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how do i tell if my driftwood is safe to use?

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by Leslie, Jul 12, 2009.

  1. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    how do you know if it is safe or not? i got some from a lake and i want to put it in my tank, but i need to know first. not sure of the wood or anything? any help?
     
    Leslie, Jul 12, 2009
    #1
  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Well, that's something without seeing none of us would be able to tell you.

    Here are a list of hardwoods
    Alder, Red
    Ash, White
    Ash, European
    Balsa
    Basswood
    Beech
    Birch, Yellow
    Boxwood
    Brazilwood
    Bubinga
    Butternut
    Cherry, Black
    Chestnut
    Cocobolo
    Ebony
    Elm, white
    Elm, Dutch & English
    Hickory
    Jelutong
    Kingwood
    Lime
    Mahogany
    Maple, Hard
    Maple, Soft
    Oak, Red
    Oak, White
    Oak, European
    Plane, European
    Purpleheart
    Rosewood, Brazilian
    Rosewood, Indian
    Sycamore
    Sycamore, European
    Teak
    Tulipwood
    Walnut, Black
    Walnut, European
    Yellow Poplar

    And these are softwoods
    Cedar, Western Red
    Cedar, Yellow
    Fir, Douglas
    Fir, Silver
    Larch
    Pine
    Redwood, European
    Yew
     
    Anthony, Jul 12, 2009
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  3. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    yeah, i dont know what type of wood it is. do you think if i snaped a picture someone could tell me?
     
    Leslie, Jul 12, 2009
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  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Possibly.
     
    Anthony, Jul 12, 2009
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  5. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    ok. lt me grab i. i think it had temites in it before it fell in the lake.
     
    Leslie, Jul 12, 2009
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  6. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    here is a picture
    found.jpg
     
    Leslie, Jul 12, 2009
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  7. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Looks fine to me.
     
    Anthony, Jul 12, 2009
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  8. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    i will have t scrub it and then bake it. i found 2 other peices that are giant. but i dont have a tank for them. im getting them thought
     
    Leslie, Jul 12, 2009
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  9. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    can you press you fingernail into it if it is dry? If you can then it most likely is softwood
     
    LemonDiscus, Jul 12, 2009
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  10. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    its not dry yet. i set it in the sun. we will have to wait and see.
     
    Leslie, Jul 12, 2009
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  11. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Can you stick your fingernail in it now? Hardwood should just leave a small dent damp... softwood your finger will sink into it.... BTW, it does look like hardwood, and softwood is not that bad (as long as its not ceder or pine or really sappy) but softwood rots in the tank quicker (about 2-3 years) where hardwood lasts around 10 years or more... softwood will make the water VERY tanic VERY fast! I do have 1 piece of softwood in my 55 with the discus I hope to breed.

    Also softwood is VERY hard to sink!
     
    LemonDiscus, Jul 12, 2009
    #11
  12. Leslie

    Leslie Thread Starter New Member

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    lrmon, i found some more, and i did the nail test. im good on thats. i am going to try to sale some. i got some awsome peices.
     
    Leslie, Jul 12, 2009
    #12