Nanci B Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 Hi everyone, I am currently soaking a large piece of driftwood that I needed a 30 gallon trash can to place it in. I checked on it this past weekend and above the waterline there was a black slime. Smelled terrible. As I pulled out piece after piece, they were slimy. There were pieces of it floating in the water. Looked like green hair algae floating. is it some type of mold? And not the good time. Thoughts? TIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pencapchew95 Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 Hard to say without pictures . Maybe treat the wood with some super hot water if you can’t boil it . Put it in the tub with super super hot water . ( I don’t know what I’m talking about ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 Take a good sturdy brush and try to scrub off all of the bark / external layer as best you can. Rinse everything really well and then report back on if you have any more floaties. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanci B Posted September 8, 2022 Author Share Posted September 8, 2022 Ok will do in next few days. Will. Check on what wood looks like tomorrow. I think I’m about to get a friendlier acquaintance with bleach in all things aquarium sanitizing. 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 Grocery store hydrogen peroxide is MUCH SAFER than bleach and just as affective for disinfecting/ sanitizing and for aquarium use and leaves no harmful residue as it breaks down to water and oxygen. The black slime is actually kind of normal when soaking some wood and nothing to worry over. Rinse it off and wipe hit it with peroxide and fill with clean water. It is not going to hurt the wood. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 Bleach is great. For doing laundry. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanci B Posted September 8, 2022 Author Share Posted September 8, 2022 @DaveO I don’t even use bleach for laundry! Have none in the house. 🫤 @Guppysnail Thanks for clarifying that. I haven’t soaked wood before, only boiled it. I usually use Malaysian driftwood which is so heavy I’ve never done this before. 🤩 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 For large pieces of wood that cannot be boiled, you can use aquarium salt in the water that they are soaking in to kill harmful organisms. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 On 9/8/2022 at 8:11 AM, Nanci B said: @DaveO I don’t even use bleach for laundry! Have none in the house. 🫤 @Guppysnail Thanks for clarifying that. I haven’t soaked wood before, only boiled it. I usually use Malaysian driftwood which is so heavy I’ve never done this before. 🤩 Please don't take offense to my comment. That was merely a poor attempt at humor. As far as soaking a large piece of wood goes you are on the right track. I change the water every few days until it stays clear. This may take a couple weeks. Each time I remove the wood I will hose it off with a high pressure nozzle. Spray the container also. That will remove most debris and slimy gunk. I find no need for any scrubbing but do make sure all bark is manually removed. After two or three weeks it is ready for the tank. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanci B Posted September 16, 2022 Author Share Posted September 16, 2022 @DaveOno offense taken! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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