DIY Driftwood

Soul Chile

Soul Chile

AC Members
Dec 2, 2009
28
0
0
39
Chicago, IL
Hi I have read a few posts where people said that they got the various pieces of driftwood in their tank from nearby streams, lakes, rivers, etc. I was just wondering what the treatment process was like from nature to tank? Also, if I do this, does the wood have to be already presoaked (i.e. do I have to pick it from a body of water or can I just go foraging in a local forest)?
 
i think if you were to take any random wood you find, it would rot. unless its completely dried and then you waterlog it. idk if im right so maybe someone else can chime in :huh:
 
It pretty much has to be underwater already. Everything above ground will eventually rot.
 
Any wood will rot eventually. Hardwood will last longer than softwood. Anything that's been resting on the ground probably has fungus or insects or both, so that's no good. I believe you do want something that is either completely dry or completely submerged in water. All the treatments I've read involve boiling the wood (or pouring hot water over it if it's too big to go on the stove) and soaking it until most of the tannins leach out. You'll have to keep an eye on your water parameters after you add the wood, because it will tend to lower the pH. Good luck!
 
Finding dry wood to submerge as driftwood is just fine, it will not rot any faster than wood that has already been submerged. After all, wood that is submerged was once not, no? ;)

check out the link in my sig for tips and tricks and preparation and such. It's pretty straightforward. Cello has it right about softwoods vs. hardwoods, and it's important to remember to avoid such things as grapevines, pine, etc. due to the saps and funguses these woods will secrete while in your tank.

Driftwood lowering your pH is not as big of a concern as it seems, as A) your fish aren't going to be sensitive to the shift like you may think, and B ) it would take a LOT of driftwood to make a significant change.
 
Awesome information! Thank you everyone! :-D
 
Just a chime - the notion of driftwood lowering your pH is beneficial to a great number of fish and plants that we commonly keep in our tanks - especially angels, tetras, bettas, gouramis and many rasboras.
 
I have had two pieces of Bog wood in my tank for about 5 years and I can't see where it has deteriorated any. Pretty cool stuff. I found it and then boiled it as well as bleached it first.
 
Hi
Anyone care to offer info on species of trees that did not work??

I made a very elaborate setup using expanding foam made to look like atrunk growing up the back and above the water line.. I attached real driftwood into it along with iron wood bark in places . This was painted with acrylic paint to the best of my artictic ability to look . real The advantage is you can make it any size shape or color as well as the cost.
two things I would do differently .
Form the foam on a table top ,carve to fit into the desired location
P aint OUTSIDE the tank really tough to paint inside the tank!!
After happy with the structure secure in place with silicone or use a flat stone to make it movable.
The stuff is really bouyant and over time tends to let go. BIG problem in a 150 no problem in a 20 due to depth of the water.
One thing i might add don't get too carried away with a fancy paint within 3 months was covered with Java fern and anubias lol
One other problem Chinese algae eaters scraped the paint off over time . Other fish no problems.. have heard of both toxic and degrading issues with the material but had no problems at all Built the "Stump" around two feet wide and rising above the water for 18 inches for under 10 bucks and best of all a PERFECT fit.
gary
 
"Everything has to be underwater or it will eventualy rot" LOL, we have all seen the vat of floating driftwood in our local LFS. I think over time all wood will rot in an aquarium. But I also think you will grow tired of that particular tank before that happens. Stick with hardwoods and away from soft woods like pine. I got my driftwood from my local river and did little more to it then pressure wash it. It was far to big to boil and I dont see pouring boiling water over a piece of driftwood as being effective. You can soak a piece of wood in water and hydrogen peroxide to kill stuff but I am not sure of the ratio.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom