Likewise, the bark of many trees contains compounds that can have a detrimental effect to your tank in a number of ways. For example, many conifers produce copious amounts of sap, which can wreak havoc in an aquarium. Wood is capable of leaching all kinds of chemical compounds into water. These important criteria, which are detailed below, largely determine how useful or desirable the various commercially available types of driftwood are.ĭriftwood must be nontoxic, which should be obvious. Often, this wood doesn’t even originate from an aquatic environment-and never from saline or brackish water areas. When aquarists talk about driftwood, we are generally referring to minimally weathered, branching pieces of hardwood with very specific qualities that render them safe for use in our home tanks. Steeped in salts and generally floating, this wood has no place in a freshwater aquarium. In its broader use, the term tends to refer to the heavily weathered and eroded pieces of dead wood (ranging from small branches to entire trees) that wash up on shorelines from time to time. In this article, I’ll be looking at various types of commercially available driftwood and their relative benefits, as well as providing some insight on utilizing them in the aquarium.Īlthough it may seem obvious, it is important to note that aquarium keepers-and the general public-often have a very different concept of what driftwood is. In this regard, it is almost like a living thing that will change over time while interacting with your tank’s water, filtration, and inhabitants. It can serve many useful functions, including water conditioning acting as a substrate for biofilm, algae, and mosses and providing a source of food for a number of fish. One of the most interesting properties of driftwood is that its benefits in the aquarium extend beyond mere decoration. However, when done well, a driftwood-dominated aquascape is one of the best ways to create a natural habitat for fish, while also providing an awe-inspiring display for the home. Unlike artificial plants, resin ornaments, or natural stone, real driftwood can present a number of challenges to the aquarist. This shift has brought about an enormous interest in natural décor-in particular, with something common to many freshwater habitats worldwide: driftwood. Recently, the predominant trend has been toward creating a more natural look, as aquarium owners seek to capture a little slice of nature in their living rooms. The art of decorating the inside of our home aquariums has evolved considerably, reflecting not only personal taste, but current trends and cultural backgrounds as well. Over the past 50 years, much has changed in aquarist culture when it comes to developing an aquarium’s milieu.
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