Adding driftwood

[Guppyman34]

So I have an established tank, and I have bought a piece of driftwood for my new bristlenose pleco, what exactly are the steps to prepare the driftwood for my tank?

 

[jcolon]

Since i'm assuming it LFS bought, it should sink. If it'll fit.... Boil it for about an hour ... That'll help to sterilize and remove tannins.

If you don't have a pot large enough, you can run twice it In a dishwasher on high temp setting .... Minus the detergent of course!

 

[Guppyman34]

Since i'm assuming it LFS bought, it should sink. If it'll fit.... Boil it for about an hour ... That'll help to sterilize and remove tannins.

If you don't have a pot large enough, you can run twice it In a dishwasher on high temp setting .... Minus the detergent of course!

Thanks! Would soaking it in hot water for a day or 2 work as well?

 

[Steelhawke]

The hotter the better, you are using the heat to kill parasites.

 

[Guppyman34]

The hotter the better, you are using the heat to kill parasites.

Oh, ok. I'm continuously adding warmer water. Thanks!

 

[FreshwaterFishJunkie]

Boil the driftwood for an hour. Then in a clean sterile bucket let in soak in dechlorinated/chloramine water for 1 week to 2 weeks to let most of the tannins leech out. Then rinse with dechlorinated/chloramine water and then you can place the driftwood in the aquarium.

 

[jcolon]

Thanks! Would soaking it in hot water for a day or 2 work as well?

Yep... But if you could... Go the boiling route... You'd be surprised by how much it leaches out tannins. I boil for an hour .... Dumping the boiling water and refilling the whole time. I've done it this way with all my malaysian DW.

 

[Guppyman34]

Boil the driftwood for an hour. Then in a clean sterile bucket let in soak in dechlorinated/chloramine water for 1 week to 2 weeks to let most of the tannins leech out. Then rinse with dechlorinated/chloramine water and then you can place the driftwood in the aquarium.

Ok thanks!

 

[Guppyman34]

Yep... But if you could... Go the boiling route... You'd be surprised by how much it leaches out tannins. I boil for an hour .... Dumping the boiling water and refilling the whole time. I've done it this way with all my malaysian DW.

Cool that's the type of dw I bought, I'll try boiling it tonight.

 

[FreshwaterFishJunkie]

Welcome anytime. I am always willing to help

 

[jcolon]

Cool that's the type of dw I bought, I'll try boiling it tonight.

Enjoy! I'm certain you'll love the DW. I still had a little tannins leach..but not much... Don't even remember it staining my water.