[starfang]

Last week I found a nice piece of driftwood on the beach. I have let it sit outside for a week spending time in the rain and heat. I have washed it couple of times as well. What else should I do before I could add it to my tank? I've heard that I should boil it abit. In what temp? for how long?
Thanks.

[Brooklamprey]

Really no need to boil it. Just letting it dry out a bit in the sun should do in any of the life that may cause problems.

Also welcome to AP

[dreamster41]

It will be better to boil if you found dw in swamps, to kill the bacteria and what ever living in that wood. Also it makes the dw last longer, some times it will rot and kill the fish in your tank.
As far I know if you found a dw by the beach make sure you wash it many times and let it dry. Also leave it in a bucket filled with water couple of weeks and change the water daily. Most of the sewage systems are released to sea also the dw will alot of salt in it. If you planning on putting it in a freshwater tank make sure it is salt free.
Leaving outside under the sunlight would do the same as boiling.

[threeguns]

starfang, on 23 August 2010 - 12:47 AM, said:

Last week I found a nice piece of driftwood on the beach. I have let it sit outside for a week spending time in the rain and heat. I have washed it couple of times as well. What else should I do before I could add it to my tank? I've heard that I should boil it abit. In what temp? for how long?
Thanks.

Once I found a beautiful piece of dw and I cleaned it and cleaned it with a scrub brush and eventually add it to one of my tanks and in a couple of weeks I had a nice bloom of green algae in every ounce of water in my tank I had to kill off .. never through causion in the wind.. just buy a piece..

This post has been edited by threeguns: 01 April 2011 - 07:45 PM