Making wood safe for my tank

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R

rmorse

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Feb 14, 2008
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Hey all, I posted this in both General Aquaria and in DIY, but I am posting it here to try and get more responses. I also didn't know where it should go. Hopefully this is right.

Hey guys,

I am currently at Ocean City, Maryland. I found a EXTREMELY nice piece of wood, and would love to put it in my fish tank as a show piece. However, if you guys say it can't go in a fish tank, I can always put it in my beardie cage.

Anyway, about the piece. How do I determine if it is safe to go in my tank? I found it on the Bay side, so it is (somewhat) fresh water. It was a fallen tree, and it is complete with the roots still on it. (This is why I want it) I found it next to the water. It was rotting a little bit, not much. It is VERY dried out. I broke the main tree part, and found ants in it. I am left with the roots and part of the tree, about 3 feet high. I tossed it into the Bay to let the ants die for about 20 minutes, then drove it home. I will post pictures tomorrow night when I get back to my main house.


My question: Is it safe for a tank? And how do I go about preparing it? I plan on powerwashing it a bit to knock of the junk, then doing a salt soak for like a month. Any help/advice would be MUCH appreciative.


Thanks!

Bobby :headbang2
 
doing the soak in a big rubbermaid should do the trick! pics please!
 
Yeah i really wouldn't worry about whether you got it from a salt or freshwater source as long as you clean and soak it you should be fine.
 
Unless it's a piece of hardwood, I wouldn't advise using it. You already said that it rot alittle and there were ants in it. The reasons I wouldn't use it is because: 1. Because it's from a tree that probably wasn't a piece of hardwood, it's going to rot and turn to mush in the water. You said it was in alittle bit of water and had rotted. Imagine if the wood was totally under water in your tank. 2. Also, because there were ants living in it, they probably tunneled inside which will let water inside the wood and rot it faster. 3. Unless it was totally dry when you found it, there still might be sap in it. These are just some of my opinions. The Doctor.

P.S. I'm not a tree expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. :grinno:
 
Dr_Shakalu;1930285; said:
Unless it's a piece of hardwood, I wouldn't advise using it. You already said that it rot alittle and there were ants in it. The reasons I wouldn't use it is because: 1. Because it's from a tree that probably wasn't a piece of hardwood, it's going to rot and turn to mush in the water. You said it was in alittle bit of water and had rotted. Imagine if the wood was totally under water in your tank. 2. Also, because there were ants living in it, they probably tunneled inside which will let water inside the wood and rot it faster. 3. Unless it was totally dry when you found it, there still might be sap in it. These are just some of my opinions. The Doctor.

P.S. I'm not a tree expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. :grinno:
Click to expand...

Haha, you listen to Mitch Hedberg? The one about naming the Hotel?

"Lets call this one something tree. Tree? No. Double tree? HELL YEAH! Meeting adjourned!" :ROFL:


Anyway, Yea, I hear what you are saying. I am gonna try it out and watch it. (Before it goes in the tank)

Navy girl, heading outside right now to take your pics!
 
PICS:

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Wow. I have NO idea why that one pic is so big. It is a closeup, meant to show the crazy twist in the wood.
 
wow! thats an awesome piece of wood, i love the roots! its going to look good in the tank..
 
rmorse;1932735; said:
Haha, you listen to Mitch Hedberg? The one about naming the Hotel?

"Lets call this one something tree. Tree? No. Double tree? HELL YEAH! Meeting adjourned!" :ROFL:


Anyway, Yea, I hear what you are saying. I am gonna try it out and watch it. (Before it goes in the tank)

Navy girl, heading outside right now to take your pics!
Click to expand...

:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:
 
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