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I was wondering;
this weekend my dad will be uprooting his birch tree.
I asked him to save the root part for me, to try out in a tank.
I've got a 95 gal. empty, so I could put them in and filter the water (if necessary with active coal) for an indefinite period of time.

Would this work, or will there be too much acids and other stuff in the water?

Hi,
Taking a root, and sticking it in a tank full of water
will yield a foul smelling mess. It is fresh and full
of nutrients and needs to "rot" (Cure). Wood for an
aquarium is best found already emmersed in a body of
water where nature, flowing water, and time have
leached out all the stuff that can, and will, foul
the tank.

If you really want the root in your tank, the best bet
would be to lay it out in the sun and let the elements
work on it for a couple of years. Then stick it in a
container filled with water, scrub it really good with
a stiff bristled brush. Then toss the water, refill the
container, and boil it to kill off any "critters" living
in the wood. Then bake it to dry it completely. Then
stick it back in a container and submerge it completly.
Change the water weekly till it no longer changes color
or pH, and then you can put it in the tank.

It's alot of work. Sometimes it is easier to simply
purchase commercially prepared driftwood.

Frank


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

A little off topic, but where can you buy root-like driftwood or branchs?

inkodinkomalinko

If in Aust the answer is easy a Fuel timber yard merchant.

There must be a similar thing in USA .

Tinfoil

Good advice keep well away unless you intend to dry it out for many many years in the sun. Even then it could be useless as the roots could have taken in many nasties from the soil,and the air.

Keith




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Unfortunately...
I don't live in the US. (If only I did ...)

I told my dad to throw away the roots.
I'll try again with something better suited.