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I'm certainly no driftwood expert, (that's the other Jeff) but I found these two pieces in the woods recently. Do you think they are aquarium worthy? I can not break them over my knee or cut them with a pruner.




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The most important of questions - do they sink?

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Back in the saddle!

The most important of questions - do they sink?

See that's why I'm not a DW expert. No they do not at the moment, but I haven't tried to forcefully submerge them yet.




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Cause see, if they don't float on their own, then it won't be enough to just bury part of the base in substrate - it'll still bob up to the top. Then you'll have to start messing around with rocks to keep it down, which will take room away for plants.. and so on from there. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but considering how densely your tank is planted you dont want to have to clear plants our to make room for rocks that won't even be seen. And then on top of that, there's the threat of instability - on enudge during a WC can send the wood popping back up, and you'd have to go through the whole thing again. You probably want the hardscape to be as stable as possible.

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Back in the saddle!

A loooooong time ago, before I set up the main tank, I went to a river and almost broke my neck when fishing out some very nice branchy driftwood.

I presented it here at FP in a thread and almost all people at that time, including Bensaf, said I should not use them. Why? - because they have not been submersed for a long (up to 3 years) period of time, because they could carry all kinds of chemicals (being from the Tri-State Area - No, not NJ), and because they could be full of bugs and foul up the water.

So, I didn't use it

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

A loooooong time ago, before I set up the main tank, I went to a river and almost broke my neck when fishing out some very nice branchy driftwood

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But wasn't that in a galaxy far, far away....

No seriously that answers my next question. Nowher brought out an excellent point about the physical complications, but I'm obviously concerned about something getting into the pristine waters of wisterville.



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Some people suggested that I boil the wood, but that was technically not possible as it was about 5 feet long. Others said that even if the size would allow me to boil it then the boiling process would destroy the cell structure, so the other side responded back with saying that you should not boil it too long, which in turn made me think "would this get rid of chemicals."

I still have the wood in the garage and may use it some day anyways (after you test it out). Also, who knows where most of the woods offered online are actually coming from? Could be from a mud-hole next to a dump . Which would explain my algae issues

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks for all the info. I do now remember your thread.

Right now the wood is being held down by a couple of rocks in my old 46g that is sitting on my deck being cleaned for the darkside. See it was in a galaxy far, far away....

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LF, that was a perfect piece of wood for your tank, I remember that. I also remember Babelfish saying she used nearly fresh cut wood in some of her tanks without problems. I guess it's all amatter of how you prioritize your problems, but there are issues nonetheless

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Ah,

I found the thread again

Here it is

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks for the link. Well, the conclusion in your thread led by the great bensaf is that if it wasn't submerged in water for several years don't bother.

The piece I found was in the middle of the woods and there wasn't a real body of water nearby. So unless Hurricane Glora moved it to where I found it, it's probably not going to cut it.

The physical issue with your piece LF is that the ends at snipped making it look unnatural.


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tetratech,

Yeah - the middle of the woods is proably not a good location for driftwood.

About the ends of mine - one would not have seen them as they would have been stuck into the substrate. The one exposed would have been covered with moss, always a good way to hide ugly endings.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well driftwood should be just that - driftwood.

Wood directly from the forest may still contain sap and other chemicals as well as bugs which would drown and pollute the tank.

It may work but it's risky. Is it worth the risk ?

Are ya feeling lucky today, punk ?

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

omg....LMBO....do ya feel lucky, punk. Bensaf is too funny. Good luck with what you decide Tetra....seems risky to me to use forrest wood.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Does anyone know a good website to get driftwood? I have been trying to get some off ebay, but I can never win the auction. I just can't see paying $100 for a piece of wood. Are there any good quality sites out there?

*Kristin*

I know you can get some here:

Swahala DW=http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13985&N=2004+113714

Malaysian DW=http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=8103&N=2004+113714

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Drs F and S make me mad. They make you think you're getting a good size piece and it ends up being 1/2 the size you needed. Won't be doing that again.

I like that type of wood...I have it in my 55g and 29g, but its too thick. I'm gonna go for some thinner, branchier DW for the new 55g.

Thanks for helping though!

*Kristin*

Are ya feeling lucky today, punk

I'm not lucky and I am a punk, so I guess I'll pass on the DW. It's been soaking underwater for a few days now just for the hell of it.

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