Aquaruim question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chilcutt · #1 02-16-2013, 07:34 AM

Getting back into the hobbie.
Technoligy has increased considerably since I left the hobbie 25 years ago.

My question: I bought a beutifull piece of driftwood at the Aquarium shop, the old woman running the shop told me..'This wood not treated-must submerge in hot water for 2-3 hours, untill it sinks'.

That was four days ago........

Anyone here with Aquarium/wood experiance that could give me a more conclusive answer?

Perhaps there is a chemical that can excelerate the process.

Perhaps I am chasing a fool's errand.

Advice sought.

Thanks

The Clk Man · #2 02-16-2013, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilcutt

Getting back into the hobbie.
Technoligy has increased considerably since I left the hobbie 25 years ago.

My question: I bought a beutifull piece of driftwood at the Aquarium shop, the old woman running the shop told me..'This wood not treated-must submerge in hot water for 2-3 hours, untill it sinks'.

That was four days ago........

Anyone here with Aquarium/wood experiance that could give me a more conclusive answer?

Perhaps there is a chemical that can excelerate the process.

Perhaps I am chasing a fool's errand.

Advice sought.

Thanks

Aquaticedge is your man on this one.

duxthe1 · #3 02-16-2013, 12:07 PM

If it were sold as a dry piece of wood then it could take quite a long time. Depending on what specis of wood it is, its density may not allow it to sink. THe best aquarium driftwood is bogwood collected from swamps that is sold still waterlogged. I have in the past used the shape of the wood to wedge it between the glass to hold it submerged, though it goes without saying caution is utmost when wedging things between glass. I'd say give it another week. If it cant sink within 2 weeks it probably wont. I'd recommend something like "aquariumdriftwood.com" or similar in the future.

Aquaticedge · #4 02-16-2013, 02:03 PM

No chemicals, you'll have to soak that thing a week or more, hot water if you want to leech tannins out of the wood faster. Unless you are doing an amazon river theme or species tank or any of the tetra species will appreciate the tannins in the water.

MaydayMike · #5 02-16-2013, 06:41 PM

I used some stainless steel screws, and screwed them up into the wood through some of the mesh plastic bases that are used for an under gravel filter system.

spdrun · #6 02-16-2013, 06:44 PM

Would boiling the wood in water make it absorb faster?

MTUpower · #7 02-16-2013, 08:34 PM

Salt or fresh or turtle tank? Some wood needs treating for fresh, others does not.

chilcutt · #8 02-17-2013, 12:53 AM

>dux1 & aqua..good feedback, encourageing as well.
>spdrun..I was thinking the same thing, althought it apears as if the boiling would achieve a differant result.
>MTU...freshwater.

chilcutt · #9 02-17-2013, 12:59 AM

Digging deeper, found this> Freshwater Aquarium Set-up: Adding Driftwood to Your Aquarium

MTUpower · #10 02-17-2013, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilcutt

Digging deeper, found this> Freshwater Aquarium Set-up: Adding Driftwood to Your Aquarium

Perfect! Aquariums are awesome. Glad you found the answer(s). Wishing you success.

Aquaticedge · #11 02-17-2013, 03:11 PM

Boiling may waterlog the wood faster, I've never done it, I've had rainbows discus and terra that liked the tannin water, I did weigh the driftwood down for awhile. Main thing to watch is that it dosnt start to rot on you, some driftwoods can do that. Do you know what type you got?

E150GT · #12 02-18-2013, 08:17 AM

Some pieces are attatched to a piece of slate so they dont float. To me the best looking tank is a silica sand/plant/driftwood combo.

chilcutt · #13 02-19-2013, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaticedge

Boiling may waterlog the wood faster, I've never done it, I've had rainbows discus and terra that liked the tannin water, I did weigh the driftwood down for awhile. Main thing to watch is that it dosnt start to rot on you, some driftwoods can do that. Do you know what type you got?

No idea as to what kind of wood I have...I just know that it is taking a long time to become water-logged and sink on it's own.

chilcutt · #14 02-19-2013, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

Perfect! Aquariums are awesome. Glad you found the answer(s). Wishing you success.

Thanks MTU. This whole thing started out with my wife buying two fish to keep in a bowl in her office.
Those two had babies, so she brought them home, and put them all in another bowl.
The fry were eaten by the parents, but soon had another birthing.
So then two bowls.
Then more fry...another bowl. Soon our spare bathroom became a nursery/hatcherie of some sort.
Wife bought a small tank, but it soon became over populated.
Time for me to intervene, but it was o.k. because I was looking to take up a hobby anyway.

As I indicated earlier, the technoligy has come a long way since I was last into aquariums about 25 years ago.
Also, tanks,accesories,fish are very much differant here in S.E. Asia from my recollections of the hobby back in the States.

Pretty much, the key is..Research,Research,Research, and then devise a plan of action.