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Whether you’re new to fishkeeping or not, you’ve probably encountered driftwood being used in aquariums. This is likely the first step into natural hardscaping that a fish hobbyist will take other than rocks or stones. Driftwood creates a natural beauty to any aquarium that your fish are sure to love. But there are many different types of driftwood available on the market and it can get confusing. This article will help break them down.
What is driftwood
So, what exactly is driftwood anyways? Simply put, driftwood is any naturally available dead wood from trees or tree roots that have fallen off and spent some time soaking and floating before washing up onshore. This can be on lakes, rivers, or oceans. Yes, driftwood can also be from wooden structures or ships but that’s not what we are putting in our aquariums.
What makes driftwood unique over any other fallen tree branches is the process it goes through while in water. Driftwood will already have most all of its bark removed from the wood. It will also already have all the easily decomposed material removed from it by fish and bacteria. This will ensure that your driftwood will last a long time in your aquarium without rotting away and making a mess of things.
When it comes to aquarium use though, you’ll find that many of the types of driftwood aren’t driftwood at all. That is until you prepare it and put it in use.
The benefits of driftwood in an aquarium
There are many benefits to adding driftwood to an aquarium other than just as decoration. While yes driftwood will add to the visual appeal of your tank for onlookers, your fish will also appreciate its sight. Driftwood will help add a more natural look to your tank by offer hiding places for your fish and breaking up line-of-sight. This will result in happier fish that are less stressed and therefore healthier.
Aside from the visual benefits driftwood will also serve as an additional surface area for beneficial bacteria to live. Driftwood can also be a good food source for some species such as plecos. It can also help keep your pH lower, which certain species of fish will appreciate. Finding natural ways to maintain your desired pH levels will always be better than adding products that alter pH and will do so with fewer swings making it more stable.
The different types of aquarium driftwood
Not all driftwood is the same, many different types of driftwood can be found. Depending on the look that you’re trying to achieve or a specific biotype, each piece will have its unique characteristics. Let’s dive into a list of the more common types available to us.
Mopani driftwood
I figured I’d start the list with a piece that isn’t actually driftwood and get it out of the way. Mopani driftwood, or Colophospermum mopane for us geeks, is a very dense hardwood from the middle south region of Africa. It is sometimes referred to as African driftwood but you are more likely to see it under Mopani, at least here in the states. Although not true driftwood, as states previously, it is extremely common to be used in aquariums and terrariums.
Mopani driftwood will have a mix of light and dark colorations and will be in thick heavy pieces of varying sizes. Mopani will also show twists and knots not always seen in other types of driftwood. Mopani is also a great wood to use in an aquarium since its weight will allow it to easily sink. Since Mopani driftwood didn’t spend any time in the water you can expect a lot of tannins to be released into your water. Uncured Mopani will also release a lot of humic acid which will lower pH. For this reason, it’s best to give your wood a soak for a week or so that the initial release doesn’t affect your water chemistry too much.
Spider wood
If you’re looking for a more unique piece of driftwood, then spider wood may be a good choice for you. Spider wood is the dried roots of the Asian azalea bush and will be a light brown color. Being roots it’s easy to see how it gets its spider-like appearance. If you’re able to get your hands on a large root mass, it’s easy to break apart for use in multiple tanks or to use as multiple pieces in the same set-up.
Spider wood is much softer than other hardwood and consists of thinner pieces branching off. Due to this, spider wood will break down much faster in your tank than other woods will, generally remaining useful for 6-12 months. Also, due to its delicate structure, it is recommended to be used as décor in your aquarium and not to rest or lean rocks or stones. Like all driftwood, spider wood should be washed before introducing it to your aquarium. However, special care should be taken when washing spider wood since it’s easily broken. Also, being a softer wood, it will take a while before it will sink. Spider wood is a pesky floater but is easily resolved by weighing it down. This can be done by tying it to a piece of slate.
Cholla wood
Cholla wood is probably the most interesting looking wood that you can use. Often avoided by new aquarists due to its appearance, cholla wood can be a great addition to your aquarium, if used right. It’s another type that isn’t true driftwood as it comes from the branches of varying species of Cholla cacti grown in the deserts of North America. By itself, cholla wood doesn’t look like it even belongs in your aquarium. However, it makes a great surface for attaching aquatic plants such as moss.
Probably the most beneficial aspect of cholla wood is when it’s used as a food source. One of the softest woods used in an aquarium, cholla will break down pretty quickly and is easily fed on by plecos and shrimp. This is a very common wood type used in shrimp keeping for this reason. It’s also one of the more expensive types of wood that you’ll find though. I recommend that cholla wood not be used as a visual centerpiece in your set-up since it won’t last a long time.
Manzanita driftwood
Manzanita driftwood is a staple in the fishkeeping hobby. It’s a favorite among hobbyists because it’s a very long-lasting and solid piece. Manzanita comes from several different species of bushes or small trees that grow in the more arid climates of North America and will have a reddish-brown appearance. They can come in a wide variety of sizes making them ideal for a wide variety of aquarium set-ups. Surprisingly enough, coming from a plant that sees little water, manzanita holds up wonderfully while submerged.
If tannins are a concern to you, you’ll also be happy with manzanita because it releases little to no tannins. If finding pieces of this on your own in the wild, be sure that it isn’t new and is completely dried out before attempting to prepare it for aquarium use. One downside to manzanita is its ability to float for what will seem like forever. You will want to have this wood soak for a while or you won’t stand a chance. Manzanita wood can be weighed down by tieing or gluing it to heavy rocks or by laying heavy rocks over pieces of it. Be careful with this method though as I’ve had a piece come loose and race to the top while throwing a large piece of slate into the side of my tank.
Of course, the bigger and thicker the piece you have is, the harder it will be for it to sink.
Malaysian driftwood
Malaysian driftwood is another very common driftwood that is used in aquariums. This can come from a variety of hardwood trees in the Diospyros genus. I’ve been told that the most common is Diospyros ebonasea but I’ve been unable to confirm the existence of this particular species. Either way, it’s safe to say that it comes from Malaysia and is one of Diospyros spp. This is a sought-after piece of driftwood because of its durability and its orange to deep brown tones.
Malaysian driftwood pieces can be used as a centerpiece in any aquarium and is a good type to attached plants. It is also easily submerged and won’t put up much of a fight. Malaysian driftwood is also very high in tannins and will turn your water a tea color. If this isn’t something you want you can lower the effects by increasing your pre-soak time while preparing it for aquarium use. Expect this wood to also lower your pH.
Bonsai driftwood
This is a beautiful piece that is most suited for small tanks or to create realistic scenery aquascapes. These aren’t created in the same way that Bonsai trees are but are instead created by taking several different pieces of wood and artistically combining them. The goal of this is to give the appearance of a real mini tree, and if done well can be absolutely beautiful. This effect is done by adding various plant types to the tops of the branches to look like tree foliage, usually some type of aquatic moss.
Be sure to give your bonsai driftwood a good long soak to help limit its buoyancy. Another good option would be to affix it to several stones along the base and have that be part of the natural look. I recommend using this in an aquarium with small fish species such as tetras, which prefer slightly acidic water anyways. Larger species will wreck this driftwood and completely defeat the purpose of your new-found artistic abilities.
Types of driftwood conclusion
Driftwood is a wonderful addition to just about any aquarium set-up and offers many benefits to both your fish and your aquarium’s visual appeal. These are the 6 most commonly found types of driftwood, but there are many more, but less common types, and will vary by location and availability. This is also true because other types of wood can be prepared for aquarium use as well. Be careful if using locally found wood though because there are also some types of wood that are not suited for aquarium use.
