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What protocol do you follow for fumigated drift wood?

KeenShrimp

By KeenShrimp
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KeenShrimp Shrimp Lover

KeenShrimp

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I have bought a bonsai driftwood and the seller does state very clearly that it has been 'treated'. What steps do you follow to ensure that every bit of pesticide has been removed from fumigated wood?

I am planning on putting it in an empty, obviously soap free dishwasher cycle for about a month, doing an alkaline buffer bath soak, an acidic buffer bath soak, adding Easy-Life fluid filter medium and sit it in a large bucket at 32degrees Celcius for about a month after that. Then, if I can see seed shrimp thriving in that habitat and my biofilm is looking good, I will consider adding it to my tank.

I was wondering why I bought it, but it is so stunning, I really want to use it. Who has these bonsai' s in their tanks?, and more importantly, what are you doing to ensure every bit of toxin is removed/ neutralised?

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jayc Shrimp Guru

jayc

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If it's small enough to fit into your biggest pot, boiling it can accelerate the driftwood treatment.

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Grubs Shrimp Lover

Grubs

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Treated with what?

Australian imports are routinely fumigated in quarantine using methyl bromide gas which is extremely volatile and dissipates without leaving a residue (or the trace it leaves is not consequential).  Methyl bromide is used to fumigate fruit, veg, pasta, grains, dairy etc that we eat.  I'd be more worried about toxins in the glue they use to hold these manufactured bonsai trees together.  A quick boil or soak in a pond would be all I'd do.

However... if they are fumigated by something else more sinister then all bets are off.  Probably not the case as it wouldn't be very good for business if they killed off everyone's livestock.

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KeenShrimp Shrimp Lover

KeenShrimp

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Thanks guys,

I could not find any reference to exactly what pesticides are used by customs. This is probably overkill, but I am not taking any chances... I think I would boil it as well. The bonsai does not have glue, so chemical leaching from that is not an issue.

I think I will perhaps do a journal on how it goes??

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jayc Shrimp Guru

jayc

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2 hours ago, KeenShrimp said:

journal on how it goes

Can't wait !

Lots of pics please, ?

 

Boiling will kill anything the fumigation process missed. Plus it has the added benefit of washing the wood, and also has the benefit of opening up the pores of the wood to allow "stuff" to leach out - like tannins, or whatever.

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