So I did something I told myself I wouldn't do - I purchased some driftwood off of ebay. Now, according to the seller this thing is aquarium AND reptile safe. Here is the auction link . If you think I paid too much just keep that part to yourself. I have been waiting for weeks to get to the lake to search for some nice wood and couldn't contain myself. I like this piece and that's what counts. Anyways, what do I do to make this safe for my aquarium? I've had it soaking in a treated water bath... treated 5 gallons with the 10 gallon treatment. Someone somewhere told me to do that.... double dose the treatment on the water for this sort of thing.... I digress. Any help would be appreciated.
Driftwood help - How to make it safe.
- Thread starter CoreyMac
- Start date
I just bought my drift wood online too, diffent seller. I too just had to have the piece. Were else can you find just a variety for those prices? :bowing: One thing you need to do is boil the wood to rid of bad organisms that could harm the tank. The seller of my drift wood had boiled the wood ahead of time. I belive you should boil it for a hour.
Woah, you paid way too.... Doh! Can't say that! LOL :joke:
Man, that is one sweet looking piece. And an awesome price. Do you know what something like that would cost you at the LFS? If I had seen that one last night when I was bumming around eBay, you wouldn't have bought it today...
Even if the seller says they boiled it, etc, I would boil it again. Some people advocate adding salt to the water and boiling 2-4 hours.
Something to consider, and I really don't know if this matters or not - Chloramine can withstand being boiled. I don't know for how long, but it isn't released like chlorine is. Seems like the porous wood might absorb some of the chloramine.....I think I would get a gallon of bottled water from Wally World or the grocery store just to be sure.
And hey, you don't have to tell me I'm paranoid. I already know that. What worries me is, am I being paranoid enough????
Man, that is one sweet looking piece. And an awesome price. Do you know what something like that would cost you at the LFS? If I had seen that one last night when I was bumming around eBay, you wouldn't have bought it today...
Even if the seller says they boiled it, etc, I would boil it again. Some people advocate adding salt to the water and boiling 2-4 hours.
Something to consider, and I really don't know if this matters or not - Chloramine can withstand being boiled. I don't know for how long, but it isn't released like chlorine is. Seems like the porous wood might absorb some of the chloramine.....I think I would get a gallon of bottled water from Wally World or the grocery store just to be sure.
And hey, you don't have to tell me I'm paranoid. I already know that. What worries me is, am I being paranoid enough????
Chloramine has been taken care of with the water treatment. No worries there. If you had seen that last night I would be upset today. I won it a week ago. No idea what it would have gone for in a LFS. Most of the stuff I see there is that fake, poly-resin stuff.
LOL! well, I was guessing at when you bought it, obviously.
Around here, that piece would have set you back a good $75.00 if not more. Even the fake stuff is pricey around here. I love eBay....
I hope we get to see pics when you get it in a tank....
Around here, that piece would have set you back a good $75.00 if not more. Even the fake stuff is pricey around here. I love eBay....
I hope we get to see pics when you get it in a tank....
I hope you get to see them too. My digital camera has been acting up. My avatar was taken with my phone. $75.00 ? DANG! Suppose I did do very well. I plan on picking up driftwood next time I am at the lake. Maybe I can help some folks out when I get some.
Good sized piece, good price too! I kid you not, but I once saw a tiny (no more the 3" wide, 2" tall) triangular corner-shaped piece of driftwood attached to slate at a petstore for $9. I laughed and then discovered that ebay has great driftwood.
The boiling should do the trick - hopefully it sinks for you!
The boiling should do the trick - hopefully it sinks for you!
if it is malaysian driftwood it doesn't need to be mounted on a base..malaysian driftwood sinks.
the price is good . medium malaysian driftwood sells at petco for 8.(8.99 per piece)
I would boil it for a few hours then place it in a large bucket of water for a few days.
btw I usually decontaminate the wood in a chlorine bleach/water solution for a few days to wipe out any 'bugs' that might be lurking before I boil..also give it a good scrub with a brush to knock off any 'stuff' that might be stuck to the wood. I have seen root fobers and dirt on these.
the price is good . medium malaysian driftwood sells at petco for 8.(8.99 per piece)
I would boil it for a few hours then place it in a large bucket of water for a few days.
btw I usually decontaminate the wood in a chlorine bleach/water solution for a few days to wipe out any 'bugs' that might be lurking before I boil..also give it a good scrub with a brush to knock off any 'stuff' that might be stuck to the wood. I have seen root fobers and dirt on these.