Driftwood

[Marala]

I want to get some driftwood online, but I want to be sure it is safe for my aquarium. I would like to get it on eBay and I wanted to know what I (and the person I buy it from) should and shouldn't do to the driftwood. I know that I should boil it, but is there anything else? Should I soak it in a bleach solution? Or should I just go the more expensive rout and buy it at my LFS. Any input would be appreciated!

 

[Kissofthegorami]

You can look up tons of ideas in past posts under driftwood. You can ask the seller where they got it and if they used anything to treat it. Do not use a bleach solution. The wood is very absorbant. The two techniques most often used are boiling and putting it in the over for a while. Boiling is safer. The boiling will also helo it sink faster.

 

[Marala]

I did look at some. I can ask them where they got it, but when they answer how do I know if where they got it is a good place or not? In other words what type pf places should they get it from?

 

[Marn]

Here is a great person to buy some from and they have really nice pieces.. we just bought 4 pieces from them and they are so nice ..it is really dry when you get it just soak it in the bathtub or a big bucket till the color is gone and they sink ..our first piece took about a week to sink .. #2 is on it's way down .. and these people are really friendly and trustworthy .. read there feedback also .. we bought a few things off of them..

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfrppZ25QQfrtsZ25QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsassZpat4086

Marn

 

[Roan Art]

Hey, Marala!

Not off eBay, but I just bought a couple of boxes of Malaysian driftwood from Aquatic Eco-Systems http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm//fuseaction/product.detail/iid/11370/cid/2928

And Franks Aquarium has excellent prices: http://www.franksaquarium.com/swahallasagebrushwood.htm

Roan

 

[UncaBret]

Drs. Foster and Smith carry some fake driftwood that looks good, too. It won't rot and you don't have to soak it. I'm thinking about it for my next tank.

 

[sayembara]

real wood is more popular because ..main factor-- cheap

 

[echoofformless]

I'd say real wood is just better because it's not only a truly natural product, but it adds tannins to your tank - a good thing for many popular aquarium fish since they prefer a little acid. Plus the organic matter is good for a planted tank. It also looks a lot better in my opinion, since it's not plastic.

 

[Marala]

I am planning on putting it in a planted tank and I don't think fake would look very good. Thanks for all of the site suggestions I will check them out!

 

[Clurin]

I second the Aquatic Eco-Systems link that Roan gave. They have really cheap prices and have really good stuff. All the driftwood in my 65G is from there - check the pics in the link in my signature.