View Full Version : Soaking Mylasian driftwood
midnightmadman
03-05-2008, 4:43 PM
I have been soaking a nice size piece for about 1 1/2 weeks now. I empty the old water and I fill the bucket up with hot water every night.
My question is about the smell. Every time I empty the bucket, there is a strong sulfur smell. If I put my nose up to smell the wood it smells like sulfur also...
Is something wrong or is it safe to put in the tank yet?
jones57742
03-05-2008, 5:10 PM
If I put my nose up to smell the wood it smells like sulfur also...
mnm:
Something is wrong here.
IMHO when you add the hot water also add Chlorox until you get a very mild smell of chlorox.
Before you eventually place the wood in your tank do the warm water thing but add dechlorinate instead of chlorox.
When you put the wood into the tank dose with dechlorinate daily for two weeks (This is what I would do if I enjoyed the wood: if not I would chunk it.)
TR
krytan
03-05-2008, 5:22 PM
I defiantely wouldn't put in your tank until the smell has gone.
midnightmadman
03-05-2008, 5:34 PM
The chlorine method really scares me. I cant imagine a piece of wood that was soaking in any amount of chlorine is healthy to add to a tank with fish.
I just put it in the tank so I will see what happens!
crudnugget
03-05-2008, 6:11 PM
Clorox is not chlorine, it's bleach. It's safe to use a mild bleach solution to clean the driftwood while it's soaking, as long as you add dechlorified tap water for a few water changes before you add it to the tank.
Good luck.
jones57742
03-05-2008, 6:17 PM
The chlorine method really scares me. I cant imagine a piece of wood that was soaking in any amount of chlorine is healthy to add to a tank with fish.
I just put it in the tank so I will see what happens!
mmd:
Do what you gotta do here.
I prepared the centerpiece of my tank as I have suggested.
TR
BTW: would you rather have free chlorine or chloramines in the tank water and add prime or hydrogen sulfide which is what I believe that you are smelling.
If not hydrogen sulfide then something near to the methane benzine ring.
DarrylR
03-05-2008, 6:28 PM
Malaysian Mopani Driftwood? I have soaked about 4 pieces so far and never smelt anything like sulfur, well really no smell at all.
midnightmadman
03-05-2008, 9:03 PM
mmd:
Do what you gotta do here.
I prepared the centerpiece of my tank as I have suggested.
TR
BTW: would you rather have free chlorine or chloramines in the tank water and add prime or hydrogen sulfide which is what I believe that you are smelling.
If not hydrogen sulfide then something near to the methane benzine ring.
What would cause that?
It will smell a little...try changing the water more often like twice a day ( if possible )
Boil the wood if you can find a big enough pot to hold it.
The wood i have in my tank is Mopani not sure if that is the same as Malaysian ?
i second staying away from using any chemicals on the bog wood
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p179/fishuz/wood004.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p179/fishuz/hands015.jpg
( the fake plants are just for visual they will not be staying in the tank :) )
grannylvsfish
03-05-2008, 9:20 PM
nice wood!! hope its not rotten. I also would not put stinky wood in the tank :eek:
All the wood I have in my tanks is Malaysian and I have never had a smell come from the wood.But I also boil mine several hours changeing the water out several times in a big canning pot.
247Plants
03-05-2008, 9:27 PM
I think mopani comes from Africa....and malaysian comes from....well you can guess.
I second the boiling idea and maybe a mild bleach solution couldnt hurt, I would definately soak it with a bunch of prime before putting it in the tank though.
Bleach sold here in America is indeed chlorine bleach......says so right on the front of the label.
it should smell like wet wood...but if it has a funky or sulfur smell then yeah...you should check to see if its rotting.
jimired
03-05-2008, 10:40 PM
I just simmered my 4 pieces in a large pasta pot for an hour. Lots of colour came out but no odours. Nothing changed in the tank when I put them in. You got a bad pieces I think sorry..
midnightmadman
03-06-2008, 6:43 AM
My last soaking wasnt as bad as the last 7 or so. The water had the smell, but once I took the wood out it wasnt sulfur smelling, more like a wet wood smell. I am wondering if it is just something that the hot water sitting for a day with all the stuff that comes off the wood develops?
jones57742
03-06-2008, 1:08 PM
What would cause that?
mmd: I do not have a clue but if you detect the odor then ....
TR