Aquarium driftwood: wood types, tannins and how to prep it

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Stock checked on October 8, 2026

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Awesome Aquatic Natural Staghorn Cholla Wood Tube, 3 Pack, 6… 8.8 ★★★★★ AcuarioSano rating: 8.8 out of 10 See price

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majoywoo Natural Large Driftwood for Aquarium Decor Fish Tank… 8.0 ★★★★★ AcuarioSano rating: 8.0 out of 10 See price

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WDEFUN Natural Spiderwood for Aquarium Decor 5-Piece 4''-8''… 8.1 ★★★★★ AcuarioSano rating: 8.1 out of 10 See price

aquarium driftwood comparison, in stock

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Why add driftwood to your aquarium

Submerged wood is one of the most rewarding pieces of hardscape. It creates shade and hiding spots that lower stress in shy fish, breaks up lines of sight so territorial fish squabble less, and gives you a base for epiphytes such as Anubias nana or Java fern, which are tied to wood instead of being planted in the substrate. Over time it also grows a thin layer of biofilm that shrimp, snails and bottom dwellers graze on every day.

In a planted or nature-style tank, the driftwood is often the piece that defines the whole layout. If design is your thing, our guide to aquascaping styles shows how to combine it with rocks and plants.

The most common types of wood

• Mopani: a very dense African hardwood with a two-tone (light and dark) finish and smooth surface. It sinks right away or after a short soak, but leaches plenty of tannins at first.
• Malaysian driftwood (mangrove root): dark, heavy and compact. It sinks easily and lasts for years, although it can tint the water for weeks.
• Spider wood (azalea root): thin, twisting branches, great for airy layouts. It is light and may float for days or even weeks, and it almost always grows a white fuzz in the first few days.
• Cholla: the hollow skeleton of a cactus, full of holes. Very light, floats at first and softens over the years. Perfect for shrimp and small fish, which use it as shelter and a biofilm pantry.

Quick comparison

Wood	Sinks	Tannins	Lifespan	Best for
Mopani	fast	high at first	very long	community and pleco tanks
Malaysian	fast	high and long-lasting	very long	blackwater biotopes, cichlids
Spider wood	slowly, floats for days	low-medium	medium	aquascaping and planted tanks
Cholla	slowly	low	short-medium (breaks down)	shrimp and nano tanks

Tannins and tea-colored water

Almost all wood releases tannins, compounds that stain the water the color of tea. They are not toxic: they recreate the "blackwater" of many Amazonian and Asian rivers, and tetras, bettas and dwarf cichlids love it. In soft water with low carbonate hardness (KH) they can nudge the pH down slightly; in hard water the effect is negligible. If you prefer crystal-clear water, soak the wood thoroughly first, keep up with water changes and run activated carbon or an adsorbent resin in the filter for the first few weeks.

How to prep driftwood: boil, soak and sink it

1. Scrub it with tap water, no soap or bleach, to remove dust and loose bark.
2. If it fits in a pot, boil it for 1-2 hours: it sanitizes the wood, speeds up tannin release and helps it waterlog sooner.
3. Soak it in a 5-gallon (20 l) bucket for days or weeks, changing the water whenever it turns dark.
4. If it still floats, weigh it down with a rock, tie it to a flat stone or screw it onto a slate base with a stainless steel screw until it is fully waterlogged.

Driftwood and plecos: more than decoration

For many plecos, wood is not optional. Bristlenose plecos rasp the surface and that fiber is part of their diet and digestion, while species such as the royal pleco (Panaque) rely directly on wood. If you keep plecos, include at least one hard piece, such as mopani or Malaysian, that can stand years of rasping. An 8-12 in (20-30 cm) piece is plenty for a 20-gallon (75 l) tank.

Common mistakes

• Adding branches from the woods or the beach without knowing what they are: conifers leach resin, and rotten or treated wood can pollute the water.
• Using varnished, painted or reptile-only terrarium wood.
• Resting a heavy piece of wood or a ballast rock straight on the glass without care.
• Panicking over brown water or white fuzz and throwing out a perfectly good piece.
• Choosing a huge piece that eats up swimming space and water volume.

We compare spec sheets, verified reviews and real-world use criteria, but we do not physically test the products: check the wood type, size and whether it is aquarium-ready in each listing.