neatfreak Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 I was thinking on loading up my 130g with driftwood. what would the best place to find some, in the woods,beach,or by grandma's house??? I of course will clean them myself. any idea's???? :well: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 My experience is that if you can find it already sunken, your quest is all but over. Just clean it with a nice salty bath, and you should be good to go. However, if it's dry, it may take a while to get it to sink. 2 methods I've used to sink dry driftwoond: 1 - wedge it in the tank. With pieces that are long, this is pretty easy - either wedge it across the tank at the height you want it, or wedge it from back top to front bottom. 2 - silicone it to stones. You'll need a surprizingly heavy stone to keep it from pulling everything up! HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsmith Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 I've read on other forums that people who get their own drift wood should worry about sap, bugs, and other things that could pollute your water. Do you think they're just being paranoid? It's so expensive to buy it would be great to just get your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 Just make sure you're picking up driftwood. That means, it's been drifting for a while. It shouldn't have any sap left, and all bark will be polished off. There may be some bugs on it, which is why I opt for a strong salt bath. That should kill anything that lives in fresh water, and probably most things that live in the ocean. You could use bleach, but I'd be afraid it'd wreck the color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronrca Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 (edited) I've read on other forums that people who get their own drift wood should worry about sap, bugs, and other things that could pollute your water. Do you think they're just being paranoid? It's so expensive to buy it would be great to just get your own. I boil my driftwood and then bake it! Btw, thats the only thing I cook! I remember boiling the big trunk stump that is in my 90G. I still can see the bugs crawling out! :guns: Took care of them. :boxer: Other than that, there shouldnt be anything in the wood after that. :thumbs: Edited November 23, 2005 by ronrca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Majestic_Aquariums Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 (edited) Just a thought, but I would go down to Burbank and check along the river if I was you Neatfreak. After the flooding this summer, there may be some good stuff just north of the Blindman?? When I was there earlier this year, the water had washed up all kinds of trees. But you never know, there may be good stuff @ Grandma's house too! Edited November 23, 2005 by Majestic_Aquariums Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefishdude Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 I scored a few great pieces over the summer due to the flooding this June. Great year for collecting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 You better hurry before the snow comes. It would be kind of hard searching for wood in snow and frozen water Whenever i find driftwood I soak it in really hot water( or boil it if the wood is small enough). The problem you will usually have with found driftwood is that it wont' sink. So i usually keep it submerged in a bucket untill it does(drilling tiny holes all around it helps sink it faster). But to kill any of the baddies that might be living in it I just use boiling water. I have also tried bleaching before but it does lighten the wood and you have to be careful that you are sure all the bleach is gone before you add it to the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neatfreak Posted November 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 I do bleach my ornaments & rocks [1 cup to 5 gallons] just make sure you RINSE then SOAK in strong aqua plus & water over night!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arixonbarnes Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 I have picked up my wood from various placesfrom the North Saskatchewan river and also from the prairies out by Manyberries (on the Lost River Ranch). If it's been in the river or on the bank for a while I just rinse and put it in the tank. Boiling helps to make it sink quicker otherwise I have tied it to a piece of slate (with holes drilled in the slate) using fishing line or else I let it float till it becomes waterlogged. It breaks down faster than the african and malaysian wood because it is probably spurce, poplar or willow but the price is right(free). I have had no adverse effects in any of my tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neatfreak Posted November 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 I thank EVERYBODY for there idea's , I guess I'm the GREAT WHITE HUNTER of drift wood. that is before the snow fly's. then I'll be just GREAT WHITE . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted November 24, 2005 Report Share Posted November 24, 2005 I do bleach my ornaments & rocks[1 cup to 5 gallons] just make sure you RINSE then SOAK in strong aqua plus & water over night!!! I bleach my decorations too but with driftwood you need to be careful becuase it will bleach out the color and turn it light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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