DRIFTWOOD

[ditron]

Hi guys...I live by the beach & there is literally tons of driftwood...
My question is...
Can you use ocean driftwood in a tropical tank if you boil it for a bit.
I think I read somewhere that even if there's still a bit of salt in it it won't harm the fish...
True or false...??

 

[Colin_T]

It's fine to use driftwood found in the ocean or at the beach. You don't have to boil it. Sunlight kills lots of things. Drying the wood out kills anything aquatic that might be living on it. Coming from saltwater means there is nothing that will survive in freshwater. Just find a few pieces that don't have bird poop on them and check to make sure there is no oil slicks or chemicals from boats, rinse the items off under tap water and you're good to go.

 

[MaloK]

A good idea is to soak them in water in a bucket for a while to make sure they sink and look how it affects the water.

If it start to grow fungus or bacteria you can rinse, brush and replace the water in the bucket. Repeat as needed.

Not all woods are "good" in aquariums, try to use the hardest wood only, some other softer woods decompose faster, they have lower lignin content, leading to faster decomposition. This can result in a quicker release of nutrients, causing a more significant short-term chemical impact. Try to avoid conifers at all cost they can spoil the water. Even more if you have plecos that will munch on it.

This is a personal view on the subject, many reported using softwood without impact. But I wouldn't try.