Driftwood question

[Holly9937]

I got a piece of driftwood with a tank I bought a couple of weeks ago. I've been soaking it in a bucket to see how much it would affect the ph (which it hasn't :huh: ) and I noticed when I touch it, little pieces of wood and specks come off in my hand. Just a tiny bit, but is this normal? Is that waht the plecos would eat? I've never had any driftwood in my tanks and I'm a bit scared of the stuff !!!

 

[Raskolnikov]

I noticed when I touch it, little pieces of wood and specks come off in my hand. Just a tiny bit, but is
this normal?

Yes, quite. Don't worry about it, and in no time you'll come to appreciate driftwood/bogwood as one of the great decorating mediums in aquaria.

 

[pikwik]

I put driftwood in my tank and at first I didn't effect the pH, but now 1 month later my pH is at about 6.8-7.0 when before it was 7.8-8.0. :huh:

 

[Holly9937]

The bucket I have the driftwood in is barely big enough for the wood, so I figured I would see a ph difference right away, but there was no difference. How long do you think I should soak it to get an idea of how it might affect the ph? Is it possible it will not affect the ph at all? This was a previously used piece of wood if that matters

 

[toofazt]

I have 2 large, 2 medium peices of wood in my 40gal and it lowered the ph from about 7.8 to 6.0 It took about a month or two.