can i used driftwood from the beach for a fresh water tank? providing I rinse&wash real well? or would it be far too salty to wash out?

Yea it will be sweet after a wash and/or boil. If you have a waterblaster give it a good blast too as it will get right into the little nooks and crannys and help rid it of some of the build up

HTH

boil? you mean putting in a pot and boiling the c**p out of it? seriously? does that work?

boil it

boil? you mean putting in a pot and boiling the c**p out of it? seriously? does that work?

Yea, its a good sterilizing technique, especially if the DW is from freshwater and you will be sure no nastys (algae etc) will survive. It also helps it to sink as well aparently

good to know. thanks for that

I have never bothered boiling mine (as most were too big). I just scrubbed well with a stiff wire brush and rinsed out all the nooks and crannies.

so the wood doesnt hold the sand or salt?

Not itself, just in the holes and cracks.

oh good. i was thinking that it would hold and it might affect the water in a freshwater tank.

I always wondered about this...seems a bit ridiculous to pay $20, $30 and upwards at the LFS for a bit of wood!!!

thats so right. i live like 2 mins walk from a beach, so ive got more driftwood than i could ever ask for! seems stupid not to use it!

We have always suck ours in a bucket of hot water for a couple of days, that way anthing thats going to leach out of it does

ive just been for a walk on the beach close to home and within about 200m i found 3 perfectly good pieces of driftwood. All the nooks and crannys and great caves. My advice if you want some drift/bog wood, go for a walk on the beach, you never know what you'll find. Smaller beachs seem to be better for driftwood. I live at Coastlands, although its a long beach, you get all sorts washed up!

It has never occurred to me to buy driftwood. I just go to the mouth of the Hokitika river and pick up pre-waterlogged native hardwoods that have drifted down from the river.

Just check for soft, spongey bits - this indicates a rotten bit and it will break up and make a mess in your tank.

i wouldnt ever buy it. i just never thought that you could use the stuff from the beach or river! its good to know you can!