Quick and easy question: Driftwood

[J-P]

I have some driftwood... would that work in a SW set up? Or will it just corrode and turn to mush?

[Mek0ng]

It will lower the pH drastically, probably leach phosphates and tannins, and my bet would be mush in no time.

[J-P]

I didn't know about the PH .. thanks Not worried about tannis or phosphates.. the mush yea.... that would be a problem.

[Lil' Swimz$]

Tannins lower pH.

[Flutter]

But there's driftwood in the ocean...

[Lil' Swimz$]

Don't know if your referring to me but not nearly enough to lower pH. Plus the salt and minerals buffer it.

[Mek0ng]

But there's driftwood in the ocean...

There is also oil in the ocean...

[Flutter]

Ummm, and the point of that was? Just to be rude or...?

When I was in BC there were tons of areas where full trees were caught in the rocks and such and they looked like they had been there for a long time. None of them turned to mush. I just don't understand why the wood would turn into mush "in no time". Perhaps you would be kind enough to provide us with more information.

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articl ... 51864.html

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/dr ... 39983.html

[Mek0ng]

What part of lowering the pH do you not understand? That alone is a nail in the coffin of why not to put it in a SW tank...

Drift wood in planted tanks gets very soft in mushy. In a SW tank with MUCH higher flow and invertebrate life the wood is going to be broken down and crumble apart.

The amount of drift wood in the ocean is so infinitesimal compared to putting a chunk of drift wood in a tank. That is the point I was trying to make, not being rude, just trying to make light of the current BP gulf oil crisis. You can not compare them with any meaningfulness. If you need anymore reasons on why not to put driftwood in a saltwater tank I suggest you do some research on saltwater tank chemistry...

[J-P]

now children .......

play nice


I understand the chem is different. Thus, I posted the question I also understand that wood is very porous and may be able to contain the beneficial bacteria.

As for lowering the PH .. that is new information and I thank you. My FW has drift wood and CO2 and the PH is still high.. can't explain that one. It seems to be a ratio that is unknown to me.

As far as I see it, I have 2 options with 2 tanks... try one with and one without... and record the findings .. or just go either way and hope for the best. Of these options none will be detrimental to the tank as it is more an experiment than anything else. If it works, bonus ... if not ... not problem.

[Mek0ng]

Just thought of another reason:

Phosphate, organic materials contain phosphates, some off the wood will rot, leaching phosphates, at what rate, no idea, but you will have some increased phosphates. Leading to algae outbreaks and slowed coral growth.

Discolored water as well. My planted and cichlid tank have wood in them, if I move the wood around when doing a water change the water gets yellowish till I run carbon.

Either way, might be interesting to see what effects it might have on corals. I would think soft corals probably wouldn't mind if everything was kept in check.

[J-P]

yes... I was made aware of the phosphate leeching also....

Currently I am trying to find a way to work around that.

I am thinking of trying SW no fish live rock or anything for about a month, just let the wood sit there, do the water changes and keep the pumps running.

After a while start to add the live rock .. then inverts and finally fish. If at any stage it doesn't work out... I don't mind. From the looks of things I may have 3 tanks to play with.

In one I will be overly cautious canse I want a puff but shhh... don't tell anyone

[Mek0ng]

GFO and lots of carbon should help, keeping alk up might require more additives, (2part, kalk....)

keep us posted

[Brandon8521]

When im a the beach and i run across a peace of wood that has washed ashore it feels rather spungy and is easily torn apart by hand. I would try treating it different ways and trying different types of wood to see which ones work best. Who knows you could stumble across something that hasnt caught on yet.

[J-P]

Actually I am of the mind that noting we do hasn't been thought of before Maybe we can do it differently

Philosophy aside ...yes you are correct .. different types of wood, would (no pun intended) have a different reaction on the water quality.

The piece I am thinking of is very porous and has had a long history in FW ... mangrove root on the other hand may be more appropriate... if one can get some