FishTankAquarium driftwood: types, prep and brown water
Driftwood makes a tank look natural, gives fish places to hide and explore, and some fish need it. New wood can float, turn the water brown or grow white fuzz, though, so here's what to buy and how to get it ready.
Why add driftwood?
- Cover. Shy fish feel safer with places to hide, and they come out more.
- Food for some fish. Bristlenose and other plecos rasp on wood, and it helps their digestion.
- A place for plants. Java fern, anubias and mosses grow tied to wood. See easy live plants.
- Softer water. Wood releases tannins that lower pH a little, which suits fish like neons and angelfish.
Types of aquarium driftwood
| Type | Looks | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysian | Dark brown, chunky | Heavy, so it usually sinks right away. Releases a lot of tannins at first. |
| Spider wood | Light, thin, twisting branches | Floats for a week or two. Grows white fuzz at first. Great for a natural look. |
| Mopani | Two-tone, light and dark | Very dense and sinks. Releases lots of tannins. |
| Manzanita | Red-brown branches | Hard and long-lasting. Usually needs weighing down at first. |
| Cholla | Hollow tube with holes | Soft. Shrimp and small plecos love grazing on it. |
How to prepare driftwood
- Scrub it under running water with a clean brush. No soap.
- Soak it in a bucket of water for a few days to a couple of weeks, changing the water when it turns brown. This draws out tannins and helps it sink.
- Boil it if it fits in a pot. An hour or two speeds up sinking and cleans the surface.
- Weigh it down if it still floats. Wedge it under rocks, or tie or glue it to a flat stone, until it waterlogs.
Brown water (tannins)
A tea-colored tint is tannins leaking from the wood. It's harmless, and many fish like it. If you'd rather have clear water, it fades over a few weeks of water changes, and activated carbon in the filter clears it faster. Pre-soaking wood cuts most of it. See cloudy or discolored water for other causes.
White fuzz on new driftwood
A white or gray slimy fuzz on new wood is a harmless fungus that feeds on sugars in the wood. It usually disappears in one to three weeks. Snails, shrimp and plecos eat it, or you can brush it off during water changes.
Can I use wood from outside?
It's risky. Wood from outdoors can carry sap, pesticides or rot, and some woods, such as pine, cedar and other softwoods, are toxic to fish. Stick with wood sold for aquariums unless you know exactly what it is and how to treat it.
When to remove driftwood
- It turns soft and mushy, or smells bad.
- It's knocking your pH too low for your fish, which is rare in tanks with regular water changes.
Driftwood picks
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- DriftwoodMalaysian driftwoodHeavy, dark wood that sinks fast. Every piece is different, so pick by size.
- DriftwoodSpider woodLight, branchy wood for a natural look. Soak it before use.
- DriftwoodMopani woodDense two-tone wood that sinks. Great for plecos.
- FoodHikari Sinking WafersSinking wafers for plecos and corydoras, which spend their time around the wood.
Related: Easy live plants · Best gravel and sand · How to set up a fish tank