Sterilizing this drift wood

[bradleyheathhays]

I've used this wood before in a previous freshwater setup, but it's been outside (not on the ground) being rained on and in damp conditions for a while now and I need to sterilize it before putting the pieces back in the tank again.

These pieces are too big to get into a pot to boil so I was wondering if I could sterilize them by heating in the oven. I don't use the oven much so it wouldn't be a problem leaving them in for an extended period of time if that's what it takes.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Something Fishy Here]

If you have a bucket big enough you could boil water and pour into that bucket, it should still be hot enough to kill anything even without boiling the wood directly

 

[Fallen_Leaves16]

Heating the wood in an oven should be fine; I usually sterilize cork bark for my frogs that way. Baking the pieces at ~300 degrees Fahrenheit for roughly two hours seems to get the job done fairly well.

 

[tlindsey]

I've used this wood before in a previous freshwater setup, but it's been outside (not on the ground) being rained on and in damp conditions for a while now and I need to sterilize it before putting the pieces back in the tank again.

These pieces are too big to get into a pot to boil so I was wondering if I could sterilize them by heating in the oven. I don't use the oven much so it wouldn't be a problem leaving them in for an extended period of time if that's what it takes.

Thanks for the advice.

Welcome aboard

 

[Ogertron3000]

Honestly i would just blast them with a hose then pour a few kettles of boiling water over them, maybe im not cautious enough but any water living organisms wouldnt have survived it being outside for so long.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Honestly i would just blast them with a hose then pour a few kettles of boiling water over them, maybe im not cautious enough but any water living organisms wouldnt have survived it being outside for so long.

I agree

 

[fishguy1978]

I dry my wood if it’s fresh cut for about a year and then I toss it in which ever tank I want it for. No baking or boiling.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

I'd just give it a good spray with a hose to get any debris off and then throw it in the tank. Unless it's been in a pond or river there won't be any fish diseases or parasites on it.

 

[jjohnwm]

I'm with the lazy guys... Hose it down and throw it in.

Sitting outside, exposed to weather, dry, wet, dry, wet...what exactly do you think is living on that wood that poses a threat to your fish?

 

[Disturbed.)]

I have a HDPE 55 gallon barrel with an airstone that I soak native driftwood in. Ill dont even measure just pour potassium permanganate crystals in and soak for a few days then dump and rinse. If the piece is over 36" repeat for the other side. If I'm in a hurry to put it in the tank I'll spray it with peroxide to make sure all the PP has been neutralized. But usually dry wood takes longer to sink than for the PP to wear out.