Hi Tim,
Please try to keep all your replies on one post and not a post for each reply. It makes it easy for all to scroll and read.
Thanks
Ken
Now to the driftwood subject. The only time I boil or microwave a driftwood if they leak out some kind of fungus that looks like jello. That only happens when I use Africa Maparni wood and woods that has not gone through the process of becoming driftwood yet. That make me believe that the so called Africa driftwood is harvest before it was ready just for the might dollar.
When I pick out a driftwood, I look for color and texture besides the shape..
The shape is important for the overall dimension, but the color and texture creates the feeling of depth and age of the tank.
Depending on the placement and the amount of light, that works into the amount of time I need to soak the piece.
If a driftwood is dark brown and is placed in a low light area, it will only turn out black with no texture when looking through a camera lens.
I soak each driftwood in a trash can or tub with 10-15% bleach to remove the tanner to give it the gray old look.
I then rinse and soak it in water to remove the bleach for another week.
Driftwood and rocks should look old and dead in most designs, that will balance it out with living which is plants and fish.
If you have a metal trash can, you can boil a large driftwood outdoors under a camp fire and also make smores.
Ken