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Driftwood
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:51 pm
by Tremor
Does anyone tried driftwood in a brackish tank? I have this piece i would love to use but i didn't know if the salt would affect it.
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:53 pm
by Raphael
I had one in my brackish tank and removed it because the salt did rot it. I do not recommend having driftwood in any tank other that freshwater.
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:56 pm
by Pufferpunk
It also lowers the pH.
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:06 pm
by Tremor
i new it could lower ph, didn't know it would rot. Thanks for your help!
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:08 pm
by Raphael
Oh, and I forgot to say...it can make your water go yellow.
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:10 pm
by Tremor
Ive heard that, never had that happen in my tanks. Looks good in an amazon acid pool setup though

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:28 pm
by RTR
I agree w/Raphael =driftwood is for FW only. If you must have the "look", use fake, or the fake cypress or mangrove knees.
It does decay much faster in BW than in FW. And it does cut the buffering of the water, and may or may not discolor the water.
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:58 pm
by lisalisa
I don't like driftwood at all. It leached tannins that turned a fw tank yellow. No more for me!
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:29 pm
by The Fisherman
ya, my driftwood turned my water yellow. I just have to keep up on water changes.
If ever I find a nice fake piece of the right size, I would replace it in a heart beat.
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:31 pm
by RTR
LOL! if you boil it and pre-soak it long enough, that in minimal to undetectable - in FW of course.
I confess that I use more bogwood/rootwood than drift wood, just because it makes better tangles/rerfuges for my suckermouths cats, and even the large cats, as well as certain puffers (the Palembang's). But I do provide the suckermouth cats dietary driftwood anyway.
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:55 pm
by lisalisa
I know there are steps like that I could tanke but to be honest, I don't like it enough, nor do I have the patience, lol.
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:01 pm
by Pufferswanted
i have one in my brackish tank and i think it looks great,
the water has always been clear
Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:14 pm
by The Fisherman
RTR wrote:LOL! if you boil it and pre-soak it long enough, that in minimal to undetectable - in FW of course.
I pre-soaked mine for a week.
Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:28 am
by Pufferpunk
I'm thrilled with the Petsmart mangrove roots I have for decor (I use all 3 sizes) but do put pieces of driftwood into all my tanks w/plecos.
Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:28 am
by kjharve
I soaked my bogwood for a week and it still leaked tanin. Then I boiled it in a large pan a couple of times and now it's fine.