River driftwood/rock??

[fishymommy]

I have a stream nearby that has a lot of neat rocks and driftwood.. can I use this somehow in my 90g tank? How do I clean it to make sure its safe for my fishes? I've heard of boiling the wood but what about rock? And what if the wood is too big to boil?

Thanks in advance!!!

fisymommy

[rich311k]

For the wood. Boiling will kill the nasties. If it is too large, you can scrub it and soak it with hot water in a large tub. Changing the water every few days.

For the rocks, scrub them, soak them in a bleach solution and then rinse well. You may want to test that the rocks do not effect your water hardness. To do so, you can sprinkle with vinegar or muratic acid and see if they bubble, or you can soak in buket of water and see if the KH or GH changes over a week or two period.

[DrNic]

Awesome tips Rich!

Be careful if you boil the rocks. A friend of mine tried that once for the same reason. What she didn't know was that there was a small crack in the rock that water must have gotten into. As the water began to boil the rock exploded and broke the window above her over. Luckily she wasn't in the room when it happened.

I've been told that with rocks it is sometimes better to scrub them down really well. Rinse them. Then put them on your grill under low heat for about an hour or so. Just be REALLY careful as they can hold the heat for quite some time.

[fishymommy]

wow thanks guys!!

SO if the vinegar bubbles, is that good or bad?

[rich311k]

Bubbles means the rocks will effect the water hardness. If you have hard water fish then it is not a problem. For the fish you want it would not be good.

[PostalPenguin]

Rocks need just a quick scrub with hot water, a dip in boiling water, a good rinse and they are good to go. However, for wood I would scrub it well and then leave it out in the sun for a few days.

[Northernguy]

If the vinagar bubbles it means it will raise your ph levels.How much would have to be tested in a bucket.
The driftwood should be scrubbed and and clean.If its too large to boil than a large plastic tub works fine.Pour very hot water over and let it soak,if the water changes color change it and soak again.I changed the water daily until it stopped.Hardwood is best.You can usually tell from the weight of it.Hardwood is also much more dense and lasts longer in the tank.

[fishymommy]

Ok, I would assume the wood down by my creek would be hard wood, not fancy driftwood. Does hardwood sink better? How do I get it to sink if it doesn't on its own?

[Northernguy]

You place it in a plastic tub and weigh it down with a rock until it stays down.
I did hear that dechlorinated water soaks in faster than chlorinated.Something to do with the gases.
If the wood is ready for your tank you could weigh it down in your tank.It will eventually stay down on its own.
Make sure its not green wood.

[fishymommy]

What would you use to weigh it down?

When you say green wood, do you mean it literaly looks green or is that a type of wood?

[Northernguy]

Green is not dead and dry!Thats why we suggest driftwood.There is plenty on river banks as well as lakes.
Got pics of the wood you have in mind?

[fishymommy]

I haven't been down to the stream but I was debating over something of either of these two shapes.. I think I like the second picture better but the first is neat too

[fishymommy]

Thats weird... well, I guess you have to open it in paint or you can go here:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Thats the website I got it from

[Algenco]

What would you use to weigh it down?

When you say green wood, do you mean it literaly looks green or is that a type of wood?

wood that's fresh, bark still attached

[fishymommy]

Ok, no new wood. Just old. But not rotting.... check

[PostalPenguin]

Your thread prompted me to take a hike to the river by my house and I found a really cool piece of driftwood along the bank so I will be joining you in making some DIY driftwood.thumbs2:

[fishymommy]

Yay! Congrats. Wish me luck on my trip!! Awesome name btw.

[Northernguy]

Good luck! I hope you find the peices your looking for!
If shipping wasn't so expensive I would sell wood on line.
I am going out to get some root systems that are dried out and sun bleached.I hope to return with a trailor full.
Most of it will be for a garden but some will definately end up in my tanks.
Hopefully they will have opened the dam and drained down a good portion of the lake!

[fishymommy]

Wow! Lucky!! I hope the streem isn't too high here as well. Usually there's a lot of wood right under the bridge but I won't be able to get to it if its flooded.

[Northernguy]

If the water is high there will probably be under tow currents too!
Wait till the water settles more and take a walk.
Its a lot safer and we aquarium people are suppose to be a patient bunch!:hmm3grin2orange:

[fishymommy]

Yup, sounds good.