The Puffer Forum

No, this isn't some crude or preverted topic. I just bought some wood for my tank and I want to have it at the bottom of my tank, but fate being cruel made wood lighter than water causing it to float.

So, my question is. Is there any little trick you have to keep the wood on the bottom without weighting it down with rocks?

Soak it first until it stays down on it's own.

Love the topic . Yeah agree, it has to be water logged in order to sink.

I think of Courtney Love.

Thank you I will soak my wood in the sink and think of Courteny Love when I put it into my tank.

Thanks for your help, but I'm not sure we where all talking about the same mind of wood. Lol

. LOL Btw, I used to soak driftwood in hot water. Helps kill off the could be bad stuff on and in it.

Ok, seriously, you'll want to put it in a container you can fully submerge it in and put rocks or something on top of it to keep it from floating. It may take a long time, you'll want to change the water out periodically. Some wood will never sink and you'll have to adhere it to a slab of something as an anchor. Either way, soak it to leach out the tannins, if the wood is very soft, it will rot quickly. A hard wood is best.

sevenyearnight wrote:Ok, seriously, you'll want to put it in a container you can fully submerge it in and put rocks or something on top of it to keep it from floating. It may take a long time, you'll want to change the water out periodically. Some wood will never sink and you'll have to adhere it to a slab of something as an anchor. Either way, soak it to leach out the tannins, if the wood is very soft, it will rot quickly. A hard wood is best.

Perfect! Well said, Seven. I used the African driftwood because it was much easier to soak, very hard, has that nice two toned color, and WAIT! there's more, it can be found at most pet shops . I love the hard wood over then softer woods.

Some driftwood can take alot of time to sink,...maybe never.

I screw the floaty pieces to a thin piece of slate.

I used scuba diver's 2lb ankle weights but it took about a year before I could remove all of them.

Oh & discontinue the Viagra.

Yeah I soaked my wood in warm water to try and get all (or most) of they color that was going to leech out. It is hardwood and it was brought from the pet store so I know it is meant for tanks. But with that being said I let it soak 5 days to make sure it was going to be safe to use before adding to the tank.

A good way, which has already been pointed out, is to screw it to some slate or stone tile. The easiest way? Drill a hole in the tile, which if you do not have the appropriate drill and or drill bit can be quite a hassle, and then put a long screw or 2 through the hole(s) in the tile and into the bottom of the driftwood. It pretty much creates an anchor for the wood.

Thanks, it's at the bottom now so it would appear soaking my wood in hot water without adding viagra to my water and thing of Courteny Love has seemed to work.

Thanks for the advice.

I wouldn't personally put anything with a metal screw in it into my tank. It will rust and that can't be safe.

you can use stainless