Driftwood

[spewns]

Hi Ppl, I would like to know if anyone here has used found driftwood in thier tanks and if so how did you go about cleaning it before putting it in the tank. I have done this before but i found a way cooler piece and it seemed to have fouled my tank pretty bad so I am starting over.I am aware this is not advisable but this piece is so cool and to buy it would be soooo spendy. Any tips would be appreciated

 

[Bob Ashcraft]

One of the bigger pieces of wood I've used is a tree stump that I dug up in my yard. I kept it in the garage for about 6 months to let it dry, then soaked it in a tub, changing water every so often until it sank. I think that took about 2 months. It's been in the tank for 5 years now.

 

[fishfreek]

One of the bigger pieces of wood I've used is a tree stump that I dug up in my yard. I kept it in the garage for about 6 months to let it dry, then soaked it in a tub, changing water every so often until it sank. I think that took about 2 months. It's been in the tank for 5 years now.

Cool bob. Could you post pics of this. Could you also post if this is a "biotype" tank and what is kept in the tank. I have read that wood has the potental to lower the PH of a tank.

 

[spewns]

Thanks Bob,

I have done the same thing with the roots of a dead tree in my last tank. It didnt work so well with this piece. This time I washed the wood with a pressure nozzle on the hose (the wood is like a hollow log) and to my amazement a bunch of silt came out! I think i'll have better luck this time. I like wood in my tanks because the plecos eat it and after a year the wood looks incredible. I love the way they leave the raised grain. Thanks again for responding Bob.

 

[CRaZeeeBiTcHisH]

well i am pretty paranoid about my little fisheees health, but this is how i did it....i boiled it first quite a few times -this speeds the release of tannins, which includes tannic acid, which does lower pH, then i soaked it a couple times in a 1:10 bleach solution, then soaked it many times in plain water to remove bleach, then soaked it with lots of dechlorinator...lol, THEN i soaked it a couple times in a strong salt solution, (supposed to kill any freshwater uglies living on wood--i know, bleach and boiling, but i told you i was paranoid! )then of course , lots of clean water, then attached to base, and dropped in water! so far no problems for the fisheees! hope yours works as well!

 

[spewns]

Wow Craz, That is a process! And I would try the boiling if i had a pot big enough for the wood but hey I could pour some over it. i forgot to metion that i did soak it in the bathtub with a 1:10 bleach solution, re-soaked in clean water and used a brush on it to scrub off loose bits. I didnt soak it in dechlorinator assuming the stuff I put in the tank would have done that. Hmmm maybe I should LoL. Thanks Craz.

 

[Bob Ashcraft]

Cool bob. Could you post pics of this. Could you also post if this is a "biotype" tank and what is kept in the tank. I have read that wood has the potental to lower the PH of a tank.

I'm trying to find a picture of when the tank was newly setup. The plants have grown to a point where the stump is barely visible now.

This tank has about 12-15 assorted Angels and 1 very large Pleco.

If the wood ever did lower the pH, I never noticed, but I inject co2, so that in itself lowers the pH. I keep the pH at 6.6-6.8.