How to cure "wild" drift wood ?!?!?

[Scuppers]

Rocks will crack for two reasons when boiling:

1.. Gas will generate inside the rock and if the pressure cannot dissipate then the rock will crack.

2..If heated too quickly there will be thermal growth on the outside of the rock before the inside, the rock will most likely crack depending on its structure.

Either way, be careful.

 

[ss works]

i have had my three pieces soaking for 4 weeks now with no sign of tanning dissipating!!
i dont like the look and i change the water every two days!!
the water is sooo tanned that you can barely see thru the tank length wise.
i dont kno what else to do but continue along with the soaking...




also i have a question
i had five pieces two in the main tank with no tanning what so ever and both are solid
the three pieces soaking in the secondary tank one is solid and the other two sounds hollow and the wood feels soft...
does this mean the hollow pieces are rotten ??

 

[Alexpatrascu]

So I guess boiling it is......and I'm not planning on adding rock to my tank so......

 

[Michwol42795]

Boiling the wood would release tannins faster, but other than that I just wait till it gets better. If the wood feels soft it could be rotting, I never use soft wood just to be safe.

 

[ss works]

Boiling the wood would release tannins faster, but other than that I just wait till it gets better. If the wood feels soft it could be rotting, I never use soft wood just to be safe.

figured it was thanks for the info
crap and it was one of the better looking pieces lol oh well
i will take another 10 minute stroll on the beach looking for more

 

[abcdefghi]

How long does it typically take for some wood to become water logged where it no longer floats? I have had some inch thick diameter wood soaking for about a month now, and as soon as I lift the weight holding it down it springs up again.

 

[Michwol42795]

Sometimes it takes years, your best bet may be to just tie it down into the tank.

 

[Alexpatrascu]

Boiling the wood would release tannins faster, but other than that I just wait till it gets better. If the wood feels soft it could be rotting, I never use soft wood just to be safe.

Well I can't boil it...all I can do is poor hot water over it.....it works good on releasing the tannins....but it still floats and it's soft wood.....gotta get me some hard wood as soon as spring comes :grinyes: .....

 

[fishlegs]

Ive got a huge pot with a propane burner under it that I use to boil crabs and crawfish. It can fit enormous chunks of driftwood. Maybe you could find someone in your area that has something like that?

 

[Troycool]

You're supposed to let it soak in a separate bucket for about a week to let the tannins come out of the wood first. Some people like when the wood changes the color of the water, so they skip soaking it.