The only real way to make seasoned driftwood is to sink it in a natural body of water with good flow and wait a couple of years to harvest it. There are people all over the waterways down here (Gulf states) that have wood pieces tied to fishing docks, boat docks, cypress trees, etc. curing to sell in the pet trade or to taxidermists or decorators.

 

[jagsandpits]

is ther any way I cud be able to keep the red look?

 

[David R]

That stump was dug out of the ground (already dead), water-blasted, soaked for about a month, dried for about 4-5 months, then chucked in the tank to sink (before fish were added).
How I spent my Sunday; digging for 'drift'wood

I've done that several times with our native Manuka tree (hardwood), branches and stumps, green and dead. Oobviously the exact process will depend on the species of tree and if it is dead or alive, but I don't think you need to soak it for years. I certainly haven't!


OP, I haven't boiled a piece of wood in years, and I've collected it from estuaries, beaches, rivers and straight off the tree. The only reason for soaking it is to remove tannins or salt (if it's off the beach), or get it to sink. When I've collected wood from beaches I usually give it a scrub/blast, then soak it for a month or so changing the water and keeping an eye on what/if it is leaching, clean it again and check for rot, then put it in the tank. If you're really paranoid you could soak it in a bleach solution, but IMO that's more likely to cause problems if you don't get rid of it completely than anything that could be on the wood.