Driftwood Selection & Preparation

Driftwood Discussion

It’s eye catching, tranquil and provides for some amazing aquascaping opportunities. Driftwood can be spotted in most of those inspiring freshwater aquariums we find online which encourage us to start a tank in the first place. For those contemplating the construction of a planted tank, I highly recommend the inclusion of at least a few choice pieces of driftwood. Not only does driftwood add a naturalistic charm to any freshwater aquarium, but it also provides additional coverage for your fish if they desire places to hide. Some species of fish even eat wood as a source of their diet. Driftwood simply adds a dynamic that upgrades the aesthetic of any aquarium. But before you go adding some random piece of wood into your tank, it must first be screened and properly prepared for its addition to the aquarium. ​

Driftwood Selection 

When selecting pieces for your aquarium, we would strongly encourage you to search your local fish store (LFS), chain store or retail provides online that sell wood designated as aquarium safe. A few types of wood traditionally seen within aquaria include:

• Bogwood
• Driftwood
• Mopani Wood
• Manzanita
• Malaysian Driftwood
• Bonsai Driftwood
• African Driftwood

Malaysian Driftwood

While some have acquired desirable pieces of driftwood from the great outdoors, this does come with a risk. Wood found outside could contain chemicals or toxins which would leach into your aquarium water harming inhabitants. Those that utilize wood acquired directly from outside have reported success by cleansing the selected pieces with a bleach/water mixture. However, we strongly caution against this practice. Bleaching will only treat the biological threats (i.e. bacteria) found within the wood. Toxins and chemicals will still persist following this method of cleaning.  Even if you do not have access to a retail store in your area that provides safe aquarium wood, there are numerous retailers online that post pictures of their items so you can select the perfect piece for your aquascape. A quick google search of “aquarium safe driftwood for sale” will provide you with a plethora of options. ​

Other considerations should be taken when selecting driftwood for your tank. Many reptile enthusiasts and bird owners utilize wood (i.e. mopani) as perches for their pets. It is typically unwise to utilize wood labeled for these creatures in home aquaria. The wood could have undergone treatment measures in preparation for the unique attributes of reptiles or birds making it unsafe for aquarium usage. Many of these products will come with a warning label advising customers against utilizing the wood in aquariums. Unless it states it is aquarium safe, we advise avoiding wood targeted for other organisms outside the aquarium. Additionally, wood placed within the tank should be deceased. Live wood, freshly cut from the tree, decay rapidly when placed within water and can trigger problems within the aquarium. Permit freshly cut wood a period of time to “dry out” before being used. Again, retail providers of aquarium wood should have dried out, dead wood ready for usage.

Before purchasing wood intended for birds or reptiles, check the label. Don't place the wood in your aquarium unless it states it is aquarium safe.

Driftwood Preparation

Once you have selected your choice pieces, it is time to prepare the wood for aquarium entry. First rinse off your pieces with water and use a clean scrubbing brush (like a toothbrush) to remove any dirt or particulate matter which might have accumulated on the piece. DO NOT USE SOAP! Soaps can leave behind a residue which could prove poisonous to fish. Once the wood has been cleaned, it is time to boil and cure your driftwood.

Boiling Driftwood

While some might choose to forgo this step, boiling driftwood provides several benefits:

• Boiling the wood helps to sterilize the piece before entry to your tank. The increased temperatures will kill potentially harmful bacteria, algae, fungus or fungal spores located on the decorative piece. Keeping the wood within boiling temperature for up to 2 hours should successfully sterilize the piece.
• Wood when placed in water will begin to leach tannins. Tannins are an organic substance found within most wood. When wood is placed within water, the tannins begin to leach out causing the water to take on a brownish or yellowish tint. While tannins are completely harmless to fish, many would prefer not to have their aquarium water appear as weak tea. Additionally, tannins can cause pH levels to drop which could prove stressful to fish depending on species. Boiling wood aids in removal of tannins, similar to boiling a tea bag.
• Completely dry wood will need to become waterlogged before it will sink. Placing the wood within water will begin this process. However, it could take time before the wood becomes completely saturated enough to sink.

In order to boil driftwood:

1. Select a cooking pot large enough to hold your selected pieces.
2. Once the filled pot of water has reached a boil, place the desired pieces into the water. Be careful of splashing the boiling water.
3. Allow the wood to “cook” within the pot for an hour on a low boil.
4. After an hour pour the water from the pot. This will remove leached tannins and other undesirable substances suspended in the water.
5. Re-submerge the wood remaining within the pot and allow to boil once again. Leave the boiling wood for another hour.
6. After 2 hours, the sterilization process should be complete and you can once again remove the water. However, you may choose to once again refill the pot to continue boiling the wood in order to encourage more tannins to be released. Some have reported continuing this process up to 8 hours. Should you choose to continue boiling, make sure to periodically check on your wood and exchange water.

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Curing Driftwood

After the wood has been boiled and allowed to cool, it should be safe for aquarium entry. However, we would recommend curing the driftwood once it has been boiled. Curing driftwood provides additional time for tannins to be expelled from the wood and aids in the wood becoming completely waterlogged. Curing driftwood simply involves placing the wood pieces in a container full of water to soak. Wood should be permitted to cure for a minimum of 1 to 2 weeks. Make sure to change the water every couple of days to remove the eliminated tannins. Some wood might require upwards of a month or more before it completely sinks or ceases to emit tannins.

Once the boiling and curing process have been completed, the wood is now ready to be placed within the aquascape. ​

Driftwood Dilemmas

After driftwood has been introduced to your aquarium, sometimes problems can emerge which keep you from fully enjoying your aquascape. Listed are a few of the more common problems witnessed with driftwood:

• Tannins - You’ve boiled it and soaked it for months but your tank is still reminiscent of the Boston Tea Party. Unfortunately, some wood will continue to leach tannins for an extended period of time. However, there are are a few steps you can take to try and limit the brownish tint. Include some type of carbon within your filtration system. Or you could try Seachem Purigen which many have reported success in its ability to uptake tannins. Large frequent water changes will also assist in removing the discolored tint from your aquarium. Finally, time. This is not a hobby for the impatient. Eventually the tannins will begin to diminish.

• Waterlogging - After a period of time submerged within water, wood will typically become waterlogged and sink. This allows you to position the piece within your aquascape without fear of it moving or becoming dislodged. However, some pieces of wood refuse to remain submerged. There are a few tricks you can try to keep that piece down. For smaller pieces of wood, try tying pieces of plant to it with fishing line. The added weight might keep the wood from floating. On larger pieces, check for obscure holes in the wood that you could possibly wedge stones into for additional weight. If it is complementary to your aquascape, try strategically placing stones on top of sections of the wood to keep it down. Finally when all else fails, it might be time to bust out the big guns. Silicon caulking guns that is. Use aquarium safe silicone to glue driftwood to a piece of stone or large slate. Screws or wires can also be utilized to affix the wood to a slate piece. The stone/slate can later be covered by aquarium substrate to hide it from view.

• Bacterial Growth, Haze or Mold - Oh no! It’s been a few weeks and my driftwood looked fine, but suddenly there is a white mold surrounding my beautiful driftwood. Now what!?! First, don’t panic. Remember driftwood is an organic substance and as such can contribute to biological “blooms” of bacteria or mold. This is a natural part of “cycling” the wood. The haze should diminish over time as well.

Driftwood is a beautiful addition to any freshwater aquarium system. While you can directly add newly purchased driftwood to your tank, it well worth avoiding the risk and possible headaches to properly prepare driftwood for your tank. Boiling and curing newly acquired pieces will help you with issues concerning sterilization, tannins and waterlogging. The extra effort is well worth the intrinsic allure of driftwood within an aquascape.

Let us know if you have any questions and until next time, Keep Krill'in!