Here is my FAQ on driftwood. This is another one of the topics that there have been tons of questions asked on. So I made this to hopefully provide some help to those in need.
Q: What are some benefits to driftwood?
A: Besides being a great natural looking decoration it can provide shelter, nutrition for plecos and other catfish, release tannins into your water, lower your pH or stabalize it, and it can be found for free locally almost everywhere.
Q: Where can I find driftwood?
A: You can find it at you LFS, local taxidermy, and by any local bodies of water.
Q: What woods should be avoided for aquarium use?
A: Any softwoods (pines) such as ceadar, witchhazel, willow, and yew woods.
Q: What woods are dangerous to my fish?
A: Ceadar, witchhazel, willow, and yew woods because they can leech toxins into your water and possibly kill your fish.
Q: Can I use fresh or green woods in my aquarium?
A: No, the wood is still fresh so it will leech toxins into your water and will most likely rot in your tank.
Q: Can driftwood decompose in my aquarium?
A: Yes, after extensive boiling to rid the wood of tannins and to help sink the wood, this process can weaken the woods protein structure and within a year or two it can start to decompose causing a nitrate build up. FYI If you dont boil driftwood it can last decades.
Q: What is this white fungus growing on my driftwood?
A: The white stuff is fungus and it harmless.
Q: How can I rid the driftwood of this fungus?
A: Either by boiling or by natural process. By leaving it in your tank the natural bacteria will soon out compete the fungus and it will disappear over time. Also note that some fish actually eat this fungus such as ottos, plecos, and some corys.
Q: How should I go about curing driftwood for my aquarium?
A: There are a few ways to go about this, first and most suggested is to boil the driftwood. This doesnt work in all cases since they dont make pans as big as there are driftwood pieces. So if you can boil the wood, this will leech out tannins in the wood and get rid of any fungus or yuckies in the wood. It also helps the wood to absorb water to help it sink faster. If you cant boil the wood bleaching is a necessity. First make a bleach solution, 1g bleach in a 55g pale was suggested for large pieces, and then let the wood cure in the solution for a day or two. Then Id suggest removing it to another pale or emptying the pale and refilling it with clean dechlorinated water. Then keep up on water changes and use a powerhead if needed to prevent stagnant water.
Q: How can I get my driftwood to sink?
A: The best way ive found is to boil the wood and then submerge it by putting a rock on top of it overnight. Boiling it helps soften the wood up so it can easier absorb the water. This has worked for me before really well so id suggest this method. If you cant boil your wood you can try to pour hot/boiling water over it and then hold it underwater by a rock for similiar results.
Q: Can I buy driftwood that already sinks?
A: Yes, there is african, australian pine and asian driftwood that is dense and sinks readily. They cost the extra cash but sink right away, release less tannins and are already treated. You can also buy a piece of slate and attach it to the driftwood to weight it down that way.
Q: Will driftwood affect my water parameters?
A: It could possibly affect your KH because the tannins are some what acidic. So if your already altering your pH be aware and monitor it to avoid any pH crashes.
- depthC
Q: What are some benefits to driftwood?
A: Besides being a great natural looking decoration it can provide shelter, nutrition for plecos and other catfish, release tannins into your water, lower your pH or stabalize it, and it can be found for free locally almost everywhere.
Q: Where can I find driftwood?
A: You can find it at you LFS, local taxidermy, and by any local bodies of water.
Q: What woods should be avoided for aquarium use?
A: Any softwoods (pines) such as ceadar, witchhazel, willow, and yew woods.
Q: What woods are dangerous to my fish?
A: Ceadar, witchhazel, willow, and yew woods because they can leech toxins into your water and possibly kill your fish.
Q: Can I use fresh or green woods in my aquarium?
A: No, the wood is still fresh so it will leech toxins into your water and will most likely rot in your tank.
Q: Can driftwood decompose in my aquarium?
A: Yes, after extensive boiling to rid the wood of tannins and to help sink the wood, this process can weaken the woods protein structure and within a year or two it can start to decompose causing a nitrate build up. FYI If you dont boil driftwood it can last decades.
Q: What is this white fungus growing on my driftwood?
A: The white stuff is fungus and it harmless.
Q: How can I rid the driftwood of this fungus?
A: Either by boiling or by natural process. By leaving it in your tank the natural bacteria will soon out compete the fungus and it will disappear over time. Also note that some fish actually eat this fungus such as ottos, plecos, and some corys.
Q: How should I go about curing driftwood for my aquarium?
A: There are a few ways to go about this, first and most suggested is to boil the driftwood. This doesnt work in all cases since they dont make pans as big as there are driftwood pieces. So if you can boil the wood, this will leech out tannins in the wood and get rid of any fungus or yuckies in the wood. It also helps the wood to absorb water to help it sink faster. If you cant boil the wood bleaching is a necessity. First make a bleach solution, 1g bleach in a 55g pale was suggested for large pieces, and then let the wood cure in the solution for a day or two. Then Id suggest removing it to another pale or emptying the pale and refilling it with clean dechlorinated water. Then keep up on water changes and use a powerhead if needed to prevent stagnant water.
Q: How can I get my driftwood to sink?
A: The best way ive found is to boil the wood and then submerge it by putting a rock on top of it overnight. Boiling it helps soften the wood up so it can easier absorb the water. This has worked for me before really well so id suggest this method. If you cant boil your wood you can try to pour hot/boiling water over it and then hold it underwater by a rock for similiar results.
Q: Can I buy driftwood that already sinks?
A: Yes, there is african, australian pine and asian driftwood that is dense and sinks readily. They cost the extra cash but sink right away, release less tannins and are already treated. You can also buy a piece of slate and attach it to the driftwood to weight it down that way.
Q: Will driftwood affect my water parameters?
A: It could possibly affect your KH because the tannins are some what acidic. So if your already altering your pH be aware and monitor it to avoid any pH crashes.
- depthC
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