Coffey5030

how long should i boil saltwater driftwood before adding it to my freshwater tank?

Coffey5030

Can I use driftwood I found on a beach on the Atlantic coast? If so how should I treat it before I add it to the aquarium?

TFA101

You can use it , but not without the risks of introducing nasty parasites into your water. I read how to clean driftwood in a tropical fish magazine (Tropical Fish Hobbyist)

Give your driftwood a good scrubbing with an old but clean tooth brush. Then, to kill any microorganisms, put it on a hot cycle in your dishwasher without detergent. Let this dry for about a day and then rinse in dechlorinated water. Make sure you anchor your wood down with something as it may float in your tank (hence why its called driftwood)

capekate

Hi Coffey
I have used saltwater driftwood for my freshwater tanks too. I kept them out in the rain for a few weeks, then into a bucket that I changed the water out for a few weeks. Then into the sink for a good scrubbing to get any sand that may have been stuck in any crevices out. Then I put a pot on the stove and brought the water to a boil. Then I added the driftwood piece, if it was too big I would turn it over from time to time. I turned down the burner and let it go to a very soft boil to simmer for about 25 minutes.
Gave it a good rinse and then after it cooled down, added to the tank.

Lucy

I merged the threads since they're about the same topic.