Its never too late for plants....

[coffeegrind]

OK, I am in the planning stages of getting my 29 planted.

I had the idea of putting driftwood in, and have collected some off of the beach. They are soaking in freshwater now as I type.

However, I am having second thoughts about the idea, and looking for some opinions on driftwood. Yes? No? Benefits? Cons?

I assume there are a lot of differing opinions on the subject, and welcome them all as I am completely undecided on the subject right now.

Thanks.

 

[rsanz]

The main thing with nature-found driftwood is making sure that it isn't rotted. Stick your fingernail into the wood. Is it soft? Does it flake off easily? If the wood is hard under your fingernail then you should be fine. Also, be weary of mosses that may have grown on it.

You have to soak it for a few weeks to saturate it, and boil it to kill any junk that may be living on/in it.

 

[EllTee424]

Personally I like driftwood in a lot of the community tanks. For one, it give you a way to get some vertical structure into the tank (in addition to taller plants) without the issues of stacking rocks.

Some species of pleco need to have wood in their diet, too (like my royal).

 

[Cory Keeper]

I love any driftwood in my tanks, it makes the water look nice and not to mention the tank scape. In fact I was having issues with getting my tank to have that full look, new piece driftwood fixed that. Any FW tank of mine will include driftwood

 

[Mindcrime121]

For me, wood MAKES the tank. Lots of plants need something to attatch to, like java ferns and anubias, and it breaks up the tank to give the fish a sense of security along with the plants. I have not used locally found wood, simply for the hassle and time required to soak it and all that, so it will sink. I use store bought mopani and just boil the tanins out of it so it is aquarium safe and doesn't turn my tank into a piture of tea. Had one piece too big to boil though and it colored the water in my 20 gallon for months.

 

[coffeegrind]

I think I may need to arrange to boil my wood. Sadly, I don't have an outdoor burner that big. Although I know where I could get one....

Will the boiling help it sink faster? Or is that something I simply have to be parient for (aside from anchoring it down with someting)?

 

[Mindcrime121]

The boiling is mainly to kill anything on or in the wood that might harm your tank as I understand it, similar to soaking it overnight in a tub of bleach water, but any time it's sumberged under water it should be absorbing it and becoming more and more waterlogged and closer to sinking on its own.