local wood?

[padlock]

how about using wood that i collected myself for a shrimp tank? i found some lovely convoluted branchy pieces of ivy that i'd love to use but am scared, if i boil it wood it be safe?

 

[Themuleous]

I wouldn't use 'green' pieces only those that are very dried. Also, might b worth soaking them for a few weeks in a bucket or something just to be sure.

Boiling them would probably also be a worthwhile safeguard from any potential nastiest.

Sam

 

[Steve Smith]

Don't use ivy! I know Andy Mac used some once, not knowing it was Ivy, and had a lot of fish deaths 🙁

 

[padlock]

ok thanks, i wont use ivy but if i do find dried real wood then i'll soak it for a month then boil, thanks for your help

 

[Ed Seeley]

IME try to find dead wood that is not on the ground (either still attached to the tree or suspended off the ground in a pile of twigs) from either Oak or Beech as these have both been used by lots of people with no issues. Apparently people in Australia have used old, dried Eucalyptus but I'd avoid anything with sticky sap or known chemical properties like that.

 

[padlock]

ok, i will do that if i pick up any wood in the future, thanks

Paul

 

[Bobtastic]

Is there any way of drying out wood that has been collect? Left in an oven for a few hours on an really low heat? Or hanging them over a bonfire in a similar way to drying meat or fish?

 

[padlock]

what i'd do is just leave it out for a few weeks on a clean, dry surface, or in a greenhouse if you have one?

 

[bill88]

You can use most hard woods but they have to be seasoned and free of any lichen and fungi as both contain toxins. You shouldn't use anything from a park etc as most are sprayed with harmful chemicals