Foraged trunk wood with fire damage

[GQsmo]

I am setting up a new 30L tank and have aimed to forage the hardscape for it. I came across this large wood chunk and immediately thought I might be able to cut an interesting piece of tank wood out of it. It was very muddy and clearly dead a while.

Finally got around to jet washing all the dirt, clay and loose bits of wood away and it looks like the tree outer has been on fire or scortched at some point (Looks like charcoal)
I am sure it's the none burnt side I'll have facing out so aethetically it's not going to be a problem, just wondered other people's thoughts in regards affecting the water (in situ active charcoal, toxins, neither?).
I can leave the burnt or just cut it off. It will be going in a tank I am treating as a bit of an experiment so there is no pressure for things to go perfectly and I can bin it if there is something going on water quality wise (will be no livestock until I am happy I am going to stick with the setup longterm).

Treatment wise, I was thinking of boiling whatever chunk I decide on or giving it a week+ clean rain water soak.
Thanks.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
That is a cracking bit of wood. It looks like Yew (Taxus baccata), old Yew tree are usually hollow, which often leads to vandals setting fire to them .

Yew is toxic and very resistant to decay, but I'm pretty sure that is long dead enough to be fish safe and I think it is a fantastic find.

just wondered other people's thoughts in regards affecting the water (in situ active charcoal, toxins, neither?).

You don't need to cut it off, it will be fine, although it may tint the water to a level that is unacceptable to you.

cheers Darrel

 

[seedoubleyou]

I’d give that a good soak in a large container of water for a few weeks before using.
I find this useful with any hardscape and it’s common practice in reef keeping.

 

[xZaiox]

Yew is toxic and very resistant to decay, but I'm pretty sure that is long dead enough to be fish safe and I think it is a fantastic find

Hi Darrel ( @dw1305 ), I'd love to know why aged yew wood is non-toxic when yew is generally regarded as toxic? Do the toxic products degrade with age or something? I've always been interested in foraging my own wood pieces but haven't had the confidence in identifying the right types.

 

[Aqua sobriquet]

Just a thought but would a stiff wire brush remove most of the burnt area?
Edit: I’ve just seen this online.

 

[Jorge O'Reilly]

Stunning piece. You could place it in some container with water and test its toxicity with mosquito larvae or something of the sort. Some pest that is sensitive to toxins?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Do the toxic products degrade with age or something?

They do. You can think of a tree as a <"living sarcophagus">, a shroud of living tissue surrounding the dead heart wood. Toxins are <"concentrated in the leaves"> and sap wood to deter browsing and, in Yew's case, specific toxins in the fruit to deter mammalian predators.

You could place it in some container with water and test its toxicity with mosquito larvae or something of the sort. Some pest that is sensitive to toxins?

Daphnia is <"the usual one">.

cheers Darrel