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Is wood found around the yard ok for an aquarium?

42K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  ktlou316 
#1 ·
I've recently found a few pieces of really interesting looking wood in my backyard. It would be perfect decor for my new aquarium, but I'm not sure if it is ok to use wood like this in an aquarium. Im not sure what kind of a tree it came off of, but given all of the sweetgum trees in my yard, it is most likely sweetgum. If it is alright to use this wood, is there anything I should do to prepare it?

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
Hardwoods are best for your aquarium. If the sweetgum trees normally produce a lot of sap, or if the piece that you found is easy to peel layers off, then it isn't good for your tank. Otherwise make sure to bake it for at least half an hour at 350 and you should be fine. You will also have to find some way to tie it down, or wieght it since wood doesn't really like to sink;-)
 
#3 ·
Be careful. There could be toxins in the wood, its impossible to know, and in time they could leech into the water and kill all the fish. I speak from experience.
 
#4 ·
Actually it is possible to know, simply research the species of tree the wood came from and see if they contain any toxins that are harmful to a aquarium. Most plants contain toxins, however most won't harm an aquarium.

Also boiling the wood will help remove some toxins and sanitize the wood, it will also remove any tannins
 
#8 · (Edited)
sweetgum maple is used to make turpentine (from the sap) and is not used for outside woodwork as it rots very easily i dont know how much of an effect these things would have on its use,but if it rots fast outside it would probably fair poorly underwater in an oxgen rich aqarium ,also trees with a high suger sap tend to cause bactiria/fungus to grow i did a few experiments with woods in the summer using both sycamore(maple family) and apple both went fluffy/slimy underwater
the best woods for aqarium use are the tropical hardwoods like mahogany which is what most bogwood is ,ebony and ironwood pop up sometimes but are expensive due to there weight and way there sold(by the lb/kg)

i have used outside wood for aqarium use i experimented with a few in a an old 20g in the greenhouse last summer, i wanted a "twiggy" wood over the bulkier bogwood i found that birch was best plus if boiled the bark comes off leaving the wood cleaner, it has now mostly rotted away or been eaten by shrimp and pleco but it has had no ill effects

i think most pine/conifer family are fairly toxic due to there high acidity and the number of chemicals they manufacture in there tissues they tend to kill surounding plantlife too via there acidic leaffall and anything that can kill/sicken terestrial animals is only going to have its effects increased in a closed water enviroment
 
#10 ·
I wouldn't put any wood you get from an urban area into a fish tank. The chemical soup some people apply to their yards isn't something I'd want in my tank. Even if you don't do that to your yard you don't know if the person who lived there did, or the guy next door does. Airborne pesticides are often sprayed by cities to control flying insects as well. On the whole it's impossible to know what the wood has been exposed to and what could potentially leech into the tank.

I'd be more inclined to use wood from forested areas and trees that I know for certain are aquarium safe.

If you're still not sure just buy some from the LFS. That's the best odds you'll have to get an attractive and safe piece of wood.
 
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