Wood in tanks

[Kitiara]

I have done some scrounging and found some long dead wood which I hope would be suitable to go into a tank. The largest piece has some blackened patches from a previous fire and I am wondering if it would be safe to use in a tank (I hope so - it's a nice piece of wood!)

I have wire brushed the wood and am currently soaking it. Will boil it in a day or so to make sure any bugs are deceased.

Would the scorched one be ok to use in a tank?

 

[Ianab]

Would the scorched one be ok to use in a tank?

It shouldn't hurt anything. Scorched wood is just charcoal

If the wood is old, weathered and dried out it's generally safe.

Wash it, soak it in a bucket for a few days to make sure it wont leach a heap of crud into the tank and you should be good to go. If it makes the water in the bucket murky, change the water and keep soaking.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Kitiara]

it's definitely old. Looks to be from larger pieces that have mostly rotted away. The scorched piece is one side of a reasonable size trunk with the middle gone so would make an excellent cave. one looks like a root bole of a sapling and the other is another trunk segment from a larger tree. The steel brush has removed all loose stuff and what remains is pretty solid. There was no sign of any bark on any of the pieces.

 

[Kitiara]

The wood in question. Wet from it's soaking

 

[Ianab]

Looks OK, I would give it the bucket test for a few days. If the water in the bucket is still cleanish then it should be fine in a tank.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Kitiara]

I'm boiling the 2 smaller pieces atm, getting a bit of tannin out but that's about it. After boiling I will leave soaking a couple of weeks as my LFS is out of eco complete and the other alternatives aren't in my area (and cost heaps to ship)

I believe the wood is eucalypt of some description as that is what was growing in the area

 

[gomezladdams]

Doesnt eucalyptus produce some kind of narcotic?I remember reading thats why the koalas are so dopey.

 

[Kitiara]

I have heard that, but apparently it only affects Koalas and is only from certain types of eucalypt. I have no idea as to which species of eucalypt these chunks of wood are from as there was no bark on them when I found them, and the trees in the area are a mix of several sorts (I could only ID one type there)

Also from what I have heard it's something in the leaves, I have seen no mention of it being in the wood (unless they never thought it worthwhile mentioning?)

 

[Ianab]

Yes, the Oils are in the leaves. The wood is.... just wood. It doesn't smell of Eucalyptus, it just smells like 'wood' when it's fresh cut.

Also it's very dense, good if you want it to sink in the tank Many species just WONT float, even if they are bone dry

Cheers

Ian

 

[Kitiara]

one of the 3 pieces floats - the bottom one in my pics. The other 2 sank no worries in the bin I am soaking them in