Replacing the $30/50 driftwood pieces is not really an option unless absolutely necessary. It's -10c or colder here right now so drying in the sun is also not an option for atleast 3/4 months. Will risk the simmering once I find something that is large enough.
Sorry, in Florida, I tend to forget about seasons. Do consider testing the boiling on a small piece if you can, I'd hate for you to tell me it turned to soup. Lots of people boil driftwood to get it to sink as well (drives off the air and if you let it cool under the water it soaks it back in). But it all depends on the wood.
If someone you know has a turkey fryer they are great for boiling big things (if they don't have oil in them at the time, of course). I've used ours on the stove top to boil large rocks before they went into the tank.
But I'll also stick with my original comment -- the algae will eventually find its way back if the conditions are right for it. Sterilizing everything will only give a bit of a reprieve. Fixing the underlying problems (light or ferts or whatever), or finding something to eat it, is more enduring.
Have also heard that Ramshorn nails are a
good maintenance team so going to look for some. Any other ideas are more than welcome so keep the Info coming
I'm a big fan of ramshorns, but they won't touch most problem algae like BBA, GSA, hair/staghorn, etc. But they are good cleanup for old food. They breed like mad, so be prepared. I find them easy to control -- just throw in some cucumber or similar, wait overnight, lift out and dispose of it plus a few dozen snails at a time. Or get fish that eat them. They are plant safe and interesting, but prolific. Be sure not to get pond snails if you have plants (pond snails have pointy shells, ranshorns are completely in a plane, no point sticking out one side). But if you are a kind hearted person who can't see them eaten or disposed of, don't start. Whoever said "breed like rabbits" never had snails. And once you start you can never get rid of all of them in an existing tank.