drift wood

GoodSmeagol · 02-15-09, 11:11 PM

I work at a yacht club, today a really awsome piece of wood washed up,
I boiled it at work for over an hour, when I got home, I noticed a bit of algae on it.
is this a problem? any ideas, really a great stick
thanks

Smilts · 02-15-09, 11:30 PM

I use a lightly mixed bleach salution, then rinse it till i fee that theres no residue on it then put them in the oven at about 350 for awhile, not long enough to burn them. Also that last step sometimes smells bad.

Kmef07 · 02-16-09, 10:07 AM

you need to send me that stick immediantly so i can dispose of it properly in my brb's tank for you lol.

Faequine · 02-20-09, 11:45 AM

the driftwood i had i had boiled for 30 mins then baked @ 400f for 45-60 mins. i kept checking to see if it would start burnin or something. the bakin after the boilin dried out the wood completely and finish off anything that could of been in it.

Chu'Wuti · 02-20-09, 04:51 PM

You can actually bake at a lower temp, say 250 deg F for two hours, so you don't have to worry so much about the wood catching fire. Boiling isn't always necessary, but it is a really good idea since the wood has been in water (esp. saltwater).

Forgot to add-be careful with the bleach, as it's highly toxic. And it won't get all the way through the wood. From what I've read on other sites about preparing wood for vivaria, boiling and baking are better.

GoodSmeagol · 02-20-09, 11:37 PM

I wont use bleech, not on wood, you would never be able to guarantee none leeched into the wood.
Its in the cage now,
I had boiled it at work for an hour(gotta love chilli pots)
Scrubbed it with chemical free steel wool as best I could
Then I put it in the freezer overnight, dunno what that would do really but some one suggested it, WHY NOT.
Then I baked it at 150 for just over an hour, then shut the stove off and let it cool down.

So a little cooler then your suggestion, I was paranoid about a fire, but I am confident the boiling might have done it on its own, it took over a day and a half to dry out.

Ill take pics and post them, this stick was PERFECT for his current cage.

Cheers

Chu'Wuti · 02-21-09, 10:37 AM

Excellent! We look forward to seeing the pics!

Wolfus_305 · 02-21-09, 05:51 PM

I would love to see the pictures of the perfect piece of driftwood that you are sending to me (maybe you'll fall for this) ahah.
Lets see those pics now...
Kenny

GoodSmeagol · 02-21-09, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfus_305

I would love to see the pictures of the perfect piece of driftwood that you are sending to me (maybe you'll fall for this) ahah.
Lets see those pics now...
Kenny

Why would I send it to you? I will just bring it to the show tomorrow, much faster... Easier...

I will see you there.

and no i will not tell you what I look like!
GOOD LUCK

GoodSmeagol · 02-21-09, 09:15 PM

I call this one, Lil Baal
My others are, Baal, and Big Baal

I love the X pattern on this guys lower 1/3

Chu'Wuti · 02-22-09, 10:15 AM

Very nice branch! and very nice BP, too! That X is pretty cool.

Wish I could go to the show, too!

Wolfus_305 · 02-22-09, 11:02 AM

You know you're making this very difficult...
Unfortunately I have too much homework to go to the show...*sigh*
Maybe I'll you and others from this forum at the next one.
In regards to the picture: ohmygosh!! lovely, lovely! what a find!
Kenny

Faequine · 02-25-09, 12:01 PM

Very nice peice of wood.

Kmef07 · 02-25-09, 12:28 PM

I wish my wood looked like that...