huge driftwood stump, but the insides rotten..

[Fishbert]

hey mfk'ers. i recent dragged this nice big stump out a river by my house only to get it home and realize the center was rotten. i dug out everything that was loose, and pressure washed it real good, but even as i was pressure washing it the run-off was brownish red (noticably)

i don't mind a little bit of tannins as its going in a piranha tank and i know its beneficial but i would like to be able to see once the stump goes in and as-is, i feel like it may take a few 100 gallon water changes to get it to where its bearable.

anyway i guess i started the thread to see if anyone had any suggestions, i've heard boiling water and the like but imo it seems kind of futile to dump a couple pots of boiling water on it. i was also planning on getting a huge tupperware of some sort and soaking one half or third at a time, haven't yet, but the way the water was dripping off of it durning the pressure washing, i feel like it maybe a little far gone to expect and good to come of that either.

i don't want to loose this piece, but once i dug out the middle i was pretty disappointed in what i had found, please tell me its salvageable

its a 150 btw, 48x24 footprint so its bigger than it looks

 

[farrands-fish-uk]

Nice wood. I got a big bit of wood and mine went all gammy i put a common plec in and it cleaned it all for me. My advice if u can get a cheap common plec big but needs to go into the rott bit get it and let it work the magic. Let it soke in a old bath or kids pool.

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[Fishbert]

good idea, the plastic fake piece in the tank now was once dark green with thick algae after a terrible bloom, 4 small chinese algae eaters later it was looking like new, they were gone soon after of course thanks to their tank mates. they did do a great job though even taking some of the paint off and leaving a few tan plastic patches, but i didn't have long term hopes for them anyway

and come to think of it i should have a blue plastic kiddie pool lying around somewhere...

 

[farrands-fish-uk]

Get common plec or sail fin as they r real good at cleaning wood. And of it dose die at lest u know then not to put it with your rbp

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[Fishbert]

i think i will, traditionally plecos seem to do better than most rbp tank mates because of the armor like scales some sub-species have, i was never really a fan of them, but i'm almost sure they would outlast another batch of chinese algae eaters

 

[Pazzoman]

Hey nice piece! If i was you I would contact the vendor manzman.. and pm him as he could probably direct you in a way of salvaging it as he deals with driftwood and such everyday

 

[Fishbert]

thanks, ill give him a shout

 

[lix.ma14]

looks like a good stump.

 

[Fishbert]

it really is, the pictures don't do it justice and now that the insides rotted and chipped away there is an awesome little tunnel/hiding spot. i just hope ill be able to see it once it get into the water without too much frantic cleaning, skimming,scooping and water changing

 

[Drstrangelove]

http://www.sydneycichlid.com/aquarium-driftwood.htm

Looks like a nice short write-up. Please note the issue over pesticides. It 'might' be a thought to see if a cheap test can sort this out. If not, maybe take some run-off from the wood, add some to a test tank with feeders and see how they do.


http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Aquascaping

A tid bit on woods!

Amazing wood by the way. I am jealous. I was talking with my son just a few hours ago about how I need to 'find' some good wood for my tank. And you found it!