Is aspen wood safe?

So, even though I have beautiful pieces of driftwood in my tank, they’re not really my style (I love the spindly branc looking ones!) However, my LFS doesn’t seem to stock that kind, or if it does I’ve always missed it. I’d really like some sort of gourami (leaning towards sparkling but not entirely decided yet) for my 30 gallon, and I think it would be nice for them to have some root-like driftwood structure to hide in as well. I just got back from a camping trip and while on a hike I found some really nice pieces of aspen wood, much more to my liking. I can’t find much online about whether it’s aquarium safe, though... it’s been dead a really long time and was bone dry when I broke the pieces off, so I don’t think I need to worry about sap or anything. There isn’t any lichen or moss growing on them, and I think they’re small enough to bake (or boil if for some reason baking them isn’t a possibility.) Look how nice these pieces are!

 

Aspen is a softwood so it will get soggy and rot, fouling the tank water and adding ammonia. You need a good hard wood to have it last in the tank.

 

So, even though I have beautiful pieces of driftwood in my tank, they’re not really my style (I love the spindly branc looking ones!) However, my LFS doesn’t seem to stock that kind, or if it does I’ve always missed it. I’d really like some sort of gourami (leaning towards sparkling but not entirely decided yet) for my 30 gallon, and I think it would be nice for them to have some root-like driftwood structure to hide in as well. I just got back from a camping trip and while on a hike I found some really nice pieces of aspen wood, much more to my liking. I can’t find much online about whether it’s aquarium safe, though... it’s been dead a really long time and was bone dry when I broke the pieces off, so I don’t think I need to worry about sap or anything. There isn’t any lichen or moss growing on them, and I think they’re small enough to bake (or boil if for some reason baking them isn’t a possibility.) Look how nice these pieces are! View attachment 797120

Spiderwood i believe is what you are talking about, if you need a name for reference.

 

Yep, spider wood and any other spindly root-like woods are my favorite

Aspen is a softwood so it will get soggy and rot, fouling the tank water and adding ammonia. You need a good hard wood to have it last in the tank.

Darn, I was really hoping it’d work out ok! Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to hunt around for nice looking pieces at my LFS and PetCo

 

Some small aged maple branches could work well. Same for oak, elm, etc.

 

I actually find spiderwood at Petsmart pretty often. Sometimes you can ask when they get the shipments in so you can get first dibs.

 

Aspen is a soft hardwood. I have seen similar woods like poplar being reported as safe. It doesn't have a sap like pine. It may be safe once it is completely dried, but I have no first hand experience. You may want to soak a piece in water that doesn't have fish in it and see if the wood holds up.

 

Yeah, next time I get a chance I’ll definitely hunt around for something good at PetCo.. I don’t think I’ve ever been to PetSmart, maybe this is a good time?

Aspen is a soft hardwood. I have seen similar woods like poplar being reported as safe. It doesn't have a sap like pine. It may be safe once it is completely dried, but I have no first hand experience. You may want to soak a piece in water that doesn't have fish in it and see if the wood holds up.

As soon as I find a free bucket, I can definitely bake one of the pieces and try to soak it. Should I put a filter in there too?

 

Yeah, next time I get a chance I’ll definitely hunt around for something good at PetCo.. I don’t think I’ve ever been to PetSmart, maybe this is a good time?

As soon as I find a free bucket, I can definitely bake one of the pieces and try to soak it. Should I put a filter in there too?

You are really just soaking it to see if it get mushy. You will probably need to do it for several weeks to see if it starts to rot.

 

Yeah, next time I get a chance I’ll definitely hunt around for something good at PetCo.. I don’t think I’ve ever been to PetSmart, maybe this is a good time?

As soon as I find a free bucket, I can definitely bake one of the pieces and try to soak it. Should I put a filter in there too?

I would put an airstone to agitate the water. The last time I did this with a wood, biofilm covered the entire surface. (It was bad wood apparently.)

 

Almost all wood will get biofilm growing on it. It is just a reaction between the bacteria in the wood and the BB so it may not start growing until it is in a cycling or cycled tank. Totally normal. What you want to look for is the wood getting mushy or starting to separate.