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how to clean/prep hair algae covered driftwood for a new tank setup

11K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  fresh.salty 
#1 ·
I want to reuse a lot of driftwood from an old tank that was infested with hair algae.

What's the best way to reuse this driftwood in the new tank without bringing the hair algae with it?

Will all the algae die if I just dry the wood outside?

Do I soak it with some bleach/water mixture for a set time to kill it?

Any input would be great.
 
#2 ·
bleach it. Put it in a bucket with bleach and let it soak for a few hours. Then rinse it well and let it dry out. It should be algea free after the bleach but letting it dry will make sure it's gone.
 
#3 ·
Not sure about hair algae but I'm the king of treating driftwood that has BBA. lol Excel works but so does hydrogen peroxide and it's way cheaper.

I just lay the wood on the cement and use a spay bottle until it's dripping off. If it's really bad I may spray it again when it looks like it's drying out. Then I just hose it down and back in the tank it goes. Takes a few days in the tank until the wood looks clean again.
 
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