Problems with cutting driftwood for shrimp tank?

[ravensgate]

Are there any problems with cutting driftwood to size for a future shrimp tank? Scenario: I got in two gorgeous pieces of driftwood from a seller on here. But one piece needed about a half inch shaved off the bottom to be perfect. Well, when I sawed into it I saw the purple shavings of cedar. The outside of the piece of beautifully weathered but the inside is still showing the pink wood of cedar. I've already boiled it once (before I cut) and will be boiling it again tomorrow. The piece will be put to the side for over a month to get some moss growth on it before it goes in a tank. Are there going to be problems with the cedar oil possibly getting in the tank? Is there a way to seal the bottom of that wood if that's the case? That bottom area will be touching the bottom of the tank with probably close to two inches of substrate going up from the bottom (this piece will be on a 'hill'). Other advice/remedies appreciated!

[jameshill247]

if it was me i would heat the bottom to try and seal it just with a lighter or something?

then maybe superglue that should create a water tight seal and by the time the superglue breaks down.. if it does? the wood should be good to go anyway

[Kunsthure]

Are you sure you can use cedar? It's an evergreen and I know we can't use other evergreens like pine.

If it is safe to use, lay down a coat of aquarium silicone since you won't be able to see it.

-Lisa

[lipadj46]

If it's cedar toss it. I doubt anyone sold you cedar driftwood for aquarium use though. Cutting cured aquarium safe driftwood is fine.

[ravensgate]

Originally Posted by lipadj46

If it's cedar toss it. I doubt anyone sold you cedar driftwood for aquarium use though. Cutting cured aquarium safe driftwood is fine.

I'll email the seller then because I know for a fact this is cedar, I have a thousand cedar trees at my farm. And it absolutely was sold to me for aquarium use, wouldn't have bought it otherwise (and in my wanted ad said exactly what I was going to be doing with it).

[Kunsthure]

Google using cedar in tanks. Someone once said southern yellow cedar (or something like that was ok) but who can for sure know which species is which.

I like to search Google by site:plantedtank.net Fill in what you want to search here. I find that gives better search results than the search function here.

-Lisa

[ravensgate]

I've been searching all morning and it's not looking good. I've emailed the seller and hope they will respond. The biggest PITA is the piece is so gorgeous. I hate that I can't use it but this will be going into a tank with OEBTs and after all it's going to cost me to get everything set up I'm not going to put a suspicious piece of wood in there.

[Kunsthure]

You could always get the aquarium clear coat stuff the use on "Tanked" to be able to put anything in a reef tank. I have no idea where to get it, but it does exists, if you're dead set on this DW.

-Lisa

[jeremyTR]

Originally Posted by Kunsthure

Google using cedar in tanks. Someone once said southern yellow cedar (or something like that was ok) but who can for sure know which species is which.

I like to search Google by site:plantedtank.net Fill in what you want to search here. I find that gives better search results than the search function here.

-Lisa

That's exactly how I search this site. It works WAY better than the sites own search function.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4G

[ravensgate]

Originally Posted by Kunsthure

You could always get the aquarium clear coat stuff the use on "Tanked" to be able to put anything in a reef tank. I have no idea where to get it, but it does exists, if you're dead set on this DW.

-Lisa

Holy smokes, I didn't even THINK about that! And I watch that show too. I'm not dead set on this set but still, it would nice to use it.

ETA: Nevermind, the stuff I'm finding is like $80 for a small container. It will be cheaper to just buy more wood.

[Gulfcoastguy]

Originally Posted by Kunsthure

Are you sure you can use cedar? It's an evergreen and I know we can't use other evergreens like pine.

If it is safe to use, lay down a coat of aquarium silicone since you won't be able to see it.

-Lisa

Hmmm most all the drift wood we collect from rivers down here in the south is pine I have several peices in my tanks some of which I had to cut to get it to fit and I have had no problems useing it or shrimp dieing from it. Where did you read that you couldnt use pine? Keep in mind that its been in a river for a LONG time and its mainly the heart of the tree but it is for sure pine.

[ravensgate]

Fortunately the seller has offered to take it back. Man, they were just perfect shape though, I'm so bummed.

[plantbrain]

Southern swamp cedar is fine and quite good for aquariums.

They use lots and lots of it at Tampa's Public aquarium in all their displays, I've used it a lot myself.


Western Cedar is what I have in my 180 Gal tank also.

[ravensgate]

Tom, this stuff is out of Arkansas...I have no idea what kind of cedar it is. The seller did mentioned curing it in denatured alcohol but I'm so nervous I'm probably going to send it back.

[wicca27]

i think it is cypess wood they use in tanks not cedar.