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Suitable wood to use in our tanks

ineke

By ineke
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ineke Shrimp Guru

ineke

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just thought it might be a good idea to put up a list of wood suitable to use as " driftwood creations" in our tanks. If like me you see nice pieces of wood when out walking or looking in creeks how do we know if they are safe for use in our tanks. Are there any types of wood we definitely can't use? Please add your thoughts here to help us all out.

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steffiev Shrimp Enthusiast

steffiev

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Posted (edited)

I have googled about this before!

 

If I recall correctly, some of my findings are:

- There's hardwood and softwood; hardwood is safe for aquarium use, softwood is questionable.

- If the wood still has living tissue (looks green, not completely dried), do not use. Has to be completely dead.

- Twigs can be used temporarily.

- If there is any sap, then not safe.

- Usually if wood is already submerged in water, it should be quite safe.

- Always prepare your driftwood well! (Boiling, etc.)

 

That's all I can remember for now. Seems like good tips when looking for "DIY" driftwood.

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable about specific driftwood types can comment more about that as this is more of a general guideline but seems good to keep in mind imo.

 

Edits:

- Corrected misspelling

- And thanks for the compliments! I hope these points help when you are going to collect driftwood outdoors!

Edited by steffiev
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northboy Shrimp Master

northboy

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Australia has 99% hard woods, so every thing is AOK.

What to look out for is soft sections in you timber, but it would be the same as using Indian almond leaves only larger scale

 

Some timber will leach tannin stains, this is from the process of waterlogging and it can go on for a long time, once again no issue with shrimp unless it is allowed to go unchecked.

 

Buying bleached timber makes no difference as the bleaching only affects the out side of the timber, the tannin comes from inside.

 

Water logging can take a long time and one of the best ways of water logging and stain removal, is to soak the wood in a bin or something like that and water change weekly until the stain is gone and the wood sinks.

 

I use to collect Mangrove stumps when it was legal and never had a issue with them and I have used river wood for years with out trouble, so long as it is hard and not to fresh its AOK, if its fresh soak it to remove the staining.

 

In 50 years I have not been mad aware of any reasonable common  Aussie timber that is dangerous, if in doubt test a piece, if its dry no need to boil it and look out for things living in your timber.

 

A story for you, back when the ARK landed LOL, The first time I took my now wife on a trip it was to collect Mangrove stumps at Bribie island, we filled the boot of here Torana with timber, a few days later she was driving through south Brisbane with a friend, when a crab crawled across her friends foot, the friend jumped out of the car screaming, lucky they had just stopped a traffic lights, the friend would not get back in the car and caught a cab home LOL, she still married me

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northboy Shrimp Master

northboy

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There is a lot of imported timber around these days, I can not give advice on that as I have not used it and have no idea, also be careful of what you read as what is OS may not be here and what works OS may not work here

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ineke Shrimp Guru

ineke

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Thanks Bob great information.

I take the dogs through a pine plantation and some of the old wood lying around looks really impressive but I was a bit worried about using pine in my tanks.

I guess when you were born back when Adam was a boy you learn a lot! LOL got ya there! First one for the year !

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northboy Shrimp Master

northboy

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HMM will have to work out pay backs OLD GIRL !!!. not sure on pine, should be OK try a small bit is a small tank with some culls, that will tell ya

 

Any way Ineke you are not that far from me, I will be 57 soon enough, sure as hell don't feel that old and can still spend all day tracking up mountain creeks, The one about only being as old as the woman you feel??? she is 5 weeks older :unhappy:  time to trade??? not

 

Bob

 

Is that enough rope to hang my self Ineke

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ineke Shrimp Guru

ineke

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At least I got a bite! Yeah I'm older but not by much! Don't trade the wife you have her trained now- haha in your dreams! :lol:

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