Driftwood

[CICHLIDEA]

Okay i am trying to make my own driftwood for my 30gal. convict cichlid tank, I put a bunch of water in a bucket and went out in the woods and found some pretty neat looking pieces of wood and submerged the wood in the water and put some big rocks over the wood to weight it down so it can become water logged, Is it good/bad to make your own drift wood? Will it harm my fish? Is there anything else i need to do to the wood?

[LoJack]

I would clean it with a mild bleach solution. before water logging it I would also bake it in the oven for like 20 minutes to make sure that everything that could possibly be on the wood is killed.

If they can be boiled, boil them ... but usually it won't fit.

let it soak for a long time ... like a month and you should be good.

I also add salt to the water that I'm soaking the wood in ... helps remove the tannins from the wood faster

[bigfish333]

I usually boil water in a kettle then pour it over every bit of the wood.

[bluerusty]

If it still doesnt sink that well i recomend to get a piece of slate and screw it to the bottom of the driftwood to wiegh it down. Depending on the shape this works extremely well. Make sure to use a stainless screw and you can even cover up the slate with gravel.Just a lil tip/suggestion
-Mike

[LuckyCricketMafia]

I never got mine to sink, it ended up in my snake cage.

[glw1231]

I screwed flat rock on the bottom of my driftwood then covered the flatrock with the gravel. You cannot see the rock on the bottom. it looks natural and it works.

[CICHLIDEA]

can you find flat rocks or do you have to buy it?

[glw1231]

Here in Hawaii we buy it in crates but not at your local hardware stores. You could also use flag stone. They use these stones to cover your concrete driveways, or patio areas. we get these stones @ our stone shops.

[Over_Stocked]

Originally posted by CICHLIDEA
can you find flat rocks or do you have to buy it?

Any store that sells tile like home depot or lowes has boxed slate tile which is just squar slate tiles that have a grounded bottom(thus they are flat, and not "natural" which allows them to sit perfect on your aquarium floor).

A box of 6 is usually 5.99-10.99

[demonsoni]

You can put the wood in the back of your toilet if it fits. Eventually all wood will become waterlogged and sink on its own. I would not put screws in my tank.

[malawi,sc]

i built some for my sons 90 gal oscar tank, i used red cedar roots and stainless steel screws through flag stone.. turned out great.. i have used surgical grade stainless on reefs and they do not add trace elements to any water.. i wouldn't use anything less the marine stainless screws for a tank.

[MisanthropeKitty]

to help remove tannins change the water as it turns brown

[malawi,sc]

don't know where many of you are from but here in the south, look at red cedar.. either roots where trees or branch tips from the same fallen trees. i put mine in a creek for a month or two then clean them with my steam cleaner.. i usually screw them to a small piece of flagstone..

[Seedy]

Originally Posted by MisanthropeKitty

to help remove tannins change the water as it turns brown

...or use activated carbon to remove it.

...or counter the tannins chemically (If your worried about your pH) by adding some crushed coral to your filter...

...or just don't worry about it and enjoy the nice natural color of the water.

I like tannins in my soft water tanks...

[MisanthropeKitty]

Originally Posted by Seedy

I like tannins in my soft water tanks...

me too i was just suggesting it since he was putting the driftwood in a bucket to help soak it... i usually change the water a few times when it turns really brown to get MOST of the tannins out but all of my soft water tanks are yellow colored and it gives them such a nice natural feel!