Adding wood to tank

[ruthNZ]

Hi all, so I have a branch that's been on my property for months, in the sun and rain, and played with by the kids. It would make a nice decoration in my axolotl tank, but I just want to be absolutely sure its safe before I do. I've scrubbed it, poured 4 jugs of boiling water over it (im not able to have it boiling, its too big) and its currently sitting in dechlorinated water. I don't know what sort of tree its come off, is it safer to not use it at all?

 

[ruthNZ]

This one

 

[Britty]

I can't see it properly to determine the style of wood.Is it floating?

Is it a hardwood? Are you able to push your thumb nail into it and easily leave an impression?

If its soft or a softwood, don't use it. If its hardwood, I'd continue to sterlise it as you are doing then leave it in water until it sinks.

 

[ruthNZ]

Yea its floating, but no I can't easily mark it with my nail. Ok thanks Britty

?????

 

[mattoid]

could it be melaleuca?


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[ruthNZ]

I have no idea, this is close up

 

[mattoid]

It does look like tea tree...pretty sure if it is it will release tannins and probably some tea tree oil.
It's best to get a second, third and fourth opinion, but I'm pretty sure that it's safe. I personally would use it as I use aged eucalyptus with no issues except some tannin release which I don't mind.


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[ruthNZ]

Thanks

?????

 

[Brookster123]

Looks pretty cool! I wish I could give you an answer, try figuring out its exact type using google?

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[bambam1]

Why cant soft wood be used?

 

[ruthNZ]

I'm not sure bambam possibly could rot/fall apart faster maybe?

?????

 

[ruthNZ]

I've cut 2 pieces off and am boiling them, no color change in the water they had been sitting in over night. I'm fairly certain its tea tree, but there's alot of different opinions about using it in tanks so I still don't know

 

[mattoid]

melafix uses tea tree oil as it's active ingredient (M. leucadendra - though oils are very similar and concentrations vary) and control harvested and distilled oil and bush tea has beneficial constituents for humans (and fish according to API). The issue I would imagine would be the lack of regulated dissolution in your water.
Given the age and treatment of your wood, and that oils are concentrated in young leaves with less in older leaves (and some in the bark/cambium layer?), you should be safe to use it esp. since bark also appears to be completely removed from your pieces.


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[Fishobsessed7]

Why cant soft wood be used?

Ey can be used they will just break down a lot faster


Fishobsessed7

 

[bambam1]

Thank you Fishobsessed7. I new not to use it but never new why thought.

 

[Britty]

Softwoods take ages of forced submersion before they sink on their own. Some never do and have to be siliconed tto slate to hold them down. After that they disintegrate and rot pretty quickly.