Sorry ladies not THAT wood lol im wondering if anyone knows if its possible to use just any wood in my tanks found in the forest if i clean and treat it properly?
Excellent news thank you!Ime experience most are no problem. Good idea to boil, soak well in very hot water, or heat in a safe way to kill possible organisms. I boil if possible or soak in very hot water until tannin release slows down. Some species, like rhododendron, which can be twisty and gnarly and look nice, may have toxins, another reason to soak well if you don't know what you have. I actually have a piece of rhododendron in one tank as a cave for a pleco (L128, not a wood eating species), but it's been soaked and aged and sealed with lacquer.
Years ago, before I learned to soak wood first, I bought what was labeled as Malaysian driftwood from a lfs that released heavy tannins in my tank and killed off half the fish before I got it out of there. I assumed it was aquarium safe since it was labeled that way, but it wasn't. I'd never had an issue with lfs driftwood before that.
Now all the wood in my tanks is stuff I collect myself and I haven't had any problems with it. I'm just careful to treat it first-- as you mentioned and as i described. Even after treatment, ime some types will get a whitish film on it in the tank at first, which has been harmless ime and goes away after some days.
Need help with wood....Sorry ladies not THAT wood lol im wondering if anyone knows if its possible to use just any wood in my tanks found in the forest if i clean and treat it properly?
And the bleach soaking into the wood doesnt pose a threat to the fish?Need help with wood....
Try Viagra.
On a serious note, I usually soak wood that I find in a bleach solution for two days (adding new bleach on second day). Then I rinse it in clean water. Never had a problem using wood that way.
No, bleach dissipates quickly. That is why you add fresh bleach the second day. Rinsing it removes almost all of it.And the bleach soaking into the wood doesnt pose a threat to the fish?
Ok thanks good to know!No, bleach dissipates quickly. That is why you add fresh bleach the second day. Rinsing it removes almost all of it.