a wood question

[PuppyFluffer]

My local large pet store has some smaller pieces of wood for sale. They are submerged in a large tank with small/medium goldfish.

I am setting up a new 10 gallon tank, my second set up ever, so I am a novice. I would like a piece of wood in the tank but have a few questions.

What are the chances I could bring home some disease from this wood which is in a tank already?

I am guessing it should be cleaned somehow before placing in my tank. What would the process be for that?

 

[Lupin]

Simply boil the wood and leave it to dry under the sun for a few hours. Expect them to float though unless you make sure they are waterlogged again.

 

[PuppyFluffer]

Thanks! After drying, they will want to float again, that makes sense. How long (in general) will they take to get waterlogged again?

 

[Lupin]

Thanks! After drying, they will want to float again, that makes sense. How long (in general) will they take to get waterlogged again?

It depends on the size of the wood it seems. It took mine usually a few hours for small pieces whereas large ones take days or even weeks.:lipssealedsmilie: I usually wedge them with rocks though to keep them from floating.

 

[gooseman_25]

i screwed mine to a piece of slate...worked great

 

[Mgamer20o0]

even if you let dry for a couple hours it shouldnt take too long to sink again.

 

[yourchoice]

Mopani or Malaysian wood will sink to trhe bottom.

 

[PuppyFluffer]

I think these pieces are Malaysian. They had some Mopani dry on the shelf but they were all really large pieces and wouldn't go in my 10 gallon. Thanks for the info!

 

[flossyfloofloo]

my wood sank emeediatly

 

[PuppyFluffer]

I understand that wood can lower ph. How long does it take, in general, for this effect to happen?