Driftwood????

[nando19]

Is driftwood real wood or is it something else like can someone please help me because there is no where that I can find a good explanation about it sorry if this is the dumbest question in the world and also is there somewhere where you can get really nice big pieces like 700mm long or so

[Nathan]

first off, dw about asking silly questions because if u dont then youl never know! plus this is isnt a silly question.

driftwood is real wood, but not the type you put on your fireplace. its the type thats been in streams an rivers, but you can also use eucalyptus branches (make sure there old an very dry).

you could try looking at your LFS theyl probly have some but will probly be quite expehnsive, or your local garden supplier, or if you live near the bush just go for a walk around an see what u can find, but it has to be eaucalypt or drftwood or bogwood.

others will be able to eleborate more on this

[marg]

Nando19,

I see that you are from Griffith - about 2 hours from me at Wagga Wagga - so you shouldn't have much trouble as we are both close to the good ole Murrumbidgee River!!.

Go to one of your local Stock Reserves and have a look around there - if you know anyone who lives on the Left hand side of the Griffith to Leeton Road (coming from Griffith) you would most likely get some there as that area used flood heavily and there would be plenty of pieces that were washed onshore after the flooding. Worth a try.

Welcome to the Forum - do you have Discus?

Marg.

[nando19]

No I don't have one yet i am hanging out for one but lol, So you find driftwood at the river how can you tell if it is driftwood or is any wood that has been kept in a strem just classified as driftwood and thanx for the warm welcome

[samir]

Marg is drift wood collection allowed in NSW ??? i was under the impression that it wasn't. There's tons of driftwood where I go fishing, but I wasn't sure if putting some in the boot was legal or not. Anyone got any info ???

[hootie2s]

You can usually tell driftwood as its obviously been sumberged in water for a while...sounds odd but it oftens takes on a "softer" look.....plenty of aquatic life will have a nibble here and there and the water tends to give it an aged look.

If you collect some yourself, be aware that it is illegal in some places, and that some animals will live in and around it, so collect within moderation.

Once you ahave a few pieces get a drum and soak them in some fresh water to check a few things, one is tannins (tea colour) that leaches out of most wood...its not all that harmful to your tank except for the pretty factor, it can be gone in days or may take years.
Also while I soak my own stuff I tend to check the ph (more out of curiosity) the majority of DW will make water slightly acidic (side effect of the tannins apparently) No probs for amazonian fish there

I will post a pic below of a little pice I got from my parents property near Lithgow:


http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=driftil0.png

I have been collecting DW for years and while the above works for me its not a guarentee......just use your own common sense etc when collecting (such as clean waterways etc) and you should be fine...lfs often charge very high prices for small pieces...I am a bit of a DIY fan myself


Hope some of the above helps

Brett


ps If you get SEVERE tannins and want a "pretty" tank bio chem ZORB is a God send


Me I like a bit o' tannin.

[hootie2s]

On private property I collect away... national parks and crown land etc in NSW is all bad mate.....you never hear of anyone getting in the poop but I prefer the "better safe than incarcerated" approach.

Brett

[nando19]

Yeah I will get it off someones property can you find it in swamps as one of my friends owns a fair chunk of a very large swamp and I could probably get some there legally

[marg]

You've got to get a permit to collect any type of wood now from what I understand (even firewood), but out in the sticks where we are I don't think you'd have too many problems if you are only going to pick up enough for your tank. Chances of getting into trouble are pretty slim - and if you are going to get it off a friends property I can't see where it would be a problem at all.

I'm no expert but I would think that anything that came out of a swamp would be well aged - but I'd give it a real good clean.

Most of the trees in our area are gum trees anyway.

marg.

[marg]

You've gort to get a permit to collect any type of wood now from what I understand (even firewood), but out in the sticks where we are I don't think you'd have too many problems if you are only going to pick up enough for your tank. Chances of getting into trouble are pretty slim - and if you are going to get it off a friends property I can't see where it would be a problem at all.

I'm no expert but I would think that anything that came out of a swamp would be well aged - but I'd give it a real good clean.

Most of the trees in our area are gum trees anyway.

marg.