Can I use this as decor?

[ryknier]

ok, so I was walking along the river/marsh wasn't looking for anything in particular ;-) ok, so I was looking for something! its hard to fins cheap decor for aquariums, especially for a 72g! And I have been looking hard core too! I have been looking at driftwood, at the LFS and the big 24" that he has is a really nice one but not looking to spend 50 bucks on it, as much as I would like to give himm the buisness, I can't write the pen on the check!


So as I was saying before, I was looking for nature's touch, I was looking for some nice looking rocks, they were all small and nothing in particular, then found a patch of rock that was good for stacking, and have all of these perfect ideas for these rocks, and then on the way back down to the river/marsh I seriously stubbed my toe on the trunk, that had been in the ground, and it just came up, and no I didn't have a shovel in my hand and "accidentally" trip on it. It would be PERFECT in the tank. BUT!!!!

I am not getting excited yet, nor have I taken it out of the car in case I can't due to the non sterile-lility? now the question is, I live in La Crosse, so these are the bluffs, not knowing the rocks or anything, are these to throw in after boiling them? and the log issue, that thing is probably loaded with bacteria and who knows, but since there is snow, being freezing, and I throw that baby in hot water being 130*F, don't ask, don't know why its that hot, that should shock the hell out of the bacteria. Is there any way I can use the treasures I found from nature, or should I just go ahead and throw it all back and never look at again!?!?

 

[chunksofpoooo]

just boil it for a while. You're gonna have to treat the driftwood though or itl turn your water an orange/yellow color. Just boil the driftwood for a considerable amount of time, a few times a day, for a few days.

GL

 

[ryknier]

ok this thing is pretty big, like 3 feet wide, that is not gonna fit in a household pot! any other suggestions on the boiling oart, how about soaking in a tub, or hmmm, ya exactly

 

[ryknier]

Rocks should be ok though right, they aren't lime stone, they look more like sandstone, rocks left behind form the glacier

 

[Shierkahn]

All of my decor is from the river(Maumee River). All I ever do is scrub it real good with some hot water and a course brush. Depending on how long it was in the river it shouldn't turn you water a brownish color. And if it does it won't hurt anything, some fish prefer the water that way. And if it does, it will filter out eventually. But, I've never had any problems with my tank decor.

 

[Swimfins]

You can soak it in a big tub of water and bleach. Probably a cup to 5 gallons. Soak it for hours or days, until when you rinse it the water runs clear. Finally soak it in water mixed with dechlorinator (as you use for water changes). Keep rinsing in fresh water. It might not sink, so you can use stainless steel nails, hammer on a tupperware top, and just bury the whole top under the substrate. If it still doesn't sink, you can use aquarium safe epoxy, paint it on the tupperware top, and cover it with some of your aquarium substrate. The additional weight of the glue and substrate should keep it down. It will match perfectly, and hopefully stop floating.
With the rocks, just scrub them with a mild bleach solution and soak them in dechlorinator and water.

Guy at the LFS told me how to sink driftwood using epoxy and tupperware. A good use for those old tupperware tops, that have long lost the containers!!

 

[BK]

I wouldn't use bleach it gets in the pores of the wood and can discolor the wood, just clean it up real good and soak it hot water for a while. the main concern is its decomposition under water if it wasn't completely "drifted" and didn't come out of a bog. the places that collect drift wood don't boil or sanatize it usually they just pressurewash or sandblast it. i only boil mine to help it sink.

 

[ryknier]

Well right now, I had the log soaking in the tub over night with the hot water, I had it spraying on the log the whole time, to get all the extra debris off. I will have it soak many times before putting it in the aquarium, but don't use bleach ehh, can I use the bleach on the rocks though BK?

 

[Swimfins]

Use the bleach and water it will clean and disinfect. No problem if you soak it in dechlorinator and water afterward. That is why I said SOAK IN DECHLORINATOR afterward. The same kind you use for water changes.

You will be assured your wood is disinfected. Boiling is another option, but when size is a concern, bleach is best.

I did it with no problems and have a healthy aquarium todate.

Don't worry about discoloration if you mix the bleach with the water before you place in the wood. The color might fade a bit, kinda like a pair of blue jeans, but IMO they look better after fading.

Bleach can't hurt the rocks neither, but DECHLORINATE them after or you'll poision your water.

The end. Have a nice day.

 

[ryknier]

Thanks, I will do that this afternoon, how long should I let it sit in the bleach, and then the decholorinator and then how long of a wait should I wait in sitting water before I put it in the tank?