Has anyone collected and "made" your own driftwood as opposed to buying it at the pet stores?
What were your methods such as where to go and how to prepare it for your aquarium? What kind of wood can be safely used?
Any advice is appreciated and I know this would help many others who like to put a lot of effort into tank decorating. (makes the fish happier too I think)
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
Fahaka------------------- Had to give it away Auriglobus modestus-----Traded Auriglobus silus ---------Died during transport. Figure Eight Puffers -----Sold and or traded Dwarf Puffers ------------Traded Congo Puffer ------------Traded South American Puffers -Traded Carinotetraodon lorteti --Died under my supervision :(
1st method. The bark should be taken off, rotten particles should be
cleaned out. After this the future decor is boiled in an enamel bowel at least for 1 hr (depending on the size of the branch) in a saturated solution of salt. Bactericidal agents are not needed, since the wood after boiling procedure is sterile. Then the driftwood is put in fresh water and boiled for 3 to 4 hrs.
2nd method. With this method any sort of wood, dead or live, except for conifer wood, caters for. The best are roots and branches of pu$$y-willow or other kind of willow.
The dirt must be rinsed off, and the bark - taken off. Then with a saw and knife the desired shape is put to the driftwood. The billet is placed in to an electric or a gas stove and is annealed for 2-3 hrs at a temperature 392-482 ?F. Higher temperature is not recommended because the branches and protruding parts of driftwood may get charred.
During these 2-3 hrs the wood will lose the whole water, and (this is very important) the inner layers of wood will undergo a complete sterilization. The surface of the driftwood will acquire a fine red color.
The further procedures repeat the traditional (1st) method: the wood is placed in a saturated solution of salt and is boiled and then is boiled in fresh water. Adding potassium permanganate (one tablespoon per 10 liters of water) provides even the better result: the substance is bactericidal and gives a more intensive coloring to the wood.
Before placing the prepared driftwood into the tank some more procedures should be done: cooling, rinsing and soaking in a bucket (1-2 days) to avoid an infusorial splash. The ready driftwood is good to be a decor.
To prevent drifting, the wood is fastened by resting its top end on the horizontal framework of the tank or by tying it with a fishing line to a Plexiglas plate, which is positioned at the tank bottom and is hold by pebbles and sand.
"Lost time is never found again" Benjamin Franklin
