Lol, fish on the brain.

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Greenspot

Greenspot

Gambusia
MFK Member
May 24, 2008
244
13
18
Australia
I am just about to take the kids for a drive to the river to collect driftwood for a tank I haven't even purchased yet, and won't until July!
 
Steriliz...what?
I just wash off.

I just got a few root looking pieces, not quite long enough or branchy enough, but I've got time. I did get a rush looking thing I'm going to try and grow out of a hob though. That was cool.
 
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Greenspot said:
Steriliz...what?
I just wash off.

I just got a few root looking pieces, not quite long enough or branchy enough, but I've got time. I did get a rush looking thing I'm going to try and grow out of a hob though. That was cool.
Click to expand...
Washing is good enough to clean dirt, but it doesn't remove parasites, fungus, microorganisms, bacteria, etc. Without sterilizing them in boiling water, or scrubbing with 3%Bleach/97%Water solution or even white vinegar......you run a very high risk of introducing something to your tank that could be a major threat, especially if your fish are not from around your area - they will have no type of immunity to whatever pathogen you introduce by doing this.

Always BOIL everything or scrub it down w/ Bleach-water mixed 3% bleach (unfragranced) to 97% water, then rinse it thoroughly and let it air dry for a few days in the sun. I prefer BOILING, because it's the fastest and most effective. It kills everything once the water hits 212F
 
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Wow, I have never done that. The pieces are way to long to boil. And I don't want to scrub and knock off all the bark. I might just let them dry out in the sun while I'm waiting for my tank. Funds say it is going to be a long wait.
 
just letting naturally collected drift wood dry out in the sun is mostly enough to kill any waterborne pathogens or parasites. I've only ever done it that way and I've never had fish get sick yet. I have natural drift collected from lakes and streams in both my native tanks.

Frank, I hope you don't feel like I'm solely contradicting you on all posts haha, I've just noticed as of late our views have differed on multiple threads and I assure you that is not intentional.
 
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Greenspot said:
Wow, I have never done that. The pieces are way to long to boil. And I don't want to scrub and knock off all the bark. I might just let them dry out in the sun while I'm waiting for my tank. Funds say it is going to be a long wait.
Click to expand...
For the larger stuff, I simply put the bleach/water solution into a spray bottle MARKED and never used again for anything except Bleach/water..........and just spray everything until it is fully saturated, Spray a 2nd time w/ a bottle of just plan water w/ DECHLORINATOR, then rinse w/ the hose for a good 5 minutes plus; air dry in the sun, then it's green light for "go ahead"
 
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Frank Castle said:
Washing is good enough to clean dirt, but it doesn't remove parasites, fungus, microorganisms, bacteria, etc. Without sterilizing them in boiling water, or scrubbing with 3%Bleach/97%Water solution or even white vinegar......you run a very high risk of introducing something to your tank that could be a major threat, especially if your fish are not from around your area - they will have no type of immunity to whatever pathogen you introduce by doing this.

Always BOIL everything or scrub it down w/ Bleach-water mixed 3% bleach (unfragranced) to 97% water, then rinse it thoroughly and let it air dry for a few days in the sun. I prefer BOILING, because it's the fastest and most effective. It kills everything once the water hits 212F
Click to expand...
Yes, because we all know that fish come from completely sterile environment. Blast with a garden hose and plop it in.
 
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