How Do You Prepare Wood From a Lake

[Sasha]

At the lake, I found this nice piece of wood that I would like to use in my aquarium. It's about 18 inches long, and I usually boil it in hot water to sterilize it, but I don't have a pan big enough. I tried doing half of it at a time, but the wood is just too long. Is there any other way I can prepare wood for aquarium use?

 

[Tropjunky]

Well u could soak it in a mild bleach solution in ur bath tub for a day (kills stuff and u get a clean bath) and then in clean water for about a week.

I would take a rish and just rinse it but it's not my tank. but a pice of wood that big there's not much u can do

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

I've got the same problem. I've found this nice piece of tree branch which I'd like to use, but its too long to sterilise in one go.

Just thought of it, but have you considered sticking it in a large retainer and just pour boiling water onto it? Make sure you fill up the retainer, and continue this process for a couple more times.

Its the best I think I can do.

 

[Pixie]

When I use branches or driftwood from outside I soak them in a strong bleach solution for 24 hrs then I soak them in clear water with a lot of AquaSafe to remove the chlorine. The one problem I have is getting the wood to not float. I tried to silicone it to a flat rock but that only held for about a week. Right now I have a large rock wedged in-between the branches.

 

[Spyderdf]

Also i would soak it till it stops leaching.
Unless u want ur tank to tint

 

[wackystarfish]

As it is from a lake i would dry it out completly for about a week then leave it in a bucket of water for as long as possible to get rid of the tannins

Oh, you better watch out for the bleach idea as traces of it may harm the fish

 

[minxfishy]

OP was 4 yrs ago, I hope by now they have their wood sorted LOL.