A question about "driftwood"

[tetra_danio_girl]

So, I found this AWESOME piece of driftwood in one of the lakes here in Minnesota, and I was wondering how I should prepare it for use in my aquarium. I don't want to just throw it in there in case it has snail eggs or some bugs in it that are toxic to my fish.

Does anyone have any experience with preparing found objects for aquariums? I also have a rock that has some green algae on it. Should I scrub the rock before I use it in my tank, or can I just throw it in there, or should I boil it... or what?

When we set up a goldfish aquarium years ago, it didn't matter. We seemed to be able to toss whatever into it.

[KatzeSlaugen]

boil driftwood and same with rock but you dont need to boil the rock very long because all you need to do is kill the bacteria quick (only a few minuets) depending on if the wood is already saturated you might have to obil it for a few min (to kill bacteria,bugs,etc) or for a few hours to let it saturate and if the water gets tea colored thats just the tannic acid leaving the wood. change the water and repeat

[Red]

I wouldn't boil rock, could explode. Driftwood you could boil if you want, and I would also let it sit in a bucket to let some tannis out.. I would scrub the rock good..

[btate617]

I have never paid for a piece of wood, all that I have I also have found. Some will disagree but what I do is rinse the wood with the hose outside to get everything loose off of it. Then in the tub and with the shower hose I rinse with hot water for 5 minutes maybe. Then in the tank. Thats it, it works for me. Same with any rocks I may add.

Brian

[Wild Turkey]

If the wood will fit in a pot I boil it. It helps wood sink, gets some tannins out and kills germs.

Some people "bake" the wood in the oven at 250F over a few hours to kill germs, but it will make wood harder to sink.

Alternatively, you can fill a tank or large bucket, throw the driftwood you like in that and do water changes on it once a day until you are satisfied. I would precede that with pouring boiling water over it, or alcohol etc, but its not needed and most people dont. I am from the chesapeake bay area so its an issue for me

[Northernguy]

I agree with do not boil rocks.Scrub them real well and pout boiling or very hot water over them.
The wood you should clean all debris and bark off.I used a steel brush and a cisel to get everything.
Boiling does help to waterlog it quicker and get the tannins out.Soaking works too just takes a bit longer.Use a rock to hold it down.
Change the water daily until it stays clear.
You can also screw a peice os slte to the bottom to hold it down.Stainless steel screws only.Silicone may work if the wood is completely dry.

[KingFisher]

Boil the wood if possible, if not, pour boiling water over it several times. Scrub the rock and soak it in a 10% chlorine bleach solution for 15 minutes, rinse well, and soak it in water with a 2X dose of dechlorinator for 1/2 hour. Then they will be safe to add to your tank.

[smaug]

Rinse it off with a garden hose and chuck it in your tank.What little pollutants a piece of rock or a chunk of wood would carry are negligable.I use rocks out of the dirt in my back yard with nothing but a quick rinse in the sink,no trouble.
You state:When we set up a goldfish aquarium years ago, it didn't matter. We seemed to be able to toss whatever into it.
Thats proven practice for you and I both.

[tetra_danio_girl]

Okay, so I've got the wood in a tub of scalding water. It's already let out a lot of air, and I'll keep it in there overnight to get it completely soaked (or as much as I can until I have to do dishes again. :P

The rock, I'm going to just scrub down with a toothbrush and then toss it in with the driftwood in the scalding water.

Then I'll "cycle" both of them with the new tank I'm setting up. I figure the combination of ammonia and organisms will likely break down any other baddies that might be in the wood.

And hey, maybe there will be some advantages to having this driftwood in there, as well!

I will, of course, test the water before I put any fish in there.

[Northernguy]

That should work!
Post some pic when its all set up!:22:

[tetra_danio_girl]

That should work!
Post some pic when its all set up!:22:

Ask and you shall receive!!

Okay, so here it is in my tank. I soaked it in scalding water last night, scrubbed down the outside, and when I put it into the tank... well, the danios immediately started playing. :P

I also put in some bio booster in the tank (stress zyme and topfin bacteria supplement), just in case, y'know?

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[Gayle]

Looks good!!! LOL Glad the fishies liked it!!!!!

[rich311k]

Looks good. Nice peice of wood.

[tetra_danio_girl]

Looks good!!! LOL Glad the fishies liked it!!!!!

The danios apparently think they're burrowers or something 'cause they kept trapping themsleves under that shell in the foreground. -_-

I just had to move it and made another piece of "playground equipment" for them. so they can go under it and down the "slide" of the shell.

I swear, sometimes danios are like a swarm of 2-year-olds. :P

[Northernguy]

LOL Fish need to have fun too!
The tank looks great! Nice job!thumbs2:

[Taurus]

Looks great! Danios are like corys in a way. They're like puppy dogs bouncing all over the aquarium in a cute, care free way. Gotta love'em for their great attitudes. Not much seems to bother them.

[tetra_danio_girl]

Looks great! Danios are like corys in a way. They're like puppy dogs bouncing all over the aquarium in a cute, care free way. Gotta love'em for their great attitudes. Not much seems to bother them.

They totally are, aren't they? and I think they're the ones who are giving my platys the much needed-exercise. All the platys like to do is eat and poop and make fries (then eat them).

Sounds like mcdonalds addicts, doesn't it? :hmm3grin2orange:

[angc84]

They totally are, aren't they? and I think they're the ones who are giving my platys the much needed-exercise. All the platys like to do is eat and poop and make fries (then eat them).

Sounds like mcdonalds addicts, doesn't it? :hmm3grin2orange:


My platies are the same way! I've never seen them without a string of poop! Sometimes I wonder if they are trying to compete with each other with how long they can poop without breaking it...

[tetra_danio_girl]

My platies are the same way! I've never seen them without a string of poop! Sometimes I wonder if they are trying to compete with each other with how long they can poop without breaking it...

Ain't that the truth? And even the babies!!! They like to hold onto their poopstrings, too!

I think it's one of the characteristics of platies.