Sterilizing this drift wood

[aussieman57]

Absolutely no need to sterilize your driftwood. Just hose off the dirt and dump it in the tank. NEVER boil wood for aquarium use. It causes premature breakdown of the wood. I've taken driftwood out of the woods and placed it in tanks. There is nothing on that wood that will harm your fish.

Aquarium Wood

What wood can I use in an Aquarium?

aquariumscience.org

 

[bradleyheathhays]

Thanks everyone.

This wood was used in my previous setup that had some kind of unidentified problem with both fish and plants dying, so I don't feel like I can be too cautious with getting this wood back into shape again.

 

[Omrit]

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?

I have had wood release some kind of film into the water. Makes the surface of the water opaque, and the wood it's self has clearish globs on it. I have had this happen twice, both were smaller pieces of spider wood. Boiling them fixes this problem, which makes me think it is some kind of fungus on the wood that boiling kills then allows for easy wash-off while in my tank it dies then slowly comes off.


Anyway that is a reason to boil at least for me. Online the standard advise is boil for 2 hours, but I think 5 minutes is enough. I suspect a 2 hour boil would actually harm the wood.

 

[jjohnwm]

I have had wood release some kind of film into the water. Makes the surface of the water opaque, and the wood it's self has clearish globs on it. I have had this happen twice, both were smaller pieces of spider wood. Boiling them fixes this problem, which makes me think it is some kind of fungus on the wood that boiling kills then allows for easy wash-off while in my tank it dies then slowly comes off.


Anyway that is a reason to boil at least for me. Online the standard advise is boil for 2 hours, but I think 5 minutes is enough. I suspect a 2 hour boil would actually harm the wood.

That white fungus-looking schmutz is very common on new wood placed into a tank; I've never heard of boiling being effective in preventing its appearance. If the wood in question has been submerged for any length of time before collection, it is unlikely to occur. It's more prevalent in wood that has never been used or stored underwater.

How about all the big beautiful tanks we see here on MFK and elsewhere? Many of them utilize pieces of driftwood that are several feet in length, with other dimensions correspondingly large. Do you think they are being boiled in gigantic vats in preparation for use?

Soaking a piece of wood in a barrel or tub helps to waterlog it and hastens it toward sinking. I do it for that reason, but it also tends to allow this white stuff to make an appearance and then vanish on its own. In any case, it isn't harmful, just unsightly.

 

[fishguy1978]

IMHO the white slime is sap oozing out of the pores. Yes, it’s gross and stinks but your snails are gonna love it.

 

[Ogertron3000]

Thanks everyone.

This wood was used in my previous setup that had some kind of unidentified problem with both fish and plants dying, so I don't feel like I can be too cautious with getting this wood back into shape again.

not won’t do any harm to bake it for a while so if you will feel more comfortable doing it then go for it. One less thing for you to worry about