Making driftwood . . .

[JodieOf1987]

I want to DIY some driftwood and have a few ideas and questions to throw out there.

Is there a particular reason why I couldn't just use any hardwood or does it need to be from something found around moving water?

I know I'd have to soak whatever I collected for a reasonable amount of time, but I need to make sure that if it is alive, to dry it before soaking correct?

Anyone have expierence on collecting anything not found in or around a water source?

[mistahoo]

Re: Making driftwood . . .

If you collect wood locally, I would soak it in bleach for a few days and then soak it in water with dechlorinator. Most people don't go collecting locally because either the wood is rotted, it doesn't waterlog, or it's a hassle. Nice driftwood isn't all that expensive depending on size and characteristics. HAW sells well-priced manzanita wood at varying size and shapes.

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[JodieOf1987]

Is there a particular reason why I would want to soak it in bleach? If I was to collect any it would probably from around the Montgomery county area so there wouldn't be any contaminates.

My thing is I want to be able to do this for free or very cheap and enjoy the process, I understand I can obtain some at -a reasonable price at a lfs but I have a limited budget and every penny counts.

More or less if I wanted to and could buy some I wouldn't have bothered making this thread.

Anyone have experience with what wood sinks well?

[barrettsline]

Making driftwood . . .

You can't say there aren't any contaminants. There are contaminants in all wood. Trees draw in everything in the soil. As tannins leach out so do the contaminants. Bleach is to try to kill any and hopefully 99.9% of parasites and bugs that have made homes in the wood.

I have done it and many others have as well, but you never truly know when something might go wrong. If you still want to try it more power to you, but I'd recommend following these steps:

1. Soak in bleach for 48hrs.
2. Remove and pressure wash clean. If any rotted pieces break off, I would simply trash the piece.
3. Boil the wood
4. Soak in clean water with declorinator for at least 48-72 hours.
5. Rinse thoroughly.
6. Repeat if you feel the need to be extra safe.

I would also contact clay a member on here out of Louisiana. He's has prepared his own and a lot of it.

I will say this, all pieces that I have treated myself, have had tanks crash and burn after 6-12 months.

[troy tucker]

Making Driftwood can be very disapionting. After soaking, boilling, bleaching and prime. then the piece rots and kills fish.

Barrettsline I right. all the Chem. we use. gets taken in by the tree and then leachs it back out. in the water.

I have a few pieces that are nature made. the wood is from the beach but not just any beach. The hard woods for the gulf coast are in matagorta around caney creek. the wood that falls in to the rivers wash up on the beach. If you find a piece that you want to use you have to fallow the steps above.

I soak in beach for a week keeping the water clean by changing it after 3 days. using 2 cups of bleach in about 20g of water. The bleach will kill any critters and any fungus.
if it will fit I will biol the piece but if it wont i double the bleach to 2 weeks.
and then Soak in freash water for 3 months. adding prime the last week.
It is a long time but its worth taking to keep your fish alive.

[mistahoo]

Couldn't say it any better than what barrett has. Exactly why you want to bleach. In the end, it saves you time and effort just to go and buy some driftwood from the store. The prices at HAW are much lower than any other store I've been to and even lower than most prices that pop up on here for driftwood that definitely lack character.

[JodieOf1987]

Well when I mentioned contaminates i was referring to fertilizers and pesticides, I'm well aware of "contaminates" from nature could possibly play a factor. I guess at the end of the day when you figure in the time and possibility that now I'm aware of a tank crash happening buying from a lfs would be a better route.
One of the things I never understood is why it's so expensive to buy driftwood second hand here on the box, when I've seen better examples at cheaper prices at not so well known lfs stores.

[mistahoo]

Well when I mentioned contaminates i was referring to fertilizers and pesticides, I'm well aware of "contaminates" from nature could possibly play a factor. I guess at the end of the day when you figure in the time and possibility that now I'm aware of a tank crash happening buying from a lfs would be a better route.
One of the things I never understood is why it's so expensive to buy driftwood second hand here on the box, when I've seen better examples at cheaper prices at not so well known lfs stores.

Yup. Key words: not so well known. Everyone gives a price they think their piece deserves Mainly based on characteristics and size. Some prices are worth it, but most aren't. HAW has wood ranging from $5-$20(? could be more). FG also has a nice selection, but you'd be paying FG prices...

[Fancyfish]

My experience with found drift wood has been good. I've got some tree branches in the pond now soaking prior to bringing them into the house tanks.

[Xerobull]

I've found that pressure washing the driftwood helps with stripping and cleaning the wood tremendously, especially if it's not super old wood.

[mistahoo]

Completely forgot about this thread. Thanks Xerobull for bumping this one. I think I might go find me some 4'+ pieces of wood for the big tank!