Soaking driftwood

F

Fazzafaris

AC Members
Aug 12, 2003
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Reigate, Surrey, England
So I have this large piece of driftwood I got from my lfs. Predictably it floats so I have been soaking it for a couple of weeks in a plastic dustbin outside. I checked on it today, and apart from still floating it seems to be developing some sort of slime like algae on it despite being covered with a lid in total darkness. I am obviously going to need to soak it for a while to get it to sink but I don't want to end up with a horrible slimy bit of green wood. What's going on, how can this stuff grow with no light? Any suggestions as to what it is and how to get rid of it?

Thanks.
 
algae cant grow without light if thats what it is, and if you want it to sink than take a plastic screw and a peac of slat and put the two too gethere and wala you have a sinking peace of wood
 
Depending on the size of the wood and if you have a pan big enough you can boil it in water. This should kill any bacteria and helps to take the tannins out of the wood.
 
i too am trying to sink my driftwood, i boiled them each for a while and still floating, let themfloat in my tank for a little while and still float they are now in a bathub with slatescrewed to them, id rather not have the slate in ym tnak because i would hAVE TO DIG UP MY SUBSTRATE LAYER AND BURY IT, PLUS I WANT TO HAVE IT IN A POSITION THAT WOLDNT WORK IF IT HAD SLATE ATTACHED TO IT.
 
I just did the same thing. I put the wood in the tank. It was beneficial bacteria in my case. After I realized it wasnt going to sink, I went to DIY store and bought a small stainless steel eye hook, and put a small sinker on it. All is well.
Just an idea for a quick, safe fix. Pull the hook out once it will stay down on its own, just so you dont chance any rust...
 
Mine sank right off the shelf, but turned my bucket of water deep-brown overnight, like driftwood tea.

Methinks it needs a few more days in a larger tub.

To help your driftwood sink you could try simply weighing it down for now, and seeing if that gets it waterlogged enough that it stays down on its own eventually.

Otherwise, attaching something heavy to it is the only way I can think of.
 
Did you change the water every 2 days or so. Also if the plastic tub is a light color like tan or olive I would think it will let light through on real sunny days.
 
I have my mopani wood soaking right now in a tub I pured boiling water over it. Do I need to do this more than once or can I just keep it soaked in cold water for a week or so.
 
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