Member

Posts: 60
From: WI USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-21-2003 09:28 AM         

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I would like to add a piece of driftwood to my 10 gallon because I will be adding 2 ottos and have read that they like driftwood. I'm assuming that pet stores sell it. What do you have to do to it before putting it into the tank to prepare it?

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Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 12-22-2003 01:29 AM         

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Boil it to get out any organisms or debris.

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New Member

Posts: 4
From:Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-22-2003 03:22 AM         

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boil it and let it sit in som fresh water for about a month to get rid of coulours dying the water change the water each day and when its sat for a month let it dry 4 a day or 2

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Member

Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-22-2003 05:12 AM         

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If you purchase it from a pet store/aquarium shop you shouldn't have to worry about tannins (colour) leaching etc. They sell them with bases attached to hold them down, but if you boil them and let them soak for a day, they become waterlogged enough to sink on their own. I think you can do more interesting things with them if you don't have to worry about burying a base, too. If you collect "wild" driftwood, be sure to boil it well as kc5gvn recommended. If you notice that the water looks tea coloured afterwards, those are tannins. They are not particularly harmful to fish, although they can soften water and lower PH. You can let it sit and see if you can leach all the tannins out. I imagine you'd be better to boil it a few more times and see if it gets clearer.

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