Is Reclaimed Lumber Safe

[Elwood220]

have a 118gal tank relatively few fish.
my aquascape is minimal
i know you can use driftwood and such after you prepare it but can you you use old reclaimed hard wood lumber if you treated it the same way?
also any ideas for bottom of tank swimmers thought kuhli loaches but have a rock substrate and researching they say they prefer sand
thanks

 

[Jeremy180]

The short answer is no.
You have no way of knowing what chemicals or pesticides this old lumber has been in contact with, in addition to the possibility of it being treated lumber.
(the old method of treating lumber involved using arsenic)

 

[SherLar]

   Nearly all lumber has been treated with something. Even "untreated" lumber has had drying agents used on it in the kiln to prevent warping. I sure wouldn't chance it.
   I have kuhlis in a tank with natural rock substrate, and they do fine. I have several sea shells in the tank they like to hide in. Before you choose bottom swimmers though, you need to decide what other fish you'll stock, so you can be sure they're compatible.