One of the most effective and simple, but time consuming, ways to achieve this is to soak the driftwood until it has become fully saturated. Other types of driftwood, however, will require some assistance to stay submerged. Some driftwood, such as the Malaysian driftwood and the Mopani wood sinks and will remain underwater. Using a clean brush, scrub the driftwood all over just using water to remove any dirt or dust that may be on it.ĭo not use any chemical cleaner on your driftwood as the residue may harm your aquarium chemistry, killing plants and fish. Wherever you have sourced your driftwood from, it is good practice to thoroughly clean it before placing into your aquarium. This gets rid of excessive debris from the wood surface, reduces the tannins release and helps in making the driftwood sink faster. Whether bought from the store of found by you in nature, all driftwood must undergo a preparation process. Preparing Driftwood for Your Planted Aquarium Avoid using driftwood you have found yourself unless you are confident you can make it 100% safe.ĭigging through online forums and discussion boards we’ve found that people tend to agree that the following woody plant materials are generally safe to use in aquascaping: One important thing to remember is that the wood has to be dead and as dry as possible. When you collect driftwood for yourself, there is really no telling where it came from originally and the route it has taken to where you found it. Generally speaking, if you purchase driftwood for your aquarium at a pet store it is most likely safe do check though and if unsure have a chat with the staff about it. Safe and Unsafe: Make the Right Choice with Aquarium Driftwood Of course, once you get more skilled in aquascaping, this would become a common practice that you’ll easily do by yourself. Plants such as Anubias plants, Java ferns, and a range of aquatic mosses are common. The most common plants that will be attached are the more hardy of aquarium plants that will generally thrive under most conditions in the aquarium, including an aquarium with low light. Here’s the most common types of driftwood found in aquascaping today: Malaysian Driftwood Mix it with rocks and you can create a great island scene in your planted tank. Aquascapers mostly use driftwood in their designs to replicate a rainforest theme. Driftwood You Can Use in Aquascapingįrom thin light-brown branches to more bulky dark-looking pieces of wood, there’s a big variety you can choose from. There are quite a few types to choose from, either found by you in nature, or bought from your local aquascaping store. The last thing you want after spending many weeks planning your aquascape, is to ruin it by adding a piece of driftwood that is not appropriate for aquariums.Įvery individual piece of driftwood has its own unique aesthetics. Once you have decided that you would like to add driftwood to your aquascape, you must make sure that the wood you use will be safe for your planted tank. In their natural habitat, fish use driftwood to hide from predators, spawn their eggs and raise their offspring. Using driftwood in your aquascape helps in creating a replica of the natural environment where the fish are found in the wild. This might be a bad thing in the long run, depending on your tank’s inhabitants.ĭriftwood makes your fish feel at home. Some types of aquarium driftwood will also assist with lowering pH levels in your aquarium water. Wood is a simple hardscaping item used to attach plants on which gives it a natural look. You are, however, not just choosing it purely for its aesthetic qualities. When you spend the time choosing a great piece of driftwood to feature in your aquascape, you want it to look good. While going for a hike or visiting a forest you can come across various types of fallen branches. You can find wood suitable for your planted tank in a variety of environments. Driftwood is a term used in the aquarium hobby for many years but doesn’t necessary mean that if you want to gather wood for your aquascape, you have to have access to a body of water. Simply put, driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore of a sea, lake, or river by the action of winds, tides or waves.
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