Important Driftwood Question!

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DeathStalker

DeathStalker

Candiru
MFK Member
Apr 8, 2015
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United States
Ok, so I have a HUGE piece of driftwood (literally, it weighs 22lbs!) but the blasted thing is FLOATING! Even 5lb+ rocks can't hold it down.

Any ideas on how long this will have to soak in order to sink?

Thanks!
 
There's no way of telling since different woods take different amounts of time to cure. Was the wood immersed before you got it? If it was previously sunk driftwood, it'll sink quicker than anything that was found, say, in the woods instead of on a river bank.
I have a 5ft half-log currently floating that was washed ashore on the Tombigbee River. It was previously sunk wood that washed up after a storm. I'm hoping it'll sink within a week since another piece I got from the same location, and conditions, took about 5 days to finally sink.
 
So I'll take it out of the tank and soak it in the tub until it's ready. Does water temp make any difference in how quick/long that might be?

Will post a pic of it in the tub.
 
I have three pieces I got off a river bank and they have been in my tank since mid March. So far only one piece has sank. One of the other pieces is close, but has looked close for a few weeks now. The third piece has so much buoyancy that I'm not sure if it will ever sink. However, I actually like the look of the floating driftwood, so I'm fine with it.
 
I think the actual type of wood has a lot to do with it. Malaysian driftwood will sink without soaking because of it's density. I have several pieces I pulled from the bay that have been soaking for several months and still have not sunk even though the individual pieces are pretty heavy. I am pretty sure that heated water will help expand the pores in the wood helping it to soak up water as well as helping to release tannins.
 
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Awesome looking piece!!! I've had some take forever and I finally got tired of it and put a couple heavy rocks on top of it to keep it down and that makes the process a little faster. Put something really heavy on it and keep the thing completely under water for a few days and then check it. When completely under water they'll become water logged a lot quicker then left floating in my experience. And if you get tired of messing with it just send me a PM I'll take it off you're hands. :-)
 
I know that the LFS had some smaller pieces mounted on slate plates to hold them down. I have no idea how much weight it would actually take to weigh it down, but more than I have available :( I'll be calling the store tomorrow for their suggestions. If the 5lb+ lace rock I put on it won't hold it down, a plate of slate sure as heck isn't going to :(

Unfortunately, I have nothing large/deep enough to keep it fully submerged in - even with the overflow blocked with a washcloth and the tub filled, it won't fully go under, even held down.

<sigh>

I put the smaller chunks I had to cut off in the tank and will see how long they take to sink.
 
DeathStalker said:
I know that the LFS had some smaller pieces mounted on slate plates to hold them down. I have no idea how much weight it would actually take to weigh it down, but more than I have available :( I'll be calling the store tomorrow for their suggestions. If the 5lb+ lace rock I put on it won't hold it down, a plate of slate sure as heck isn't going to :(


Unfortunately, I have nothing large/deep enough to keep it fully submerged in - even with the overflow blocked with a washcloth and the tub filled, it won't fully go under, even held down.

<sigh>

I put the smaller chunks I had to cut off in the tank and will see how long they take to sink.
Click to expand...
I have put several pieces of driftwood that I have found in my tank. I have always went lowes and got marble tile drilled holes thru the tile and screwed the wood down with stainless steel screws. This allows me to put sand in most cases but a few times I have put rocks to hold it down until it sinks. I hope this feels. Have a blessed day.
 
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