Any Wood for Aquarium driftwood

Hi Guys,
So I'm starting a new tank and I live next to a forest and a local park. On the ground, there are TONS of small pieces of wood which look perfect for driftwood. My question is, can I use any wood for the aquarium if I boil it and soak it first or its a no go?

Cheers,
Jacob Pham

 

Really depends on the kind of wood. Generally hardwood is fine, but steer clear of softwood.

 

It has to be deciduous (hardwood), no sap left, no rotten and brittle areas.
Removing the bark is often also a good idea. Whatever it is, I would probably store it for drying for a while and then take a closer look.

 

Here are some photos,Sorry there a bit wet, I heard you should soak them for 2-3 days then boil them.

 

No problem, actually it helps now to tell the stage of decomposition.
Remove the bark and let them dry for at least 2 weeks, then soak them for another week. Boiling is not required, the pieces are not as dense as it would make boiling necessary. You can pour some boiling water over them before putting in a tank though.

 

No problem, actually it helps now to tell the stage of decomposition.
Remove the bark and let them dry for at least 2 weeks, then soak them for another week. Boiling is not required, the pieces are not as dense as it would make boiling necessary. You can pour some boiling water over them before putting in a tank though.

And for rocks, DO I need to soak and/or boil?

 

No. Why would you? Only certain types of rock do even absorb anything and boiling those may be tricky as they might have air trapped inside, that then expands and may breack the rock. At best scrub them, rinse them and maybe pour near-boiling water over them. And no detergents!

 

No. Why would you? Only certain types of rock do even absorb anything and boiling those may be tricky as they might have air trapped inside, that then expands and may breack the rock. At best scrub them, rinse them and maybe pour near-boiling water over them. And no detergents!

Ok so its totally safe to use them for aquariums?

 

The small pebbles, absolutely. The rest I can't identify, so I won't say anything about that.

 

I found a piece of drift wood on the edge of an inland on a lake in Minnesota. It's the bottom of a tree and it's roots. It is soft enough were you can pick at it and flake it off in some areas. I don't know what kind of wood it is. Is it safe,