Unsafe Wood
- Thread starter Arbee
- Start date
I would suggest to stay away from 'coniferous' trees as their sap is far more 'sticky'. But most hardwoods should work just fine.
Using 'deadwood' is always the goal. Deadwood will already be dried out. The sap can be toxic.
Using 'deadwood' is always the goal. Deadwood will already be dried out. The sap can be toxic.
Sadly there is no straightforward answer to this. Some of us can list safe woods from experience, but there doesn't seem to be a definitive list as such, I've seen various attempts to get a list together of what people have used.
As a general rule hardwood = good, softwood = bad. As has been said, fresh stuff has sap as well as a whole load of living stuff that will rot away and leech into your tank, generally this is not good. Some wood will also break down rapidly (most soft woods) which isn't desirable as it makes a mess.
From my experience, oak is fine, apple and pear woods are fine, elder is fine (but it floats and leeches tannins like crazy for a good while, but I love it anyway).
As a general rule hardwood = good, softwood = bad. As has been said, fresh stuff has sap as well as a whole load of living stuff that will rot away and leech into your tank, generally this is not good. Some wood will also break down rapidly (most soft woods) which isn't desirable as it makes a mess.
From my experience, oak is fine, apple and pear woods are fine, elder is fine (but it floats and leeches tannins like crazy for a good while, but I love it anyway).
as others said anything with sap is a no no 
I would try to find a piece of wood that lpoks like it has been dead for awhile and not rotting. You can also pick them up from creeks and lakes aswell. To see if it is a hard wood or not try to dig your finger nail in if goes in easily then it most likely is a soft wood. If it is realtivily hard to go in its most likely a hard wood. Also try to avoid anything that smells bad or pine like (sorry for my bad spelling)
I would try to find a piece of wood that lpoks like it has been dead for awhile and not rotting. You can also pick them up from creeks and lakes aswell. To see if it is a hard wood or not try to dig your finger nail in if goes in easily then it most likely is a soft wood. If it is realtivily hard to go in its most likely a hard wood. Also try to avoid anything that smells bad or pine like (sorry for my bad spelling)Hi there,
I don't know much at all about safe or non-safe tank wood, however, I did read an interesting article here...
http
/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=5653
Perhaps it will add to what's already been suggested.
Good luck!
I don't know much at all about safe or non-safe tank wood, however, I did read an interesting article here...
http
/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=5653Perhaps it will add to what's already been suggested.
Good luck!
i went to the bottom of my garden and grabbed the wood you see in my sig as DrRob said aim for hardwood tree's they wont degrade or break down over time in the water, pop down to your local forrest or woods and have a look around, try and pick something that has been dead for year's so to speak, uprooted trees that have been down for years is a good start.
only thing i would suggest is put it into the bath and poor boiling hot water from a kettle over it this will remove any surface bugs or crap from the branch no need to soak it unless you willing to soak it for months if it floats just get a rock or something heavy to tie it down with thats what i did as my wood did float, it still dose a little now but not as much and its been nearly 2 years now since i had mine definably de bark it i would say, that process can be very frustrating haha again i did mine in the bath and using a knife just be careful
tannins is a problem in my eyes, i hate them some people like them, but filterfloss in the filter or even better carbon will remove them, DONT replace the carbon every 2 weeks it will take out the tannins after years and years just wash it out every few weeks
hope this has been any bit helpful
good luck i personally think finding wood from your local area or nearby is great far better than wood from a shop
as DrRob said aim for hardwood tree's they wont degrade or break down over time in the water, pop down to your local forrest or woods and have a look around, try and pick something that has been dead for year's so to speak, uprooted trees that have been down for years is a good start.only thing i would suggest is put it into the bath and poor boiling hot water from a kettle over it this will remove any surface bugs or crap from the branch no need to soak it unless you willing to soak it for months
if it floats just get a rock or something heavy to tie it down with thats what i did as my wood did float, it still dose a little now but not as much and its been nearly 2 years now since i had mine definably de bark it i would say, that process can be very frustrating haha again i did mine in the bath and using a knife just be careful tannins is a problem in my eyes, i hate them some people like them, but filterfloss in the filter or even better carbon will remove them, DONT replace the carbon every 2 weeks it will take out the tannins after years and years just wash it out every few weeks
hope this has been any bit helpful
good luck i personally think finding wood from your local area or nearby is great far better than wood from a shop
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