Treating Driftwood

[Golfmad]

Hi

What is the recommended process for treating driftwood found from sea ? I intend to plant mosses on them. Would it be good to soak it in a "fertilizer" enriched solution ?

Rgds

[budak]

Whatever for? Mosses don't feed on nutrients from the wood.

Just boil and scrub them and let them dry. But I am not sure that such woods collected from the seaside are suitable for planted tanks (could have absorbed too much salt?).

[Allen_1971]

No need for ferts... Just scrub them then boil them to kill whatever bacteria/fungi might be on the wood. I wouldn't dry it though... after boiling if possible, soak in water to cool... this will ensure your wood remains water logged, and also will help dilute whatever salts may have dissolved.

[vinz]

Kelvin,

If it's too big to boil, try to find a big enough container to soak it in boiling hot water for a few days, replacing the water every 24 hrs.

Not all wood are suitable as driftwood. It may be more trouble then the savings are worth.

[Golfmad]

Hi Vinz,

Not so much the savings as I don't seem to be able to find big pieces eg 3ft or so in length. Know of any place selling big pieces ?

Rgds,

[vinz]

Good bets... Teo in LCK and Ah-Pek (Capricorne) in Lor Halus. Pre-soaked, exposed to sun, rain, sun, rain, sun, rain... you get the idea. You can ask Teo's guys to tie the moss, etc. for you too.

Aquamart (for the long skinny, twisty ones with the greyish bark) and Rainbow (along the road side and in the large tanks outside the shop). Both are known to be expensive.

Maybe Aquatechnic, cos they usually setup large tanks. Perhaps one of the other forumers can confirm this, or you can give them a call.

[vinz]

Oh yeah, if you go down to Lor Halus, check out Mainland Tropical Fish Farm (access by Pasir Ris, not Lor Halus. See phone directory please) and Tropical Fish International Pte Ltd (Lor Halus area, see AQ's LFS list).

Actually, just check out most of Lor Halus open to public fish farms/LFS if you have the time and inclination.