Fishyparadox

I wanna use a piece of drift wood I found. I have it soaking in hot treated water. Can I just clean it real well let it dry and then use it? With a new Oscar?

Jim

I would be VERY careful using a piece of wood you don't know the history of. trust me, i just lost my favorite angelfish pair around New Years for the exact reason. I bought a piece of something that turned out to be rotten, and a week later it killed the tank.
What I would do if I were you is boil the wood for around 2-3 hours if possible, dry irt really well and then set up the tank, but give it at least 2 to 4 weeks without fish to make sure the wood is safe, and to give it a chance to "season". If nothing happens, then go for it and get an oscar. Again, take it from me, i just made a horrible driftwood mistake, don't make the same one I did.

Fishyparadox

Ok thank you. Since I just got a 4 inch tiger oscar I won't chance it. Can I boil it and bake it let it set a month or so and expect it to be safe?

susitna-flower

HI, Fishyparadox......thats a mouth full!!

WELCOME to FISHLORE!

I know getting driftwood in the LFS can be hugly expensive, but until you have lots of experience with your tank, it is also the safest way to insure your tank is healthy.

Did you cycle your tank before you bought your oscar?
Are you testing your water for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? If so what are the readings?

How big is the tank?
Best of luck with your fishy friend, and let us know if you have ANY questions....

Fishyparadox

LoL Well he/she is in a 40 gallon tank with 1 pleco 2 small crabs. Which is in the tank I had a large mouth bass in. LoL I had it for 6 months or so. It died of ick. I think It was the gold fish I used when winter hit to feed it . Instead of live bait crickets/worms which are hard to get during winter. Anyway I was about done with fish at that point. I liked my bass .So the tank sat for 2 months runing with nothing in it. I was told ick couldn't live 2 months without a host.