drift wood from the beach for an aquarium
- Thread starter utajoker
- Start date
TBh ive never used it in an aquarium but i have used drift wood for gerbils! (who gnaw the wood) its advised to boil it 2 times (once is enough but to make EXTRA sure) Scolding hot water kills 99.99% germs... so twice will be fine
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 15 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 28,140
- Location
- Liverpool
Yeah boil it a few times. Presuming you've got it near the Liverpool coast the beaches are pretty skanky.
Haha, loggin toboggin!
I'm guessing the water colour change is the tannins coming out? Again I'd guess it depends what type of fish you're keeping (tropical or marine as well) but If keeping tetras etc then a little tannin may be ok. Might be worth boiling a few times until the water stops changing colour?
thx for the replies, i found it on the coast of scotland near edinburgh, it will be going in with atropical fishes, guppies and tetras.
shall boil it a few times hopefully some of the bigger pieces which are a bit softer wont just break up.
shall boil it a few times hopefully some of the bigger pieces which are a bit softer wont just break up.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 15 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 28,140
- Location
- Liverpool
I hear the New Orleans look goes very well at the bottom of a fish tank.
Well....considering wood you buy from 'fish shops' ends up turning your water brown and tea like anyway, just boil it a few times I guess....Depends what fish you have also, as the salt embedded may harm the fish...
Fish such as kuli's aren't great with vast amounts of salt
Fish such as kuli's aren't great with vast amounts of salt
- Joined
- 13 Apr 2010
- Posts
- 18,465
- Location
- Sunny Sussex
My local fish shop will let you put it in their system as the big filters they have just remove the tannins, try asking your local if they'll let you, or yes boiling or a bath with hot only will do
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Mar 2009
- Posts
- 4,473
- Location
- South West
NO! Please don't use driftwood in an aquarium. Aside from the fact it will have salt deposits there could well be other chemicals, oil etc.
Bogwood is cheap enough.
Not to go against some of the posts above but total rubbish, boiling the wood won't make a huge difference other than remove any stain/tannins.
I've been tempted to do the same but after reading up about it, it just is not worth it IMO. I've been fishkeeping for over 2 decades so hopefully have a bit of experience on the subject.
Bogwood is cheap enough.
Not to go against some of the posts above but total rubbish, boiling the wood won't make a huge difference other than remove any stain/tannins.
I've been tempted to do the same but after reading up about it, it just is not worth it IMO. I've been fishkeeping for over 2 decades so hopefully have a bit of experience on the subject.
Most fresh water fish aren't good with salt.Fish such as kuli's aren't great with vast amounts of salt
Last edited:
Well....sometimes you need to treat with salt, but certain fish will out right die on you within hours
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Mar 2009
- Posts
- 4,473
- Location
- South West
Well....sometimes you need to treat with salt, but certain fish will out right die on you within hours
It's a bit like being burnt alive apparently - not something I want to do to my fish!
Salt isn't used so much these days, plenty of non-salt based treatments on the market. I often use aloe vera based tonics which work well for me. Makes their fins glossy too
I've been soaking a piece of vine (normally used in vivariums) for a few months and only recently has it soaked up enough water not to float - now I will boil it a few times and should hopefully have very few tannins. Bog wood is terrible for tannins if not soaked well first.
It's a bit like being burnt alive apparently - not something I want to do to my fish!
Salt isn't used so much these days, plenty of non-salt based treatments on the market. I often use aloe vera based tonics which work well for me. Makes their fins glossy too
I've been soaking a piece of vine (normally used in vivariums) for a few months and only recently has it soaked up enough water not to float - now I will boil it a few times and should hopefully have very few tannins. Bog wood is terrible for tannins if not soaked well first.
Well I don't mean table salt
Theres 'special' salt as you probably know if you've been doing it for 2 decades
But naturally only do it if you know what you're doing