Is native driftwood safe?

[keepinfish]

I found a really cool piece of driftwood at a local lake, is there any reason it could be unsafe for my rays?

I power washed it and it's been submerged for sometime so it has no bark.

 

[PIE.]

It should be fine, I've added outside wood to my tanks before. The pH may be effected by the tannins.

However, due be careful to check if your lake has any chemicals in, which may be in the wood and may harm your rays. Also, it may rot if not hard or dense enough.

 

[Jamo3030]

I would soak and rinse it several times to try to leach out anything that might be in there. I have also heard cedar can be bad.

 

[scott s]

maybe soak it in a hot salt bath.

 

[calgaryflames]

its fine....

if you can submerge it in very hot water for a while until the whole peice of wood has been heated so hot that its sterilized right down to the core