azalea root aqauascape

[ember04]

Hi everyone

I recently completed an aquascape where the hardscape was azalea root. I joined a few pieces into a large interesting shape, as I was filling up the tank I realised that I had made a rooky mistake by not boiling the wood first, what an idiot. it was ok because I managed to get the wood in time and places a few rocks on to the top to weight it down. My question is how long will it take for azalea root to become water logged and sink so I can remove the rocks.

thanks
ember04

 

[Essjay]

I bought some azalea root a few months ago, it was too big to boil so I just soaked it in an old tank in the garden. It only took a few days to sink - but then it turned the water cloudy and white goo appeared all over the wood. After several weeks it was still turning the water cloudy so I gave up and bought some "mangrove" (that's what the labels said) from Maidenhead Aquatics instead.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Boiling the wood does not necessarily mean it will sink faster. Boiling the wood will kill anything and everything that is stuck in the wood and also will release a lot of harmful things that may be in the pores of the wood. But, it will also break down the wood fibers, leading to a shorter life for the wood.

It will take a couple of weeks for it to become fully waterlogged. You can try to weigh it down with a couple of rocks, so it gives the appearance of it being in its proper place.

 

[ember04]

thanks for you help everyone, I have placed a few rocks on top of the wood to hold it in places, not the nices looking but does the jobs, the store I bought it from baked the wood to kill microorganisms so I think I will be ok.
thanks again
ember04

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Hope it sinks fast! I know how annoying driftwood can be sometimes.

 

[ember04]

hi there just wanted to let you know on the progress, it has sunk now and the cloudiness in the water has gone, there is a molt on the wood but I have srub part of it off and there is no grow back so I am happy