Can you make your own driftwood?

[Jill Wright]

Can I make my own driftwood from oak branches that I found on our land? I cleaned them up and am going to boil them, then sand any sharp or rough edges. Will this work or am I asking for problems when I set my tank up? Thanks for your help!

[Ben_RF]

While I have no personal experience using oak, searching on the internet for a bit seems to indicate that it is aquarium safe once it has dried out.  One of the websites I looked at for your question did list it as safe and they had other practical information here:  https://fishtankadvisor.com/aquarium-driftwood/

[Ben_RF]

I also found this video, which i think may be of use to you.  

 

[Daniel]

I think I have a piece of oak in one of my aquariums that came out my woods, (but I am not completely sure).

I have seen mini ponds in half 'white oak wine barrels' without a liner, with the water in contact with the used oak wine barrel staves and the fish were doing just fine.

Different kinds of oak have different characteristics. Fresh cut white oak smells like, oak. Fresh cut red oak smells skunky.

I have always thought that was because red oak had different phenols and tannins than white oak. I think one purpose of the phenols and tannins is antibacterial and antifungal.

@Brandy may have insight on this.

[FriendlyLoach]

I have heard that oak is safe. Lots of people use it. As long as you boil it for a long time it is good. 

[Jill Wright]

Thank you all! I will give it a try once I've boiled it for the appropriate time. One step closer to finally getting to set up my first tank!

[Jill Wright]

59 minutes ago, Ben_RF said:

I also found this video, which i think may be of use to you.  

 

This is actually one of the videos that inspired me to walk our property and find wood! Thanks!

 

[BenA]

Start reading from #110.

1.2. Falsehoods and Myths (aquariumscience.org)

[PineSong]

On 11/16/2021 at 2:50 PM, BenA said:

Start reading from #110.

1.2. Falsehoods and Myths (aquariumscience.org)

Wow, that's some list. I like that they link to further explanations. Feisty, too!

 

[Tanked]

On 11/16/2021 at 2:50 PM, BenA said:

Start reading from #110.

1.2. Falsehoods and Myths (aquariumscience.org)

I ran through several myths, many of which are often repeated here.  My favorite so far is Stocking.  Aquarium Advisor's calculator indicates all of my tanks are over stocked (laughable).  AquariumScience.org indicates I'm not close.

[Gator]

@Jill Wright; I've used dead White Oak limbs in my tanks since I moved to WV and everything has worked out fine. I've never boiled any of my Oak limbs because I want the tannins for my blackwater tanks, but it does take quite a while for the limbs to soak up enough water to sink so that I can place them where I want them, I've had the same problem with Cholla wood. When I lived in Orlando, FL., I used limbs from Live Oak trees and they are excellent. Using limbs from White Oak trees means that you're not going to have to replace them every couple of years as you would if you were using Spider wood.