turn dead tree root into driftwood?

[DeadInTheBasement]

I sawed this off of the root of a fallen oak tree and cleaned it up with a wire brush and soaked in boiling water to kill any bugs that might be in it.
If i soak it a couple months without replacing the water will the tannins dye it a darker color? maybe i could add some dead leaves to the water even?
or would i be better off weighing it down in the river/looking for real driftwood.

 

[aquaponicpaw]

I thought about doing the same thing. I have a really nice stump in my backyard that would look awesome in a tank. Unfortunately, I have no answers to any of your questions. Just letting you know that you are not alone in your inquiries.

 

[Vicious]

Im also in this dilemma and waiting for some idea that some may share.

 

[D-007]

I don't believe that soaking it in unchanged water will make it any darker. Personally, I think it is a nice piece as it is and I would go ahead and put it in the tank now. It will still release some tannins but after some water changes that will diminish. Don't stick it in the river as you'll only reintroduce pathogens to it after you having done all that hard work to get rid of them. Adding cleaned oak leaves to the tank will keep tannins also.

To weigh it down you could attach it to some clear acrylic from Lowes or Home Depot with some stainless steel screws. Cover the acrylic with your chosen substrate and maybe a rock or two and it will make a nice and natural piece of decor.

 

[fhawk362]

yea I wouldnt worry about darkening it, not much you can do there. To get it to sink just throw it in a hot bathtub for about a week or so, changing the hot water every day (the hot water opens its pores and quickens the waterlogging process), weight it down so its sunken in the tub, put a cinder block on it or something, a lot of tannins will be released and even if it doesnt completely sink afterwards it will be a lot easier to hold down.

 

[gmalone]

That is a nice piece of wood.
I've read some other folks saying that oak will release tanins for a long long time but I don't think it's harmful.