Clown Pleco and drift wood

[net_shark512]

OK I have been told that this fish should have some drift wood. I have a piece of drift wood that is probably over 4 years old maybe more. It has been out of the tank for a long time. Its the kind that stands straight up and down with a piece of slate as its base. The problem is I used to have it in a 20g and it was lowering my PH. I took it out never had the problem again. Would it be ok to put in my 55 for my pleco? Is it too old? Will it give me a PH problem again? Is there something I should treat it with? Right now it just sits on a shelf all dried out.

[optix]

Usually people use driftwood to buffer their ph. Which lowers it of course as you've seen. You should boil it for a couple hours if you are planning on reintroducing it. The pleco would love you for adding the wood :). It wont lower the ph dramatically and it may very well be a good thing. What is your ph as of now?? It also softens the water abit so you might want to check your Kh since that is what makes your ph stable.

[net_shark512]

What does boiling it do? I will have to check my ph not sure what it is at right now. It usually however sits about 7. Thanks optix I knew I could count on you.:)

[optix]

Boiling the wood removes any tannins or baddies in the wood but since you've used it before tannins are unlikely but the baddies are still a possibility (parasites chemical fume residues and the like) No problem net shark :)