Driftwood for an aquarium: types and applications

Until recently, it was difficult to imagine an aquarium without a plastic or stone lock inside, as well as various imitations of possible underwater treasures. Modern design concepts give preference to naturalness, naturalness and refuse to unnecessarily decorate the underwater space. Instead of the plastic wreckage of the ship, driftwood began to appear in the aquarium.

Natural wood and natural stone are highly sought after materials used as decorative touches for the aquarium. Natural beauty is considered to be the best condition for the life of underwater inhabitants. True, aquarists have a lot of fears about the "behavior" of snags in the water: there is an opinion that water "blooms" from a tree, and even fish die. You should not believe the first panic rumors, but this issue requires a detailed investigation.

The aesthetic function prevails in determining the need for driftwood for the aquarium. But it is not only the beauty and grace of the element that makes it essential in the aquarium.

It is comparable to a filter and soil, since the bacteria that live on it are really significant for the aqua balance. They contribute to the decomposition of organic waste into particles that can already be considered safe.

Let's start with the positive. So, driftwood decorates the aquarium, has a beneficial effect on the aqua balance and is also considered a fashionable element of the aquarium hobby today.

But snags have other advantages as well.

• They strengthen the immune system and health of underwater inhabitants. A tree in water gives off tannins that slightly oxidize water. And this is enough for pathogenic bacteria to stop multiplying. This process can be compared to the action of fallen leaves.
• If a regular increase in the alkalinity of the water is recorded in the aquarium, then the driftwood added to the container will have a good effect on the pH balance.
• Some fish species do not dare to spawn if there are no sunken snags in the water. They lay eggs just there, in a tree, and when fry grow, driftwood becomes a shelter for babies from potential enemies.

Finally, wood becomes an additional attraction for the inhabitants of the home underwater kingdom. The design of the aquarium becomes laconic and complete. You can grow beautiful plants and moss on wood.

The cons are very relative - the wrong choice really has a negative effect on the state of the water and, therefore, on the health of the fish.

But for the keen aquarist, all these are not unnecessary chores, but pleasant things for the benefit of a cozy and beautiful underwater world.

A sane person, of course, will not grab any oncoming stick so that it immediately becomes the decor of the aquarium. If someone really does so under the influence of fashion, then they can ruin the entire contents of the water reservoir.

Choosing the right driftwood is a serious matter. It's easier to buy it at a pet store, because they only sell wood samples that are uniquely suitable for the aquarium. It's easier, albeit more expensive. The pet store sells driftwood of exotic trees: mangroves, mopani, sakura.

But to be honest, then, of course, not the entire range of pet stores can be bought. An unscrupulous seller disguised as overseas timber can slip you something much simpler, less valuable, and most importantly – completely unacceptable in an aquarium. So, the same mangrove tree (even if it's real) colors the water quite strongly. It begins to resemble tea leaves, which scares the owner of the aquarium.

And also a significant disadvantage of such snags - transportation... During the time that the driftwood reaches the consumer, it clings to certain elements harmful to fish.

A natural question arises - why so much fuss with an ordinary piece of wood? Is it really impossible to take an oak snag yourself, bring it to its proper form and "add" it to the aquarium? You can do this and it will even be safer than pulling exotic things into the water. But here, too, strict adherence to the rules is necessary.

• As driftwood in the aquarium, drowned twigs and willow roots, as well as pears, apple trees that have been in the water for a long time, are suitable. They are hard deciduous species that do not disturb the ecosystem of the aquarium when they enter.
• It is strictly forbidden to place conifers in an artificial reservoir. - pine, juniper and spruce. You will simply ruin your entire underwater "hostel".
• Be sure to carefully examine the tree. If the driftwood is very rotten and rotten, then the slightest pressure in the water will cause it to crumble in the same place. And this cannot be allowed. The wood must be solid, it is good if it has grooves from worms and bugs.
• Live branches are not used. The driftwood must be dry. It must be thoroughly dried on a battery or (which is better) in the sun, if you want to speed up the process.

Lovers of aquarium design prefer natural ones to artificial ones. Pieces of wood that will be suitable for underwater penetration can be found anywhere: in the yard, in the park, at the bottom of a natural reservoir.

They are, by the way, the most affordable options. Willow and oak decor, as practice shows, is most often found in the aquarium. If you take soft tree species for decoration, they will quickly disintegrate in water and will last you a maximum of 2 years (and it doesn't matter – was the snag small or large).

Dry branches or tree trunks are the only acceptable underwater decor. The twig you like for decorating the bottom can be cut and dried in a room that is well ventilated. And in summer it is more correct to dry the tree in the sun: this way you will definitely prevent wood from rotting, and ultraviolet light will rid the tree of all harmful microbes.

Which driftwood to choose depends on personal taste. Large and textured elements look brighter, of course. Aqua designers try to take tree roots to decorate the bottom, because their shape is interesting, voluminous, aesthetic and does not require special adjustments.

Water is known to many aquarists to be sensitive to even small changes. Therefore, all procedures for preparing wood should be as delicate as possible. It is not enough to clear the bark from the tree; it also needs to be boiled.

So it will be possible to get rid of all pathogens that may end up in the aquarium with the wood. Hot water kills small insects and bacteria. So that dry design elements do not float, wood must be boiled with salt - it becomes heavy in such water and sinks by itself. You need to cook the snag in an iron saucepan or bucket. To do this, 400 g of salt must be prepared for 1 liter of water.

Water during such a time, of course, evaporates, so the cooking process must be controlled, water must be added in a timely manner. You also need to cook the tree that was bought at the pet store. You should not allow the appearance of branches in the aquarium, which are intended to decorate the dwelling of reptiles: these branches have already been treated with fungicides, which is harmful to fish.

Features of preparing driftwood include several steps.

• After cooking, the tree purchased at the pet store should be transferred to a separate container with water, where it will be for two days. During this time, you will know if the wood stains the water. If the liquid is slightly colored, everything is fine. But if the water has become like rich black tea, it is no longer worth using it for decoration.
• If you still decide to leave the coloring snag, take the trouble to soak it in water after boiling, and change this water every 5 hours. The process itself will take about two days. Continue soaking until the liquid is firmly light.

Not everyone boils driftwood; some aquarists simply pour boiling water over them. Of course, it is difficult to cook large items. But a shower of boiling water is not a solution to the problem: insufficient processing of wood can lead to the fact that harmful creatures remain on it and subsequently harm the inhabitants of the aquarium.

The process of placing driftwood in water deserves special instructions. How to put it so that it doesn't pop up?

Wood that stays in water for a long time quickly swells and changes in size. This is dangerous because the walls of the aquarium are pushed through. Sometimes it is not possible to fix the snag in the water, as the tree remains dry. Even if you've boiled it well, it may remain dry on the inside. Therefore, without proper fixation, the driftwood will float up.

The easiest way to quickly set up a decoration in an aquarium is attachment with a fishing line to a stone... Branches, in principle, you can fix it in the tank with something heavy, such as a stone... Some hobbyists use suction cups to make sure the decor is securely positioned in the desired location. Oddly enough, it is easier to put a snag under a stone, since the suckers behave unpredictably in the water.

The driftwood, in spite of the fact that it is an independent decorative element, and itself may need to be decorated. Moss or vegetation close to moss looks especially beautiful on wood. It looks very attractive, natural.

It is very important to correctly fix the moss on the snag.

• It is held in place with a simple sewing thread. It will rot over time, and the plant will already become akin to wood.
• For greater strength, the thread is secured with a fishing line. The line will not rot and will certainly secure the moss securely.
• There are also such craftsmen who fix the moss with superglue. But still, this option cannot be called the most successful, since toxins also enter the water with the adhesive.

The design of an aquarium with driftwood can be complemented by beautiful rocks and, of course, algae.

Often, even after good cooking, the wood begins to rot over time. This is due to the fact that living or rotten areas could remain in the snag. To prevent this problem, experts use two methods: roasting and paraffin wax.

In the first case, the snag needs to be burned a little with a soldering iron over the entire surface (or at least in the "suspicious" ends). Then the tree is immersed in water for a couple of days, the charred areas are wiped with a napkin, and the soot is removed. In the case of paraffin, a thin layer of it is poured over the entire snag.

Consider what else can happen to the tree in the aquarium.

• Does not sink - therefore, the driftwood is not dry enough or it was cooked without salt. If the tree floats up anyway, press it down with a rock or tie it up with fishing line.
• Paints water - it's time to soak until the water is clear. As mentioned above, this will take several days.
• The driftwood turned yellow, the water becomes cloudy, the tank smells of hydrogen sulfide - the wood rots. You need to get it out and dry it (you can in the oven).
• Turned green - this color is given by algae. It is necessary to reduce the length of daylight hours and the lighting power.

Some inhabitants of the aquatic world like to eat wood fibers and rightly so - it helps the digestive tract of fish. For many fish, a tree is a natural part of the living space, and such an acquisition in a home pond will only benefit them. Adding driftwood to the aquarium optimizes the state of the biological environment, decorates the container with water, and allows you to try on the role of an aqua designer.

An overview of driftwood for an aquarium can be found in the following video.