Aquarium driftwood is the most popular wood decoration for freshwater fish tanks today. You can find it in any aquarium supply site or retail store. It is not very expensive and is ideal for safely decorating you fish tank. This begs the question. Is it t really necessary to buy special wood for your aquarium? Why not just take a look through the yard or woods and pick up some pieces that look great?
Can Wild Wood Harm My Fish?
Yes it can. Wild wood can quickly rot. Driftwood comes from water. It is wood that has washed up on the shore and has started to decompose. As wild wood breaks down, it can quickly throw off the chemical balance of your aquarium. Driftwood has already been broken down much of the way from the water keeping it from releasing these chemicals in your tank. There is a solution however, if you insist on using any old wood for your aquarium. You can seal the wood with aquarium friendly sealer. These can be found at most aquarium retailers or pond supply retailers. The only risk is that you do not fully seal the wood in every crevice. Water will quickly find its way into any part of the wood left unsealed and start to break it down.
What about Aquarium Bogwood?
Bogwood is very similar to driftwood and is aquarium safe. Bogwood gets its name from where it is found, in bogs or wetlands. It goes through the same break down process as driftwood, therefore making it safe. Most aquarium retailers sell bogwood along with driftwood.
3 responses so far ↓
1 chris // Mar 16, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I bought aquarium driftwood from a fish supply store. I soaked it first and now after being in my tank for a couple of days, the water is a yellow/ brown cloudy color. How long until this will go away and I have clear water? Is there anything I can do to speed up the clearing of the water process?
2 Eric // Mar 20, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Chris,
It really depends. Some woods have more tannins thank others. Driftwood usually doesn’t take more than a couple of weeks at very most. I don’t know of anything to speed it up. I will caution you to make sure you wait until your water is clear. It’s a real pain if you rush it.
3 chris // Mar 20, 2008 at 10:17 pm
thanks for the advice. I actually took the driftwood out of my tank and the water cleared in a couple of days. I’ve been soaking the driftwood in water in the sink and it is still turning color. I don’t think I’ll put the wood back in until it stops turning color. thanks again!
Leave a Comment