sap in driftwood

**Angelfish11788** · 04-02-2013, 09:46 PM

oh ok, not calling you out, just wanted to make sure

**bethyMT** · 04-02-2013, 09:49 PM

I think it's "hardwood" and "softwood." I'm not sure of any intermediate types. Hardwoods include oak, maple, ironwood, you know....softwoods are, well, not those, like pine.

I wouldn't worry too much about sap. It will come out of the wood and dissipate with water changes. If this piece is hardwood, it shouldn't hurt anything....even Mopani and manzanita wood occasionally leach sap, at least mine did. Just make sure you soak it well before you put it in the tank, as well as routine disinfection (you already did the baking).

ETA: Sap is a different thing than the white cloudlike stuff on the pics (although there's sap there too)...that's normal fungus. Often happens on new driftwood no matter how much you prep it. So don't be surprised if you see jellylike stuff covering the wood for a few weeks once you add it to the tank.

**~firefly~** · 04-02-2013, 10:07 PM

Really? I was told it was sap - and it was on areas where the wood had holes, cuts or whorls. Odd.

Either way - it did no harm to my shrimp.

**Goes to 11!** · 04-03-2013, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by bethyMT

ETA: Sap is a different thing than the white cloudlike stuff on the pics (although there's sap there too)...that's normal fungus. Often happens on new driftwood no matter how much you prep it. So don't be surprised if you see jellylike stuff covering the wood for a few weeks once you add it to the tank.

I agree, What you had is a common biofilm that develops for a few weeks and then fades away. I prefer the technical term "driftwood snot" :-P. Your shrimp feasted on it and some fish will too :-D.

OP are you sure it is sap and not simply tannins?