Driftwoods have become a popular form of decoration for many aquarists that want to achieve a natural and sophisticated look in their aquarium. Driftwood looks great as a centerpiece in planted tanks and improves the depth and visual appearance of aquariums. There are many different types of driftwood, and each type has a unique appearance and releases different shades and intensities of tannins into the water over time.
The type of driftwood you choose will depend on your personal preference, as driftwood can come in many different shapes and sizes to accommodate the appearance of your aquarium. With that being said, we have reviewed some of the best driftwood pieces that you can find online to add liveliness and character to your aquarium.
A Glance at Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Zoo Med Mopani Wood Aquarium Decor
Natural look
Contains no artificial colors or resins
Comes in two different sizes
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Best Value
Galapagos Sinkable Driftwood Accessory
Affordable
Comes in 6 different sizes
Sinkable
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Premium Choice
SubstrateSource Cholla Aquarium Driftwood
Encourages biofilm and beneficial bacteria growth
Can be used to anchor plants and mosses
All-natural materials
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Majoywoo Natural Aquarium Décor
Long-lasting
Attractive shape
High-quality wood
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Fluval Mopani Driftwood
Sandblasted finish
Ideal for small aquariums
Natural look
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The 6 Best Driftwoods for Aquariums
The best overall product driftwood for aquariums is the Zoo Med Mopani wood because it is affordable, comes in two different size options, and does not need to be preboiled because it sinks. This piece of driftwood has a smooth surface with textured detail and a mottled dark and light brown coloration. It easily sinks to the bottom of an aquarium, so you do not need to worry about boiling and soaking this wood for a few days until it is ready to be placed in the aquarium.
Size: Small to medium
Wood type: Mopani
Aquarium type: Freshwater or saltwater
Dimensions: 6-8 inches
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It contains no artificial colors or synthetic resins that could leach into the aquarium over time, and it looks great in planted aquariums to offer a naturalistic look.
Pros
Natural look
Contains no artificial colors or resins
Comes in two different sizes
Cons
Releases dark-colored tannins
The product for the best valuebest driftwood for money is the Galapagos sinkable driftwood accessory because it is ideal for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums and comes in a variety of different sizes, each for an affordable price. It sinks instantly so you do not have to spend extra time soaking it to get it to finally sink. This is a piece of Malaysian driftwood that has a dark brown appearance with various textures to add a focal point to any aquarium. It has space for small fish to hide underneath and the shape of this driftwood will vary depending on the batch.
Natural look
Contains no artificial colors or resins
Comes in two different sizes
- Natural look
- Contains no artificial colors or resins
- Comes in two different sizes
Releases dark-colored tannins
- Releases dark-colored tannins
Size: Small to huge
Wood type: Malaysian
Aquarium type: Freshwater or saltwater
Dimensions: 13 × 8 × 8 inches
Pros
Affordable
Comes in 6 different sizes
Sinkable
Cons
Needs to be rinsed before being placed in the aquarium
Our premium choice is the Substratesource cholla driftwood because it is made from high-quality and all-natural dried husk from the cholla cactus. It has a porous structure which makes it a great breeding ground for beneficial bacteria, and it also helps encourage the growth of biofilm which is great for invertebrates to eat such as shrimp and snails. It can also be used to attach and anchor down small aquarium plants because these two pieces of wood have small holes throughout.
Affordable
Comes in 6 different sizes
Sinkable
- Affordable
- Comes in 6 different sizes
- Sinkable
Needs to be rinsed before being placed in the aquarium
- Needs to be rinsed before being placed in the aquarium
Size: Medium
Wood type: Cholla
Aquarium type: Freshwater or saltwater
Dimensions: 6 inches long
It is a functional decorative accessory for both saltwater and freshwater aquariums and it contains fibrous materials that are great for Plecostomus fish.
Pros
Encourages biofilm and beneficial bacteria growth
Can be used to anchor plants and mosses
All-natural materials
Cons
Needs to be soaked in water until it sinks
Encourages biofilm and beneficial bacteria growth
Can be used to anchor plants and mosses
All-natural materials
- Encourages biofilm and beneficial bacteria growth
- Can be used to anchor plants and mosses
- All-natural materials
Needs to be soaked in water until it sinks
- Needs to be soaked in water until it sinks
From diagnosing illnesses and providing correct treatments to proper nutrition, tank maintenance and water quality advice, this book will help you to ensure your goldfish are happy and to be the best goldfish keeper you can be.
- Majoywoo Natural Aquarium Décor
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Size: Large
Wood type: Mopani
Aquarium type: Freshwater or saltwater
Dimensions: 8 × 3.8 × 6.8 inches
This is a natural piece of Mopani driftwood that comes in a unique twisted and textured shape with dark brown coloration. It is made with a long-lasting and durable wood that can be used for a long time in aquariums to add liveliness and as a centerpiece to planted aquariums. This piece of wood looks exceptionally great with live plants as the dark coloration brings out the lush greenness of many plant species.
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Size: Large
Wood type: Mopani
Aquarium type: Freshwater or saltwater
Dimensions: 8 × 3.8 × 6.8 inches
It is recommended to give this piece of driftwood a rinse and soak so that it can release any tannins that would otherwise discolor the water.
Pros
Long-lasting
Attractive shape
High-quality wood
Cons
Releases a lot of tannins
- Fluval Mopani Driftwood
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Size: Small
Wood type: Mopani
Aquarium type: Freshwater and saltwater
Dimensions: 10 × 10 × 4 inches
This is a finely crafted piece of Mopani driftwood by Fluval created to add a visual focal point to an aquarium while creating more natural-looking water conditions. The wood has been thoroughly cleaned to eliminate extraneous dust and substances that occur when the wood is being manufactured. It has a bulky shape that looks best in tall aquariums. It is naturally sourced and has a sandblasted and smooth finish.
Long-lasting
Attractive shape
High-quality wood
- Long-lasting
- Attractive shape
- High-quality wood
Releases a lot of tannins
- Releases a lot of tannins
Size: Small
Wood type: Mopani
Aquarium type: Freshwater and saltwater
Dimensions: 10 × 10 × 4 inches
This driftwood has a light brown color with some areas being dark and the small size can easily fit into aquariums around 10 to 20 gallons in size. It floats easily so it should be soaked in warm water before being placed in an aquarium to get it to soak.
Pros
Sandblasted finish
Ideal for small aquariums
Natural look
Cons
Needs to be soaked so it can sink
- Tfwadmx Aquarium Driftwood
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Size: Medium
Wood type: Spider wood
Aquarium type: Freshwater and saltwater
Dimensions: 9 to 9.8 inches in length
This is a sinking 3-piece set of Spider driftwood that had angled branches to create a structured appearance underwater, especially when it is covered with moss. It is small and versatile and sinks quickly after it has been soaked in water. It is ideal for aquascaping medium-sized fish tanks, and it will not deteriorate underwater or damage the quality of the water. The size can vary depending on the batch of driftwood you purchase, but each piece can be placed together to create your desired shape.
Sandblasted finish
Ideal for small aquariums
Natural look
- Sandblasted finish
- Ideal for small aquariums
- Natural look
Needs to be soaked so it can sink
- Needs to be soaked so it can sink
Size: Medium
Wood type: Spider wood
Aquarium type: Freshwater and saltwater
Dimensions: 9 to 9.8 inches in length
It seems to release fewer tannins than other pieces of wood, so soaking it overnight is optional, but it may still cause the water to take on a tea-colored tint.
Pros
Versatile
Sinks easily
Comes in a set of three pieces
Cons
Releases dark-colored tannins
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Driftwoods for Aquariums
Why add driftwood to an aquarium?
Driftwood is a great naturalistic ornament that can be added to aquariums. Most aquarists also like that driftwood releases natural tannins into the water, which is believed to help boost fish’s immune systems. These tannins are slowly released into the water and create an acidic environment that can help keep certain strains of viruses and bacteria at bay. Driftwood also looks attractive when paired with live plants and mosses that can be placed around the wood to create a naturalistic environment.
Versatile
Sinks easily
Comes in a set of three pieces
- Versatile
- Sinks easily
- Comes in a set of three pieces
Driftwood is also a popular choice in aquariums that are home to Plecostomus that will rasp on the wood, as it forms part of their diet. Whereas shrimp keepers like to add driftwood to aquariums because it encourages white biofilm to grow on the surface of the wood which is a source of food for shrimp and snails.
What are the different types of driftwood?
Several different types of driftwoods are safe enough to be used in aquariums, such as:
Bonsai driftwood
Mopani driftwood
Spider wood
Cholla driftwood
Tiger driftwood
Saba driftwood
Manzanita driftwood
Why does driftwood tint the water brown?
Driftwood turns the water a brown color after it has been soaking in an aquarium for some time, because it slowly releases harmless tannins that taint the water brown or yellow depending on the type of wood and how concentrated the volume is of water is in comparison to the size of the driftwood.
Bonsai driftwood
Mopani driftwood
Spider wood
Cholla driftwood
Tiger driftwood
Saba driftwood
Manzanita driftwood
- Bonsai driftwood
- Mopani driftwood
- Spider wood
- Cholla driftwood
- Tiger driftwood
- Saba driftwood
- Manzanita driftwood
It is recommended to soak driftwood in warm water for a few days and keep replacing the water so that the tannins can be released to help you avoid tainting your aquarium’s water too darkly. Some aquarists like the natural look of discolored aquarium water because it looks more natural, and tannins also have a few benefits for aquarium water such as lowering the pH slightly and acting as a natural antibacterial.
Most pieces of driftwood will float at the top of an aquarium until water has been soaked into the wood to make it heavy enough to sink. This is another common reason aquarists will soak driftwood before placing it into the aquarium.
Conclusion
We have taken a look at the pieces of driftwoods reviewed in this article and chosen two as our top picks. Our first is our favorite overall, the Zoo Med Mopani driftwood, because it easily sinks and contains no artificial chemicals or resins that could leach into your aquarium. Our second top pick is the SubstrateSource driftwood because it is a great source of natural tannins and it has a unique hollowed shape in comparison to other types of driftwoods.
Featured Image Credit: Brenda Helen, Unsplash
