Monapi driftwood smells like septic!

[Friendlyfishies]

I was so happy when I first got my diftwoods from zoomed, they looked like nice pieces! I sanded them down mildy (just sharp edge) and soaked them for 2 weeks...I then added them to the tank...they grew white gew around them, I read that this is normal and a process of the bacterias et. But the drift is really making my tank stink! I mean dead rotting clam smell and when I took it out and put it in the sink it smelled like extremely bad breath! Im just wondering if this is normal or if maybe it was a bad piece thats rotting? Ive never had driftwood before so im not sure whats supposed to happen. Now im not sure if I ever plan to use it again...i dont want them stinking up the dining room where guests come in and sit with the family and I dont want the fish to deal with the smell, plus if its rotting I dont my ammonia to spike which I started to notice after the smell became occurent?

Is this normal or does it sound like ive missed a step or its rotting?
Should I boil them?

[babystarz]

Yeah it sounds like there's mold growing on it. I would take it out and soak it in a diluted solution with 20% bleach for a week. Then let it dry completely and set it in the sun for a day or two to break down the bleach and render it harmless before adding it back to the tank. That should take care of the issue.

[Shrimpsta]

Or you can boil it for hours it become hard like a rock then let it dry. Most of the tannin leak off that way your tank would not turn yellow so fast.

[Friendlyfishies]

Thanks! thats a big help!

[registereduser]

Is it a large fat piece? I read it is always best to choose slim pieces. That way less chance of stuff inside.

[Friendlyfishies]

nah, its a thin peice