Driftwood

HI i hav just aquired some driftwood or wood that i intend to use for driftwood. I am planning to let it be in water from my water change out of tank. Do i need to change the water aswell to get the wood "clean" fish safe. And aprox how long does it need to be in the water?

 

Is t new wood or mature driftwood?

 

It needs to soak for a long time to get rid of all the tannins. If you can you should try and boil the wood. Then soak it again for a while. I boiled mine and then soaked for a few weeks changing the water every 2-3 days.

 

I've got mine floating in the koi pond for the past month or two... That'll sort it out! After that it's boil and repeat.

 

well for those of u who dont have koi ponds and your boiling pot isnt big enough, chuck the thing in the pool for a month or 2.. make sure to rinse it of chlorine etc afterwards.. i'd take the precaution of leaving it in a bath tub with de-chlorinated water for atleast a day.. then to dry again before i put it into a tank with fish..

 

So i now have decided to buy some driftwood will be easier and faster as to get my wood ready for tank. Today i discoverd some driftwood in a lfs. Its mopani driftwood. A piece of about 40 to 45 cm costs R47. Is this a reasonable price?

 

Sounds ok - still I think JHB is just way overpriced when it comes to these things so yeah under R50 sound like a bargain - post a pic. Typically these things get classified by weight and not size.

 

Even buying Mopani wood from an LFS will require soaking before use. THey do not 'pre soak' the wood, and even the ones that do, you will still get tanins coming out of the wood. Some more than others. I have some wood that I got over a year ago, and it still leaches out now, where as I have other bits that I bought and was able to use within a few days with no further leaching!

I guess it all comes down to the piece of wood, but I would not use any wood without having soaked it first for at least a few days!

Sorry its not the good news you may have hoped for, but I wouldn't want you to go sticking it in your tank, only to find a day later your tank water is deep brown.

Cheers
G!

 

I accept that one.
I do boil. like 7-12 days each days new biol water.