Cedar driftwood bad??

[Yellow Eye Tang]

Hey there! I have a question about a driftwood piece I got. I just found out it is Cedar. I've been soaking it and as I was scrubbing it with a wire brush I noticed the smell of cedar. Then I cut it the way I wanted it and it is indeed cedar. Can I place cedar into my tank?

 

[MichaelsLilGray]

i would have to say no... ceder is a aromatic wood.. and im not sure the tannins from something such as that would be to good for a tank =/

 

[Lymore]

I wouldn't put it in. I have small rodents too, and cedar is bad for them. Cedar is also used to repel moths.
Animals don't seem to like cedar too much.

 

[jsoong]

If you can smell it, it is not safe to use. Some people said that well aged cedar (that with all sap & aromatic oils leeched out) is tank safe. That means you need to weather the wood for years. At any rate, if you smell cedar, it is not aged enough. <And personally, I wouldn't chance it, smell or no smell!>

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

I'm not a freshwater guy, but I do know that cedar is used for roofs and such because of the natural oils and chemicals in the wood that repel most things that want to damage it. And a cedar roof can last 15 years and still retain those repellents. I wouldn't want that in my tank.

 

[MichaelsLilGray]

best place to put that thing is next to your bed or in a drawer... if you like the smell of ceder that is =D