Hey guys I have been finding some really nice pieces of wood during some recent hikes. I was curious as to weather or not any of you guys collect your tank deco naturally and what it would take to get a piece of wood from outdoors tank ready.
Treating wood from outdoors for tanks
- Thread starter dparks87
- Start date
Be careful with what kind of wood you select. I believe (could be wrong) that certain types like pine have more sap which will leak more tannins in the water. I usually soak my larger pieces in the bathtub so they will sink easier and help leak out some of the tannins before it even gets to the tank.
To be honest im not sure what kind of tree this is from. It was part of a root system from a downed tree. I was going to buy a large storage container and soak it.
Do you guys think I should soak it in a light bleach/water solution and then just a water bath?
Do you guys think I should soak it in a light bleach/water solution and then just a water bath?
use aquarium salt / marine salt if it going in a freshwater tank use aquarium salt if its going in a marine tank use marine salt
if its a big peice use a 44 gallon drum and weld 4 legs on it fill it with water and the salt then add your wood then boil the basted with a fire
smaller peices do teh same thing but a pot on the stove will do or boil water in a kettle and pur it over the wood till ya bath tub is full of boiling water and let it sit tehre for 1 to 2 days
if its a big peice use a 44 gallon drum and weld 4 legs on it fill it with water and the salt then add your wood then boil the basted with a fire
smaller peices do teh same thing but a pot on the stove will do or boil water in a kettle and pur it over the wood till ya bath tub is full of boiling water and let it sit tehre for 1 to 2 days
Conifers release very toxic substances that will kill your fish if the wood isn't really well-cured or aged in a dead state naturally. Other than that, just type in the species of wood you found along with words like 'toxicity', 'edibility', etc. and you'll likely find out if that wood is safe. I know most fruit/nut woods are okay, as well as the hemlock trees.