Driftwood

[Vinni Smith]

OK, so here's the deal.

I have a new acrylic aquarium coming soon.
36x30x24
Should be 112 gallons.

On the back side of our property is a small river/stream. Lots of trees and yes, DRIFTWOOD.
See the pic below. This was found just today.

I have been reading different instructions on how to prepare real driftwood for an aquarium.
Now if I just had some guppies and neons, I would not worry too much about adding it.
However, I am very new to discus fish and want to be careful and smart when and if I do.

Have any of you done this?
What do I need to do and what do I need to look for?

I have thought about soaking it in Potassium Permanganate.
I used that a lot in the Koi hobby.
Would that stain the driftwood purple???
I don't want that, for sure.

Please give me some wise words on this subject of adding driftwood.

VincenZo

driftwood.jpg

[coralbandit]

I would turn oven on to 400 degrees and when it reaches that temp turn it off and insert wood .
That IMO would kill whatever is in the wood . Maybe it would need multiple treatments ?
I am a big fan of PP but organics just burn it up so not sure if even overdosing would be efficient treatment for wood ..

[Vinni Smith]

I would turn oven on to 400 degrees and when it reaches that temp turn it off and insert wood .
That IMO would kill whatever is in the wood . Maybe it would need multiple treatments ?
I am a big fan of PP but organics just burn it up so not sure if even overdosing would be efficient treatment for wood ..

That really is an excellent idea!
We do that when we make guitar bodies and necks.
Convection ovens work the best and that is what Nancy has.
I will check to see if these will fit in the oven.
Thanks!

[peewee1]

That really is an excellent idea!
We do that when we make guitar bodies and necks.
Convection ovens work the best and that is what Nancy has.
I will check to see if these will fit in the oven.
Thanks!

Vinni, the will fit. What you do is pull out your trusty chain saw and whack them down to size.

[Iminit]

Well first I’d see if they sink. They look dry. The oven is a good idea and boiling is another. For me they would just be scrubbed off in the sink then added to one of my other tanks till I’m ready to move to a main tank.

[pastry]

Boil in big, 30 gallon pot outside with propane burner or get cheap 40-55 gallon trash can, pour gallon or 2 of bleach, fill rest with water, empty 1-2 days later, drain, refill 2 more time but just water.

[Vinni Smith]

Boil in big, 30 gallon pot outside with propane burner or get cheap 40-55 gallon trash can, pour gallon or 2 of bleach, fill rest with water, empty 1-2 days later, drain, refill 2 more time but just water.

I just dumped some bleach in the tank.
Wow, if you don't mosquitoes sure do like to breed in it

[peewee1]

I just dumped some bleach in the tank.
Wow, if you don't mosquitoes sure do like to breed in it

Could those mosquitoes somehow be converted into useful fish food, Vinni?

[captainandy]

When I kept wilds, I used manzinita wood. Made beautiful aquascape. But everytime the fish got spooked, they'd scrape themselves.So, except for some small pieces on the bottom for plecos, I never use driftwood with large discus. Just my own personal opinion.

[Vinni Smith]

Could those mosquitoes somehow be converted into useful fish food, Vinni?

Hmmmm

I did not think of that one

[peewee1]

Hmmmm

I did not think of that one

It it works let me know.

[Vinni Smith]

So, I found a new lfs that carries some discus. Drove 50 minutes today and visited.

Not much as far as discus go, but I did score on a cool piece of driftwood that is mounted on a stone.

I asked the guy if it was tank ready and he said yes, absolutely.

Put it in the tank and it is so buoyant I could hardly push it under the water. Even with the stone on it. $39

[madhan1979]

Hi

I have a 100 liters tank ( 3 feet L * 1 feet W * 1.5 feet H) bare bottom with Canister W 302 Filter ( Sun Sun).

4 discus fishes of 4 inches are there ( Cobalt Blue, Orange Checkerboard pigeon, Orange Melon and Red Valentine).

I dont have plans to add more and would be having the same for their life time.

Do you think they would be happy as is or should i add driftwood with few plants?

Thanks
Madhan

[LizStreithorst]

Either would be fine. You can use Super Glue jell to glue anubias or Java Moss to the driftwood if you like.

[Vinni Smith]

Been soaking the DW now for 3 weeks.
Still won't sink.
I give up.
Just gonna buy the Mopani and use that