Drift wood for 20 gallon Help!

[Ryleyman]

So I bought a fair sized piece of drift wood for my 20gallon do I need to do anything to the wood before I put it in??

 

[Ryleyman]

Help please

 

[Ryleyman]

Nvm I Found out my self boil the drift wood for about 1 hour then let it soak up water and put it in-_-

 

[phishfriend]

Boil it till the water turn to tea. Replace with fresh water and repeat. Then replace the water one more time. Add prime and let soak for about an hour. That should do it.

 

[Ryleyman]

Boil it till the water turn to tea. Replace with fresh water and repeat. Then replace the water one more time. Add prime and let soak for about an hour. That should do it.

Thank you very much!!

 

[Fresh2o]

Boil it. Watch the water turn tea colored. Drain. Repeat. This kills any unwanted pests/diseases and reduce the tannins that will leach from the DW.

To keep it from floating you may have to soak it in a bucket, tub or cooler for days to weeks or more. You could attach a piece of slate or piece of acrylic/plexiglas to the bottom with stainless steel screws. Or weigh it down with stones.

 

[Fresh2o]

Boil it till the water turn to tea. Replace with fresh water and repeat. Then replace the water one more time. Add prime and let soak for about an hour. That should do it.

What does prime do?

I have a piece of DW that was boiled multiple times and has been soaking in a cooler for several days weighed down with a brick. I checked on it yesterday and when I lifted the brick, the DW shot out of the water like a dolphin at Sea World! Well, not quite but it still floats.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Prime removes the chlorine or chlorimines from the tap water. It's great stuff.

If your wood refuses to sink you'll need to attach some slate or plexi before putting it in the tank. Kinda sucks but it will work to keep it in the water once gravel is places over it. In time the wood should absorb enough water not to need it but some wood refuses. It's organic so driftwood can vary greatly in how well it cooperates.

 

[Changy]

Newbie question, but what exactly is "Prime"? Maybe it's known by something else here is Australia...

 

[Ryleyman]

Prime removes the chlorine or chlorimines from the tap water. It's great stuff.

If your wood refuses to sink you'll need to attach some slate or plexi before putting it in the tank. Kinda sucks but it will work to keep it in the water once gravel is places over it. In time the wood should absorb enough water not to need it but some wood refuses. It's organic so driftwood can vary greatly in how well it cooperates.

It already sinks!! It's quite heavy and I have prime so I'm going to try that

 

[Ryleyman]

Newbie question, but what exactly is "Prime"? Maybe it's known by something else here is Australia...

I have no clue sorry....:/

 

[phishfriend]

I have no clue sorry....:/

A declorinator made by seachem

 

[Ryleyman]

A declorinator made by seachem

I know that I have done but I don't know if there is any where that guy lives...

 

[Changy]

Ok. Thanks. Like I said "newbie" question. We have that brand here.

 

[Ryleyman]

Ok. Thanks. Like I said "newbie" question. We have that brand here.

That's good it's soo useful!!

 

[Ryleyman]

The drift wood is all soaked up and in the tank! I attached come java moss to it! It looks so good!!C: I'm so impressed on how good it looks!!

 

[Fresh2o]

Did you need to weigh it down or did it sink on its own? I had a piece that was quite buoyant and so i drilled a hole in a small piece of slate, drove a stainless steel screw the slate and wood, tied moss to it (covered about 60-80% of it) and put it in. Problem: I did not factor in the height of the slate so it was a bit too tall. Make that way too tall. Took off the slate, put the DW under my mitre/chop saw and hacked off an inch or so, replaced the slate and put it back in. Had to wash off the saw dust first. Happier with it now. Will post a pic when I get home.

 

[Ryleyman]

Did you need to weigh it down or did it sink on its own? I had a piece that was quite buoyant and so i drilled a hole in a small piece of slate, drove a stainless steel screw the slate and wood, tied moss to it (covered about 60-80% of it) and put it in. Problem: I did not factor in the height of the slate so it was a bit too tall. Make that way too tall. Took off the slate, put the DW under my mitre/chop saw and hacked off an inch or so, replaced the slate and put it back in. Had to wash off the saw dust first. Happier with it now. Will post a pic when I get home.

I did t need to weight it down at all! It was 2 pounds before and now it's about 5! It soaked up water no problem! Can't wait till the moss starts to cover it! And nice I'm looking forward to seeing that!

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Glad to see it in. Looks great!

 

[Ryleyman]

Glad to see it in. Looks great!

Thanks