Aquariums cannot be complete with just water and some fishes swimming around. Adding driftwood for your aquarium helps beautify aquascapes. Driftwood can be caves, small arches, or hollows. There are many popular driftwood for an aquarium which are readily available in the aquarium market.
Driftwood is recommended for any size and type of aquarium including freshwater aquarium, irrespective of the fishes present in the aquarium.
When looking for driftwood to purchase, it is important to select driftwood that naturally sink inside the aquariums. If you have already gotten driftwood that does not sink, it is necessary for it to be attached to a holder to keep them fixed at the bottom of the aquarium.
There are special kinds of driftwood suited to each kind of fish and also the size of the aquarium. Below are the types of popular driftwood for aquarium.
1. Malaysian Driftwood
Malaysian driftwood should first pop up to the mind of aquascapers when planning to add driftwood to their aquarium. It is usually dark brown in colour. This type of driftwood is a very versatile aquascaping material that provides and create a natural environment for fish and plants. You can attach any aquarium plant to this driftwood to create that beautiful environment for your fishes. Malaysian driftwood has different usages, that gives you a wild imagination.
2. Gold Vine Driftwood
This driftwood originates from Mongolia. It has a very smooth surface with intricate branching and fascinating beauty. Gold Vine Driftwood will turn a fantastic mahogany color when in an aquarium. This driftwood can be used for terrarium and also aquariums or any other display. Gold Vine Driftwood is extremely low in any tannin and it is eco-friendly for fish and animals. This driftwood is quite light and may take up to 2 weeks to become waterlogged and sink.
3. Manzanita
This driftwood is known for its unique shapes and is more resilient to wear than other types of driftwood. This Manzanita driftwood has a lot of branches and which makes it very good for aquascaping. It can be quite expensive to purchase but it’s also a long term investment. Manzanita is a popular choice for many different sized aquariums.
4. Colophospermum Mopane (Mopani)
This driftwood is very solid and also thick. It has an unusual branching pattern and suits well in large aquariums. This Mopani wood also helps in reducing water pH and softening water. Mopani is identified by its bi-tone colors, distinctive solid structure, and nobule like growths that protrude from its lengths.
5. Rose Wood Roots
This Rose Wood root has an unusual and thick branching wood. This driftwood help creates dazzling effects in your aquarium by having the roots branch down into the substrate. Rose Wood roots are commonly used in aquascaping competitions.
You have to make sure the driftwood is free of snails and algae, so it does not contaminate the aquarium’s ecosystem. Make sure the aquarium shop thoroughly clean driftwood to make them safe before purchasing them. Having driftwood in your aquarium aquascape will make your aquarium look very natural and beautiful.
