Don't Let Driftwood Destroy Your Fish Tank: How to Properly Clean Driftwood for an Aquarium

Hello Fellow Fish Keepers!
In this video we talk about the best ways to prepare and clean driftwood for your aquarium.

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[PrimeTimeAquatics]

For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics

For more cool behind the scenes stuff consider becoming a member!

If you want to see all the cool stuff Joanna does with other types of scapes check out her channel!

[renato]

Wife: Hey, why is my favorite pot brown?
Me: Oh, um... I made chocolate pudding

[aquaticaesthetics]

You do not have to boil imported woods such as Mopani, Malayasian, Spiderwood, Tigerwood, etc. Imported wood is required to be kilned and totally dried before shipping to the US. Boiling however will help remove the tanins and help the wood sink.

[edkruzel]

For those in the NE, anywhere you find coal or slate where white birch grows, you'll find toppled trees with the root systems nearly petrified. Used as driftwood, is beautiful and sinks.

[downstairsaquarium]

about to add driftwood to my tank for the first time! this video could not have come at a better time!

[akira]

If your wood is turning your water brown you can always throw some activated carbon in your filter. It'll remove the tanins in a few hours.

[asier]

I love tanins' efect in water, it gives to the acuarium a natural view

[matthewpetersen]

being a plumber, boiling water down the drain will help clean your system (off topic)

[jessicashou]

I love that you put captions in the video that tell us what we're seeing in the videos! A lot of times I wonder what kind of fish is in the video or tank size and I never get an answer. This is a much easier way to know!

[lilianubia]

This video appeared right when I needed it, I just bought some driftwood and was about to prepare it for the aquarium, thanks!

[KarAashika]

Finally! Someone who actually tells what to do

[kaquarium]

This video was entirely refreshing Jason! You thoroughly covered the topic in a scientifically correct manner, and I don't typically say that lightly. Thank you for the enjoyable and factually-sound coverage of this topic. I've been using many of these methods over the years, and my only wish is for a much more concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide to be available (having worked with the stuff myself, I know why it isn't, but it sure would be convenient). Since the stuff in the bottles sold OTC is only 3%, I've gotten quite a few strange looks when buying enough to soak some driftwood!

[FrederickDunn]

All outstanding advice, thank you so much! I have access to lots of beachfront driftwood and was wondering how feasible it is to use it for aquaria. You've answered all of my questions here :)

[ljgizzle]

I live by the beach and found some great driftwood and empty shells. They were small, manageable, pieces for my tank, so I boiled them for several hours (with water changes) over a few days (not constantly!). No issues with it after a month or so, my corys love nibbling it and other fish love darting through it! There's no mould, my water is clear with a tannin glaze and it worked a treat!

[dennisvanopstal]

I have seen a lot of videos of you in the last few weeks.
And i agreed with all of it.
Learned a few new things along the ride.
But this is the first No for me.
You dont need to boil wood.
In fact, its can even be detrimental for the woodfibers causing it to rot faster.
Especially with thinner pieces and softer woods.

Presoaking it is enough, and if you are worried about pests, just add vinigar to the water.
Or liquid Co2 (glutaraldehyde)
This will decontamimate everything.
And the wood will definitely last a lifetime.
Much cheaper as having the stove on for hours also.

As for the tannins before someone asks.
Just filter over carbon to remove it.

[jawjagrrl]

So glad I found this. I've got really BIG pieces for a pair of 75s and I like the peroxide idea way better than other methods I had seen used like salt. Being freshwater only here, I wouldn't have a good way to be sure I has soaked all the salt back out.

[babyfishbreeder]

I soak my large pieces of driftwood in old bathtubs. When we got our house renovated, I asked my parents to let me keep the replaced bathtubs for pet purposes.

[marypaigeflynn]

Hello Jason, great topic!! I remember when I first started setting up these aquariums that was one of the things that I searched for were videos like this! This is great and is going to help so many people including myself! Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a wonderful day! 🙏🌿🐟🌿💚

[redbull]

Depending on your stocking, tanins can be very benificial for some fish. But i personally soak it for weeks, smaller peices i will boil

[-hjkmkl]

If it doesnt leak tannins (and wont float) and is too big to boil, wash it clean and keep it in somewhere dry for days and days. You should be fine, thats what ive done for years and nothing bad has ever happened.