Thoughts on using wood...

[Dom]

I'm currently doing a rebuild, which includes connecting two tanks to one sump.

I need to fabricate a tray for filter media. I plan on using PVC and egg crate.

But then I wondered about fabricating something from wood. Obviously, it would have to be untreated. But other than providing porous material in which nitrifying bacteria can colonize, is there a down side?

 

[lazycouch]

i’ve heard it causes ph swings

 

[Lasse]

I would avoid wood in contact with saltwater. Many type of woods (mostly the ones known to have resistance against water) have natural toxins in order to kill microorganisms.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[vetteguy53081]

No on wood which often contain oils, glue and other material

 

[ichthyogeek]

If it's uncured wood (i.e. "green" wood) it can leach tannic/humic acids, as well as sugars into the water column, which is great for softwater freshwater fish, and can produce bacterial blooms.

Non-treated stuff wood probably also warp over time and as water got into the pores.

If you were to go with this option...I wood go out on a limb and use driftwood from the sea, which would be the least likely to leach after a good soak in saltwater. And no, I'm not sorry about all tree wood puns.