How to make driftwood ?

S

suby7272

AC Members
Feb 2, 2005
162
0
0
Hi buys
How does one make driftwood for a piece of wood ? Is it difficult and time-consuming ?
I just checked with a store near my place (in my part of the world) - and he said that would cost me about $3 - I think that's lot of money to spend for it.
Anyway, how much does it normally sell for in the US ?

Regards

Suby
 
Itswoodie - could you tell me what's that 30 minutes of work :)
I have loads of time during weekends - and I am sure I would making one once I know how :)
 
I dont think its possible to make a really good piece of driftwood out of normal wood. Are you sure you ment 3.00, I wouldnt really consider that expensive. Large pieces of driftwood cost 50.00 or more where I live (ohio)
 
I'm not sure what you mean by making driftwood.

If you are talking about synthetic reproductions that could be done but might be hard to make look good.

If you are talking about taking a liveing tree and makeing drift wood I would say your grandchildren might be able to use what you have made.

drift wood has either been water logged in a low oxygen environment for a very long time or is the harder core of the tree called heart wood that decays slower than the wood that is still active in water and nutrient transport. either way it takes time for the wood to get to a more stable condition so it won't get messy in your tank.

most real driftwood is collected from natural swamp or estuary areas after it has aged.
 
:D that was a nice reply snakeice
I guess I better buy one :)
AND any particular care need to be taken once you got a driftwood in your aquarium ?
 
I have "made" driftwood several times. What I do is go out to a wooded area and look for fallen solid logs, (ones that the termites have not bored into) that are hardwoods. I then take a screwdriver and peel most to all of the bark off. After that I rinse it in the tub and let it set for a day. Then I let it dry and then bake it in the oven for about half an hour on 100 degrees. I repeat this about 5 times. After all of this is done I place it in a NEW tank with only plants, weight it down and let it cycle. While it is cycling a white slime tends to grow on the log and snails that I let hitch hike on the plants eat the slime and softer outer part of the log. After the tank is done cycling, which tends to take longer IME, I then run carbon to get rid of the tannins and then the rest is by the book. So all in all it takes a lot longer to make it yourself and it is possible to throw your tank into the nether regions of chemical imbalanced doom, but if you are poor or find the coolest piece of wood ever, this may work you.

Words of Wisdom: Don't gouge yourself with the screwdriver, watch the log when it is in the oven, don't use a pine log, you could probably do this in a older tank but don't bet your fishes lives on it, and shrimp really like the slime that grows on the log too. I hope this dissertation helps but is really a lot easier to just buy the driftwood
 
thanks twdockery3 - for that step-by-step "how to" of driftwood production :)
Well, at the end of it all I guess it is a pain - partly because it takes too much time, partly because I dont stay near any wooded area, and partly because I know that I am rich enough to buy one :) It's just that "driftwood" is new to me, and hence all these queries and apprehension.
Well, one last question - "Is driftwood completely safe for all types of fish?"
Is any special care needed once to get yourself a driftwood ?

regards

suby
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom