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I found this really neat piece of driftwood, Can someone tell me how ot make it safe and useable for my aquarium? Thanks.

Chris

If its not too large, you can boil it for a few hours. That will also help it to sink.

If its too large to boil, you can bake it in the oven. I'm not sure how long or at what temp though.

Go to the search and type in driftwood. Then click search and check out other questions like this one. I'm sure there are some posts that have the specifics.

*Kristin*

It is 28" long. I actually already started the curing process. I scrubbed it really hard with a brush and then rinseed it (repeated once) and as of right now it is in a bucket with Baking soda being held down with a rope. How long should i leave it in there for?

Chris

Hi,
What is the baking soda for?
The idea is for the tannic acids (if any) to leech out
into the water where you pour it off replacing it with
fresh water until the water remains clear.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Heh, I dont even know it just said to on the internet.

Chris

Is this something you purchased or found?

Boiling is for cleaning, soaking to help it sink. When I get a new piece of wood I boil it for a while, dump the water and replace with fresh, start boiling again. I will literally do this for hours. Then I set it soak overnight in water. The less time it spends in water outside you tank the more likely it is to give you tea-colored water once in your tank.

it just said to on the internet

I've never heard of using baking soda with driftwood either. Just like anything else, read info from a number of sources before tying anything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I found it. I am just following what a wesite said to do. The adress is... http://homepages.tesco.net/~davyreynolds/articles/curewood.html Thanks.

Chris

Hi,
It is to neutralize the tannic acid that the wood gives
off as it cures. You clean battery terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water, it neutralizes the
battery acid.

However, I don't see much sense in doing it in the curing
of driftwood as you are going to pour the water off and
keep replacing it until the run off is clear. Perhaps
they want you to leave it in the same water and keep
topping off the water for evaporation and with the box
of baking soda, it keeps neutralizing the acid.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--