DIY driftwood

IceH2O

IceH2O

Bazinga
Nov 26, 2005
1,682
60
51
Rock Hill,South Carolina
Real Name
Ice
I was wondering if Crepe Myrtle was considered a hardwood. The way they are trimmed would make for a perfect stump type driftwood.

I figure I could get a piece, bark is already off as its a bare bark tree, and put it in the oven at about 160 degrees for a few hrs to dry it out, Then soak it in water until it'll sink.

Anyone ever try it with this type tree?
 
Last time I heard of someone putting fresh tree in there tank it was a post about dead fish.
 
But what did they do with the wood, just cut and drop or prepare it?

All driftwood was alive at one time. If I need to let it sit for a year after cutting it thats all good. But the main question is will it work or is it considered a softwood that will rot in my tank.
 
Alot of people say softer woods will rot in you tank I have alot of "GRAPEWOOD" roots concidered soft (seem hard to me?) I have herd others complaining of them roting in their tanks but I have not had this problem but I do have alot of plecos cleaning the wood?? Who knows? If you find driftwood anywhere I say its safe to use aslong as you boil it for awhile first? Tree Bark on the otherhand I am not too sure about personally I would not try it.
 
wow... i just find my driftwood on the beach... most wood on the beach is rotten, but some wood has had its soft wood rotten off, leaving a cool pattern of hard, rot resistant wood. this wood, if you can find it, is usually something like cedar, and needs to be cleaned thoughouly as it has been in the ocean, and still probably has some rotten wood on it. I soak the wood for atleast a day in cholrinated tap water to kill anything that lives in saltwater, and anything that dies from chlorine, which would be jsut about anything as far as i no. then i either boil it, or if im feeling lazy and the wood isnt going anyplace too important, i soak it in dechlorinated water for a day to dilute whatever chlorine is still in it. then i place it in the tank and observe. if it starts to rott, or get white growths. i throw it out, or clean it and use it for a terrarium or display. also i would think that crape mertle (a bush more than a tree!) would have hardish wood, not as hard as oak or maple mostlikely, but i could be wrong!
 
I collected some driftwood off a island down in florida. I brought it home and soated it for over a month in a bucket of water. When the water got dirty from soating I changed it. After a while the water will start to become clear. When it is nice and clear I say the wood is ready for the tank. I have a piece of it in my 75 gallon freshwater tank with java fern and my fish are fine. I also knew a guy that collected driftwood from a lake that came ashore and he attached it to slate and used it in his aquarium.
 
I use wood collected from lakes- only the hard pieces. These have usually floated enough that the soft parts have come off. If not, remove soft parts with a hard brush, then soak for some time. I try to boil the wood & if I can't do that-its too big, etc. then I use thick salt paste and a toothbrush, a new one :), to get into all the crevices. Still, most collected wood will float and has to be weighed down with rocks etc. until it gets waterlogged. Bogwood from the store won't have this problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom