Driftwood In An Aquarium: Do's And Don'ts?

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 22:49

The most common question regarding driftwood is "I found a cool driftwood (further it says where exactly) and I want to put it in my aquarium, how can I do it?" It doesn't matter how you do it, first clean the branch thoroughly and get rid of all the living creatures that live in it. There are several ways.

1 - You can boil the branch for several hours, then hold it in water until it settles to the bottom (the water is changed every day or every two days.

2 - Soak the snag in a solution of whiteness (1 cup of whiteness for 20 liters of water) for a few days. Periodically turn the branch in the solution, it will be more effective. Then soak it for several days (again, change the water daily). you put it in an aquarium, it will kill all your fish (see exception below).

3 - Some hobbyists put a snag in the oven and keep it there for a few hours at a temperature of 200 degrees, this temperature kills all living creatures in the branch.

Attention!This method can cause a fire! Be sure to watch the oven continuously.

Related article How to decorate your aquarium with driftwood?

The next common question goes something like this:

I put a new snag in the aquarium and the water turned brown

The brown color of the water is given by the tannic acid released from the driftwood. Some aquarists like this as it creates a “black water effect”. The acid can be released for months or even years after you place the branch in your tank. When treating driftwood in the first way, much less acid is released from it.

To reduce the "black water effect", you can also change the water more often. It should be noted that tannic acid can lower the pH of the aquarium water. You can also change the cartridge in the filter to deal with water staining. Remember to change it often if your branch is leaking too much acid.

“I found a pine snag and I want to use it. Can?"

The answer is no! For aquariums, only hardwood tree branches (oak, maple, ash, elm and hickory) can be used. The bark and resin of softwood trees will make a sweet mess in your tank. Softwood degrades faster. If you cannot determine which wood your driftwood is from, use the following method: when the branch is dry, press on it with your fingernail. If the nail slides into the branch easily, then it is soft wood.

I have been soaking the snag for many months, and it still does not settle to the bottom of the aquarium

There are several ways to make her drown. With the help of a fishing line, you can tie a sinker to a branch to add weight to it. You can attach the driftwood with silicone (make sure you use safe silicone) to a piece of slate or to a flat piece of plastic (and then bury it in the bottom of the aquarium). Some aquarists use screws to screw into the branch to make it heavier. But only you decide whether it is worth doing. One of the craftsmen drilled several holes in the driftwood and poured molten lead into them, and then filled these holes with silicone so that the lead could not penetrate the water.

“I have read (heard) that driftwood is useful for plecostomus catfish. Why?"

Plecostomuses rip off wood fibers and turn them into cellulose. It is good for their digestion.

Can driftwood that has been in salt water be used in freshwater aquariums?

Yes, you can. Remember that exception mentioned above? Here it is! Driftwood found in the ocean is best soaked in whiteness to make sure nothing bad gets into the tank.

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