Driftwood?

[Kinui]

Hi, I was wondering if it would be okay to add driftwood to my betta's 14 gal tank? It's not store bought (found on a beach a few years ago), but it's been in boiling water for several hours. It's a fairly small piece, and can easily fit in a hand. Would this be okay, or should I not? Thanks

 

[chelsiethegreat]

i would say yes .. i've read that it doesnt really matter where u buy or get your driftwood, its just that you soak it for a really long time before you put it in your tank.. an unsoaked drift wood is known to make your water more acidic..

 

[Kinui]

Ok, I boiled it for about 4 hours last night and let it sit overnight. It's completely waterlogged. While I was boiling it though, the water turned really brown. Would it do anything just sitting in the aquarium water?

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Boiling the wood is where people go wrong mate, it will loosen the fibres in the wood and leach out tannins for weeks/months. This said its not a bad thing some people just don't like the look but the fish love it. All i do with new wood is place it in a bucket with hot water from the tap leave for 7 days and change the water daily never had any bother that way

 

[Aqua Tom]

I wouldnt put anything from the sea into a freshwater tank.


Tom

 

[Kinui]

Yeah, I was just going to ask about that. Is it because of the salt?

 

[chelsiethegreat]

yeahh... didn't even think about that, if it was from the ocean its probly loaded with salt. driftwood is so pourus..

 

[Aqua Tom]

Yeah, I was just going to ask about that. Is it because of the salt?

Yes & any nasty microbes as well.

Tom

 

[BigbruiserAl]

You got out of the sea 2 years ago?

 

[Torred1771]

Boiling the wood is where people go wrong mate, it will loosen the fibres in the wood and leach out tannins for weeks/months. This said its not a bad thing some people just don't like the look but the fish love it. All i do with new wood is place it in a bucket with hot water from the tap leave for 7 days and change the water daily never had any bother that way

Thats what I did with my wood, and then on the final day I boiled it and its been fine...

 

[Kinui]

You got out of the sea 2 years ago?

I think I prolly found it like 6 years ago. It's just been sitting on a shelf as part of my rock display. It has a nice shape and I wanted to add it since I don't really have money to add things to my tank right now. But I think I'll just leave it be.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

It will fine it not been in the sea for 6 years lol follow a weeks cleaning and pop it it