This article is the third and final of our series where we have been taking a look at the elements of hardscaping in greater detail. In part 3 we will look at how driftwood is used in aquascaping. We will look at common types of driftwood used, ways of using driftwood in the Nature Aquarium, the relationship between driftwood and aquascaping rocks, how to prepare aquarium driftwood for your aquascape, and finally some tips to prevent driftwood from floating!
Choosing Aquarium Driftwood
When you spend the time choosing a great piece of driftwood to feature in your aquascape, you want it to look good. You are, however, not just choosing it purely for its aesthetic qualities.
Wood is a simple hardscaping item to anchor plants on and looks great with plant life attached to it. Some types of aquarium driftwood will also assist with lowering pH levels in your aquarium water.
If you have fish in your aquascape, then it is a great design feature to use the driftwood to mimic the natural environment that the fish would have been found in in the wild. In their natural environment, fish would have used driftwood to hide, spawn and breed in.
Once you have decided that you would like to feature driftwood in your aquascape, you must make sure that the wood you would like to use will be safe for use in your planted tank. 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 your aquarium. Make sure the piece of driftwood that you have selected is safe!
Every individual piece of driftwood will have its own unique aesthetic. Many types of driftwood will work well in your aquarium, but some may effect your aquarium’s water chemistry. For a healthy aquarium, select the correct driftwood for your set-up.
A creative way to use driftwood in aquascaping.
Common Types of Driftwood Used in Aquascaping
Malaysian Driftwood
Malaysian driftwood.
This dark aquarium driftwood featuring linear shapes is collected in South-East Asia. Although many fish prefer the water tea-coloured and acidic, this type of driftwood is very rarely used in aquascaping.
The Malaysian driftwood darkens and lowers the pH of the aquarium water. The upside of the Malaysian driftwood is the ease at which you can position it in the aquarium as it sinks rather than float.
Mopani Wood – African Driftwood
Mopani driftwood.
The Mopani driftwood has similar properties to that of the Malaysian driftwood; lowering the pH of the aquarium water being one. Boiling driftwood before placing it in your aquarium can eliminate the pH lowering effect of the Mopani driftwood.
The Mopani driftwood looks very different to the Malaysian driftwood. It has gnarled branches which are lighter than the Malaysian, and also has the property of sinking rather than floating. This sinking property makes for a simpler aquascape, as you will not have to consider methods of weighing it down.
American Driftwood
American driftwood.
For a cheaper alternative to other available types of driftwood used in aquascaping, there is American driftwood. This type of driftwood has a wide range of appearances and is generally of a light colour.
One of the issues with the American driftwood though is that it floats. Many shops will sell this driftwood attached to a piece of slate or rock in an attempt to weigh it down.
Planted Driftwood
Example of planted driftwood. Here, Anubias is attached to it.
While this isn’t a type of driftwood in its own right, occasionally it is worth considering a piece of planted driftwood. ‘Planted driftwood’ simply means a piece of driftwood that is sold with plants already attached to it.
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. Plants such as Anubias, Java ferns, and a range of aquatic mosses are common.
Types of Aquarium Driftwood to Avoid
Generally speaking, if you purchase driftwood for your aquarium at your local aquascaping store (or online store) it is probably safe; do check though and if unsure, follow the tips below.
When you collect driftwood yourself, from nature, there is really no telling where it came from originally and the route it has taken to where you found it.
4 Tips for Choosing Driftwood for Your Nature Aquarium
- Make sure it is aquarium safe. Reptile driftwood may look great, but is not always safe.
- Avoid using driftwood you have found yourself unless you are confident you can make it 100% safe.
- Consider attached plants such as Java moss to your driftwood to help you create that natural look. Use fishing line or cotton to attach the plants to your driftwood, then remove it once the plants have attached.
- Even after careful preparation, driftwood can still release tannins and make the water murky. Using a chemical filter or activated charcoal can help to reduced this and clarify your aquarium water.
The Relationship Between Driftwood and Rocks in an Aquascape
This is a stunning example of how to use a feature piece of aquarium driftwood. Look at how the wood has been placed according to the Rule of Thirds and creates the illusion of movement.
The use of aquatic moss on the driftwood and the angles that the rocks and pebbles have been laid at, really capture the look of a natural environment that the aquascaper was trying to achieve.
Choosing this piece of aquarium driftwood creates the look of a grand root reaching out into a river. The fish choice really works with this design to enhance the scale and depth of the aquascape.
Perfect example of driftwood being used in aquascaping.
Preparing Driftwood for Your Planted Tank
Thoroughly Clean Your Driftwood First
Wherever you have sourced your aquarium driftwood from, it is good practice to thoroughly clean it before placing into your aquarium. Using a clean brush, scrub the driftwood all over just using water to remove any dirt or dust that may be on it.
Do not use any chemical cleaners on your driftwood as the residue may harm your aquarium chemistry, killing aquatic plants and fish. The driftwood will now be ready to cure.
Here’s a good instructional video that shows you how to prepare your driftwood before you place it in your tank:
Curing Aquarium Driftwood
Some driftwood, such as the Malaysian driftwood and the Mopani wood sinks and will remain underwater. Some driftwood, however, will require some assistance to stay submerged.
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. This is achieved by soaking the entire piece of driftwood in water for as long as possible, 1 to 2 weeks is recommended as a minimum!
This soaking will also help to remove tannins from the driftwood. As mentioned earlier, these tannins, if left in the wood, will cause the water to go murky and give it a dark brown color.
The tannins will also lower water pH. When curing the driftwood, you will need to keep and eye on the water and change it when necessary. Every time the water needs changing, change all of the water and rinse the driftwood thoroughly.
You will need to repeat this many times over the curing period. You will know that the driftwood is ready for you to use in your aquarium when the water is not ‘tea-stained’ for several days.
Boiling Aquarium Driftwood
Many aquascapers choose to boil their driftwood and this have many benefits. Boiling driftwood is another way of removing the tannins and is much faster than the curing process.
The main reason why aquascapers will boil their driftwood however is to sterilize it. The boiling will kill any algae or fungus growing in the cracks and crevices of the wood. You will need to boil the driftwood for around 1 to 3 hours to fully sterilize it.
How Your Piece of Driftwood Will Look in Your Aquascape
The beginning stage of an aquascape.
As with everything in Aquascaping, a lot of the work is in the planning stage. Decide where you would like to place your driftwood and consider how the feel of your aquascape will change depending on the orientation and positioning of the driftwood.
Take your time to work on different design layouts. Drawing rough sketches to help you visualise how the final piece might look without needing to move hardscaping once you have positioned it.
Once you have planned for where your aquarium driftwood is going, chosen your favorite piece, and prepared the driftwood, it will be time to place it in your aquarium.
Refer to your notes and plans to make sure it is placed exactly where you planned it to go. Add aquarium water gently when refilling after placing a new hardscape material. This whole process takes time and patience, but will be well worth it when you step back and admire your art.
Many experienced aquascapers choose to use driftwood today as their main focus piece. Here’s some of the best aquascapes that make use of different types of driftwood:
[WARNING] Huge Nature Aquarium gallery coming up!
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