While you can use both store bought and self-found driftwood in your fish tank, you must ensure that wood is properly prepared first to avoid bringing disease into the aquarium. Driftwood can last for several years before needing to be replaced and offers your tank several benefits beyond aesthetics.
Let’s talk about how to source and properly condition driftwood before adding it your aquarium.
Does driftwood need to be prepared before placing it in the aquarium?
If you purchase wood from a store, confirm if the wood has been treated already or if you need to do it yourself. This often involves boiling the wood in water to kill bad bacteria, toxins or spores and to prepare the wood to be placed into the aquarium without causing harm to the fish.
You might need to boil the wood for as long as 1-2 hours so be sure to get the proper specific instructions from the seller. A rule of thumb is to keep boiling the wood until the water runs clear.
While some people talk about baking the wood instead of boiling it, you should consider the potential fire hazard of placing a flammable object like wood in an oven for an extended period of time and stick with the boiling method.
Rather than finding your own wood and adding it your aquarium and risk putting dangerous chemical in your tank which can kill your fish, best to speak with your trusted aquarium provider or fish store and see what they have in stock.
Having said that some people have access to driftwood and do like to prepare it themselves, as follows.
How can I use driftwood in my aquarium that I found myself?
The actual process to turn found driftwood into an item that is safe and suitable for your fish tank can take up to several weeks. When you place anything into your aquarium, you first have to ensure it’s clean and won’t bring sickness of disease into the water and wood is no exception.
So at this point you might decide to bite the bullet and simply buy driftwood instead, since you can choose the size and shape and simply have to boil it to get it ready to place in the tank.
But if you have driftwood that you located yourself, there are a series of steps you need to follow before putting it in your aquarium.
In order to use your own sourced driftwood in a fish tank, it’s a matter of:
- Finding driftwood that will fit your tank and that isn’t rotting, has no bark and is free of noticeable disease and other visible problems.
- Cleaning the driftwood with a brush and hot water to remove loose debris.
- Soaking the driftwood for up to several weeks in a bucket of water to remove tannins and other impurities from the wood. Tannins
can leech out of the wood when it’s in the tank which can be dangerous for your fish. - Boiling the water for 1-2 hours or as long as it takes for the water to run clear.
- Adding the wood to your tank.
If you find your own wood that you collected, make sure it’s a species that suits your tank and fish. Inspect the wood for any noticeable concerns that could cause problems up front such as disease. It’s not worth the bother and risk of infecting your tank.
While you can get satisfaction of sourcing and preparing your own driftwood, you can always default back to the store bought variety to skip a few steps if it’s too much work.
Benefits of adding driftwood to your aquarium
Is it worth adding driftwood to your aquarium or is it better just to add artificial items? Adding plastic or other manufactured things to your aquarium can help to fill it up but some hard plastics can be dangerous to fish and in particular to their fins.
Adding natural driftwood can offer your aquarium and fish several advantages.
Driftwood in your aquarium can:
- Provide your fish with a natural place to hide. This can reduce their stress at times when they want to hide or otherwise make themselves unseen.
- Lower the pH of your water by releasing tannins. Having said that, a few pieces of driftwood won’t do much in this regard and you’d need more than a few pieces of wood in the tank to make a difference.
- Improve the health of your water by promoting the growth of good bacteria in the aquarium.
- Improve the aesthetics of your aquarium by adding a unique and natural look.
Depending on the fish you add in your tank, some might use the wood for food as well but in a small enough amount that you probably notice deterioration to the wood from that alone.
How often should I replace driftwood in my aquarium?
While wood is organic and will degrade over time, you might find that you are able to leave a piece of wood in your aquarium for many years before needing to replace it, if at all. It may also depend on your initial choice of wood (species) and how well prepared it was in the first place.
While driftwood isn’t impervious to rotting, it’s a popular choice for aquariums given that it does tend to last longer than other wood species.
From what most aquarium experts say, expect a decent piece of driftwood to last up to 5 years in your tank before it might start deteriorating to the point of requiring replacement.
What other wood is safe for aquariums?
Driftwood used in aquariums is often made from a wide variety of wood species and several styles too.
You’ll typically come across names like Manzanita, Copani, Cholla, Redmoor, Tiger and Saba to use as driftwood in your tank. You may also see wood referred to simply as Aquarium driftwood when purchasing.
You will also read names like Malaysian driftwood, Spider driftwood, Mopani driftwood and Bogwood.
You can even read about using roots like Rosewood roots and Mangrove roots as driftwood inside your tank. More on suggested driftwoods to use is discussed below.
Before you place any wood in your tank however, it’s worth noting that there is some preparation that needs to be done first as described above.
Of course these days you can also find many realistic plastic and other artificial plants and items for your aquarium that aren’t real and might last longer before needing to be replaced.
Why is there green mold on driftwood in my aquarium?
Green mold can grow on driftwood in your aquarium and on the sides of the tank often after a new piece of wood has been added to the tank. It’s harmless and other than being aesthetically bad, won’t hurt your fish and is simply a natural organic reaction to bacteria in the water.
You may also notice white fuzz, slime or other things growing in your aquarium and generally they are also just harmless reactions to bacteria and other organic matter in the tank.
Having said that, good tank maintenance goes a long way to ensure the safety and long life of your fish and overall health of your aquarium. Always follow recommended and proper care of your aquarium and in particular water change outs, filter changes and tank cleanings which will help to keep bad bacteria and unsightly algae and mold at bay.
Ideal woods to use as aquarium driftwood
Here’s a table with ideal woods for use as driftwood in an aquarium, along with explanations of why each wood is suitable for aquarium use:
| Driftwood Type | Ideal for Aquariums Because… |
|---|---|
| Malaysian Driftwood | – Safe and non-toxic for aquatic life. – Dense and sinks easily, helping it stay submerged. – Unique shapes and textures provide natural aesthetics. – Leaches tannins, which can help lower pH and create a natural, Amazonian-like environment. |
| Mopani Driftwood | – Highly durable and resistant to decay in aquarium conditions. – Provides a striking, two-tone appearance with light and dark areas. – Safe for aquarium use as it leaches minimal tannins. |
| Spider Wood | – Artistic, branching appearance mimics the look of tree roots or vines. – Lightweight but can be waterlogged for easy sinking. – Unique shapes and holes allow for creative aquascaping and hiding spots for fish. |
| Manzanita Driftwood | – Intricate and artistic shapes and branches create natural beauty. – Safe for aquarium use after proper cleaning and soaking. – Lightweight, making it easy to position and adjust for aquascaping . |
| Grapevine Driftwood | – Varied shapes and twists provide a natural and rustic look. – Safe for aquariums after cleaning and soaking. – Lightweight and can be waterlogged for sinking. |
| Bogwood (various types) | – Dense, hard wood resists decay in aquatic environments. – Leaches minimal tannins, making it safe for most fish species. – Provides a natural, aged appearance and is often collected from waterlogged environments. |
| Cholla Wood | – Natural and gentle tannins leaching is ideal for bettas and shrimp tanks. – Lightweight and can float initially, so it’s best for tanks with low water flow. – Provides hiding spots and grazing areas for small aquatic creatures. |
Each type of driftwood is suitable for specific aquarium setups and aesthetics. It’s important to properly clean, sterilize, and soak the wood before adding it to the aquarium to prevent any unwanted substances or pollutants from entering the water.
Additionally, the choice of driftwood should consider the preferences of the aquatic life in the tank, such as fish, plants, and invertebrates.
