capekate

I went for a walk today at my local ocean beach..
It really was good to get out and hopefully get some exercise. I have been searching for driftwood to add to my tanks and found some kewl pieces.
Now will research on curing them for the FW tank.. since they come from salt water.
Wanted to share some photos of my morning at the beach..
last photo is of my treasures I found..

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	May 14th Beach walk 010.JPG (163.9 KB, 7 views)
	May 14th Beach walk 012.JPG (150.6 KB, 6 views)
	May 14th Beach walk 015.JPG (295.3 KB, 15 views)

Allie

Wow you got a good load there. I think it's time for us to go for a walk around here. I want some more wood too.

capekate

Hi Allie
You must get some nice pieces up where you are too. I will be more picky in the future.. but some of those pieces I got today really have some nice form to them. Not sure what I will do with them all.. but.... maybe someone has a salt water tank that is looking for driftwood.
Im hoping to boil the ones I want up, clean up real good.. and then hopefully get some java moss soon where I can attach to the driftwood. Id like to change the look of my 55g soon to a more natural looking tank..

Coryd55

Hey I go an idea. You could send some this way =).

Its very hard to find nice looking driftwood from LFS here. No one has good selections and online is just kinda iffy since you can't see it in person and the little details really matter.

Nice looking bunch of wood you got though!

MissMTS

Hi Kate!
You got some really nice pieces of driftwood. I never thought of collecting it on the beach before. Good idea! The ocean by you is gorgeous. Reading your post made me think about how I haven't been to the beach in about 2.5 years (even though I live on the coast). I am always to busy to go. Looking at the pics made me want to leave work right now and go to the beach which is only 2 miles away I'll have to make it a point to go Memorial Day Weekend (hoping that the weather is good).

capekate

Hi Cory
I would be happy to send you some driftwood. You would have to pick up the shipping cost tho. I know how expensive buying driftwood is online and for that reason, I really cant buy any either. So I thought of using the driftwood from the beach. I have a fresh water tank, and I know that its kinda iffy to use salt water driftwood for a fresh water tank. Im going to take the chance, after doing a lot of soaking in boiling water and then put it in the oven for awhile when I think that most of the salt is out of it.
I dont know if you have a salt water tank or not. And for that reason, I would have to say that I cannot be responsible if the salt water driftwood causes you any problems for you fish.
On that note tho... what I can do, is find some nice pieces again after you let me know what size tank you want to put it in, and all you have to do is pay the shipping. Shouldnt be more than 6.00 to ship? I can take photos for you to check out the driftwood and see if it is what you want.
How does that sound to you?
~kate

capekate

HI MissMTS
I know what its like not going to the beach when you live so close.. lol.
While its not yet summer here, the beaches are deserted. The perfect time to go for a walk! I hope that you get to go as well... It always amazes me the time away from the beach that when I finally go.. I always wonder why I hadnt been there sooner.

Coryd55

Yea I have a 55G and a two 30G that I would like to put some in. I know its a lot but I will pay whatver shipping and I guess I will just have to clean very very very efficiently to get all the salt out. I have FW tanks.

sirdarksol

I did a bit of looking, and it sounds like soaking/boiling for a very long time is the best way to pull the salt out of the stuff. Soaking it in distilled water will give the salt extra space to leave the wood.

Coryd55

Plus you dont have to get ALLLLLLLL of it out since a little bit of salt never hurt a FW tank unless you have really sensitive fish. But getting as much out as you can is agood idea.

sirdarksol

Also, the wood should be thoroughly scrubbed and soaked in some bleach water (then dechlorinator water) or heated in a 200 degree oven in order to kill any microorganisms growing in the wood.

Fish Addict

Man! That would be soo nice to be able to just have a great beach like that so close! I'm not really near anything!

Lucy

I miss the beach, I grew up about an hour or so from the Atlantic, but now I'm landlocked.

Driftwood is so interesting, the way the waters have smoothed and shaped it. Very fascinating.

Shawnie

great pics kate...it must have been so relaxing and theraputic! To have the best of both worlds here on the east coast...beaches and lakes/mountains...what more could we ask for... thanks for sharing the pics!

voiceless_kat

Kate, my friend, I am green with envy. I sure could have used a walk like that today!!

Great driftwood also. I have collected so much and put it into my flower gardens, I am now going to try to steal a few pieces back for my new 36 g. Hopefully I will find some flat rocks at the cabin -- we are going to open up my Mom's place and the one we look after as well..if the weathr holds.

Great pics, brought me back to the West Coast for a while!!

We must arrange to chat soon!!

COBettaCouple

That's cool. I never really noticed driftwood on the beaches back home.

capekate

Hi Shawnie..
you dont know just how theraputic it was for me. May 15th is my first born sons birthday, its a time of reflection for me as I lost him when he was just four years old. That was a long time ago... He would have been 35 yesterday.
It was a good walk on the beach for me...

capekate

HI Val...
You know you are welcome here anytime!