How to make big driftwood safe?

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jandb

Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 18, 2009
947
174
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Lewis Center, OH
Hello, I gathered some large pieces of driftwood from a local creek. I power washed them but they are way to big to boil. How do I make them safe and k ow when they are safe? Thanks. image.jpgimage.jpg

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should not be a problem. I would put in as are. cleaning them was the only big part.
 
should not be a problem. I would put in as are. cleaning them was the only big part.
+1 I washed my big centerpiece off and stuck it straight in. No problems, though you may find a few bugs crawling in your water the next day!
 
fish food!! you will probably get some fungus and perhaps some tannin's at first, neither hurt your fish, it all goes away after a few weeks, if you have a pleco he will love the new wood.
 
that is up to you,. will not hurt any thing. but as it breaks down will make a mess. but if you vacuum well every week at water changes not that big of an issue.
 
I brine mine in the bath tub for a few days... Better safe than sorry.


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If it's a new tank, just put the wood in before you get fish and let it soak for a week or so while your filter runs. I figure the wood probably helps the beneficial bacteria to accumulate. Then do a water change right before you add fish, if the water has gotten darker than you like it. If the wood is not yet bleached white from the sun, then chances are it will darken your water a bit at first. But this should dissipate with time.
 
You will not get rid of pathogens or parasites by simply putting it into your tank...
This has nothing to do with tannins, which will leach out of our tank for months to come, depending on the type of tree and thickness of the wood.
 
I brine mine in the bath tub for a few days... Better safe than sorry.


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What do you mean by "brine?" Assuming a typo. I'm about to go DW hunting this weekend and would love some tips on cleaning.

Really not interested in exposing my stock to any sort of parasites.
 
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