I have gotten all of my drift wood from LFS, and sometimes I soaked them to remove as much tannins as I could, but lately I haven't bothered.
Longear Sunfish in 55 gallon
- Thread starter Foxlarocks
- Start date
Rays o. Sun. , Bleach would work but I try not to use too many chemicals unless my fish are sick. I was thinking about just soaking in saltwater in a kiddie pool and then putting the driftwood into a clear plastic wrap in the sun for a few days before rinsing off. Some of the heavily used lakes around here that have tons of free driftwood start getting E-coli warnings in the summer after a weekend with thousands of party boaters and fisherman; but once again I like your use of driftwood because I believe the key to make your fish healthy and happy is to accurately recreate their natural home as much as possible.
Fox thats something Im going to have to be real carefull of even when I find driftwood is the type. I have heard that cedar (which we have a lot of ) and some pine if not properly seasoned in the water can poison the fish. Around here in Mo. the only driftwood Ive found in the Ozarks for sale in Pet stores is expensive and small; but we are blessed with an abundance of lakes, rivers, creeks and streams so I think Im just going to diy it.Foxlarocks;4256865;4256865 said:
Warmouth, guess it would be a long time before you can collect wood. I did find out that Clorox Regular Bleach does kill E. Coli. I think this is the only way you can be sure that the e. coli is killed in and on your driftwood.
I don't know how deep the bacteria can penetrate through the wood.You can try boiling it after the bleach treatment. I know you don't want to use the chemicals but I know the bleach can make it safer for you. At some point in time, your fish or dropping something will splash water on your face and your mouth. So be careful and use the bleach.
If you didn't have the e. coli scare, I would side with you. I wish you could have some of your remote lakes, ponds or stream tested for e. coli. Nothing like having nice sized driftwood, without breaking the bank.
I don't know how deep the bacteria can penetrate through the wood.You can try boiling it after the bleach treatment. I know you don't want to use the chemicals but I know the bleach can make it safer for you. At some point in time, your fish or dropping something will splash water on your face and your mouth. So be careful and use the bleach.
If you didn't have the e. coli scare, I would side with you. I wish you could have some of your remote lakes, ponds or stream tested for e. coli. Nothing like having nice sized driftwood, without breaking the bank.
Where are the fish? HAHAHA!!! I thought I had a problem capturing a pic of mine. I have 5 and I am luckly to catch 1 in a pic. Takes about 30-45 minutes to get the shots I do have.
Rays of Sun. I think I might have to go to some of the smaller lakes and see what I can find, many of them are on Missoure conservation lands so Im not sure if I can take wood our without a permit; Fox your tank looks good with the wood and plants.....I cant wait to move so I can get a bigger tank!
