I haven't seen many references to using fresh cut wood or how to prepare it for a tank. I 've got two large pieces of twisted maple root (cut recently from a freshly fallen tree) which I have stripped of bark, pressure washed, soaked in bleach and now they are soaking in clear water for a while to remove the bleach. The water does not turn color, so there must not be any tannins leaching out. I'm thinking that I should dry the wood out for a few seasons, then maybe soak it again or possibly seal it. Any ideas?
Green wood (not dead)
- Thread starter cshepard
- Start date
Hmmm...that's a new one on me, too. I'd be leery of using it while it was still green just because I'd be afraid it would rot. Sorry I don't have any brilliant answers for you, but I saw this was your first post and I wanted to say Hi and welcome! :hi:
You should in fact dry it. Green wood has sap in it. I don't know the effect it could have on the fish but I don't think I would be a good idea. Drift wood is normally found in rivers and has been cleared of all sap. Dry wood also has cracks to my opinion more attractive than fresh cut wood. The cracks also help some plants to anker themselves to the wood. Don't seal it, if you boil it long enought the tanin will come out. It will also help it to sink. If it is sealed and not waterloged, it will never sink. IMO tannin is'nt so bad as it looks natural and some fish really stand out in a tannin stained water.
green wood
Thanks, I've taken them out of the water, and am putting them in the sun to dry everyday. I think by the end of the year, they will be dry through (one of them is a piece of root 4" in diameter) as i've been told that's how long it would take to dry out lumber. The bleach has turned them very white,though and I wish there was a way to get more of a golden maple color to them. Once they are dry and "dead", I think I will soak them again to see if any tannins leach out and to try and get them waterlogged. They are too big to boil (24" long), although I guess I could stick them in a pot half way, boil awhile, then turn them over. Another thing I'm going to try is to take a small piece of new wood, do the whole process to it which should not take as long if it's small and then put it into a 5 gal. test tank to see what it does to the water if anything.
Anybody elses thoughts would be appreciated.
Cindy
Thanks, I've taken them out of the water, and am putting them in the sun to dry everyday. I think by the end of the year, they will be dry through (one of them is a piece of root 4" in diameter) as i've been told that's how long it would take to dry out lumber. The bleach has turned them very white,though and I wish there was a way to get more of a golden maple color to them. Once they are dry and "dead", I think I will soak them again to see if any tannins leach out and to try and get them waterlogged. They are too big to boil (24" long), although I guess I could stick them in a pot half way, boil awhile, then turn them over. Another thing I'm going to try is to take a small piece of new wood, do the whole process to it which should not take as long if it's small and then put it into a 5 gal. test tank to see what it does to the water if anything.
Anybody elses thoughts would be appreciated.
Cindy
I have read posts on this before and you basically have to leave the wood to dry until it browns, then soak for a long time (weeks rather than days) and if possible in hot water. After 6/7 weeks most of it will have rotted away / become squishy enough to pull off. When you are left with the "core" it will be pretty hard. Then do usual prep for anything going into the tank - boil etc. Edit just reread yr post about size of wood so maybe just pour several kettles of boiling water over them
I would still be very weary of this method but then again wood form my LFS isn't too expensive
I would still be very weary of this method but then again wood form my LFS isn't too expensive