So I would like to get some driftwood but I'm not sure how about to get it?
I really can't afford to buy it from a petshop.
So I was wondering where would I find some, do I just go to a lake/river and find a branch I like? Or dose the type of tree matter?

I know once I have a piece
1. Rinse, no chemicals, no soap
2. boil, for a few hours? I'm assuming like 3?
3. Soak in tube or container, till water stops becoming brown, and it sinks.

Any advise would be awesome! Thanks!

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When you look make sure its in an area where they don't spray or add ferts. The wood needs to be a hardwood and dead. Clean off any bark on the piece. Clean with a scrub brush or like me I take it to the carwash and just use the rinse cycle to power wash it. Boil it for a few hours then you can either set it in the sun to dry out, or put into a tub of some sort. You may have to weight it down with some rocks, cover with water and let it soak, changing out water at least every day till the tannins leach no more.

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Do you mind if I ask why hardwood? Will soft wood just rot? (Sorry, may sound like a dumb question, but I never thought of the difference between hard or soft wood in a tank before.)

Also, how do we find out if pesticides are used in the area? Up in Muskoka, a lot of the area is uninhabited....... but who knows what's floated down river....

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hmm Another thing, what happens if I get a larger piece? How would I go about boiling it?

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A larger piece you can put into a tub and pour boiling water on it.

Holly the reason hardwood is because soft wood will rot a whole lot faster and cause a lot of problems in the tank. Most secluded areas probably don't get sprayed and depending on how fast the water is, I don't think to much would come very far floating. You can even use branches and things that has fallen from trees as long as its dead wood.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
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Some driftwood doesn't sink or will take a long long time. I know I am still having to anchor down a piece of malaysian driftwood after 5mo of being in the tank. Darn thing just wont get waterlogged.

Really? I just bought a fairly flat piece of Malaysian drift wood and am soaking it in a bucket.... it sinks great and it's not a huge piece.

I've got a bunch of small pieces.... don't know what they are - they were in the reptile section for climbing and such - and they are floating.

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Ok I think these will be my last questions.
For driftwood, must it be already in a lake/river or can I like cut a branch of a tree in the middle of a field and do it like that?

Also rocks, I really want to find some that I like, but I also don't want to pay. Is it the same steps? Whipe clean and boil?

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With rocks, some can alter pH. If you pour some vinegar on a rock and it bubbles, don't put it in your tank!

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For testing rocks the best thing to use is the liquid from a ph test kit. Also you can use branches cut from a tree, but it needs to be dead wood. You don't want to use live trees as it will leach sap for a long time and that would be no good for your tank.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
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Awesome Thanks for the help everyone, I just got me some wood this morning, cleaned it, boiled it, and currently soaked it. Once I find my camera I'll try to post some picks. =-D

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Hello tyro...

If I were you, I'd check out one of your 10,000 lakes as a source for rocks and driftwood and go a little crazy in the creativity department.

The driftwood and rocks I pick up along the river beds in Northern Colorado are much nicer than anything I've ever seen at the LFS. The best part is, it's free.

Cleaning is really easy. I just use the pressure nozzle on my garden hose and spray everything down real well and then let it all dry in the hot sun. Let me tell you, there's no bacteria that can survive a high pressure spray and a few hours out in the midday Colorado sun. I use the rocks to weigh down the wood and then plant some Crypts around the wood. Or if you like to float the wood, I use a drill and drill holes in the pieces and use black sewing thread to attach Java fern. Either way makes for a good looking tank and the fish love it.

I have a lot of ideas I'd be glad to pass on, just let me know.

B

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