Driftwood fish tank

Driftwood fish tank

For many aquarium hobbyists, the most enjoyable part of having a freshwater tank is being able to decorate it. There are many ways to go about decorating your freshwater tank, so choose a style that attracts you. Some Aquarium hobbyists prefer to use cheaper decoration items such as treasure chests and sunken pirate ships while others prefer to go with more natural beauty. One of the most attractive ways you can decorate a aquarium is to include a combination of driftwood and live plants. To see your tank in full, think about anchoring your living plants for drift.

Drift in the aquarium

If you are trying to cultivate a natural looking aquarium, then one of the best decorations you can use is driftwood. A small piece of driftwood hidden among a patch of living plants can give your fish space to hide, while also making your tank look great. Larger pieces of drift can be carried overboard with rocks to take up more vertical space in your tank. If you want to get really creative, you can use several pieces of drift to create a circle of caves and ditches to locate your fish.

How to cure DIY DIYwood

If you are lucky enough to live near the sea or river, you may be able to find natural drift near your home. You simply cannot take the drift from nature and put it in your tank, though - it may contain bacteria, fungi, mold and other substances that can harm your fish. Before you use natural drift in your tank, you need to clean it properly and fix it. Below you will find step-by-step instructions for cleaning natural driftwood:

Remove any leaves or foreign material from the driftwood until only the wood remains.
Use a strong brush to scrub the driftwood, ensuring that you remove as much dirt and any other foreign matter as possible.
Place the driftwood in a large container.
Fill the container with enough distilled water to completely submerge the dripwood - you may need to use a rock to weigh it down.
Allow the driftwood to soak for about two weeks.
During this time you will need to swap water, as tannins taken from wood turn the water brown.
When the water remains clear for a few days, your flow becomes completely clear.
Remove the driftwood from the water and set it to dry in a cool, dry place.
Once the driftwood is dried it can be cured and is ready to use in your tank.

How you use your driftwood is entirely up to you, but if you want to get a truly unique look in your aquarium, you should consider anchoring some living plants in the driftwood.

Anchoring Plants in Driftwood

The process of anchoring the plants for driftwood is not difficult - all you need is a few simple materials. Apart from driftwood you will need some deep cotton thread and whatever plants you want to attach to the driftwood. Follow the steps below to anchor your plants for their flow:

Set your drift to a strong work space.
If necessary, trim your plants, and test different arrangements on a piece of driftwood.
Start with small plants so that they join with the flow as they grow and leave enough room for them to expand.
Once you have chosen your arrangement, use a thread to secure the roots to the drift.
Anchor them several times to wrap the roots around, then trim the thread.

When you move your plants to a drifting location, they have to be kept in your tank. Don't worry if the plants look a little weird already - after a few weeks they may have anchored themselves to drift and feel as if they are there.

Recommended plants to use

Theoretically you should be able to anchor any plant to a piece of driftwood, as long as it has roots that you can tie down. However, the roots of some plants are thick or strong, and these plants are best for this type of project. Java is one of the best plants to use ferns. Below you will find a list of recommended plants to use with driftwood:

Java Fern - This low-maintenance plant produces long, finger-like leaves in bright green color. The java fern is up to 8 inches long and is particularly suited to cyclid tanks. These plants require moderate light, but they will be found only in shade.

Anubias - Another low-maintenance plant, Anubias grows up to 20 inches long and produces bright green leaves. This plant does well with moderate lighting conditions but may require supplemental fertilization for optimal growth. To prevent algae from growing on the leaves, keep this plant out of areas of intense light.

Heminthus - Also known as "tears of a dwarf baby", this plant grows in bright green clumps and is a great option if you are looking for something that can completely grow your living rock. Cover with This species is up to 6 inches long and produces small green leaves that provide cover for small fishes and new hat fry.

Glossostigma - This aquarium is one of the smallest species of plants so it works well in the foreground. This plant requires a good deal of light and it grows upwards instead of spreading if it does not get enough light.

These are some of the many plants that can be anchored for flow. If you go to your local fish shop and see a plant that you like, don't be afraid to try it out. If the plant does not anchor for drift, just use it elsewhere in your tank. Over time, you can build a densely planted tank that your fish will like.

When it comes to decorating your freshwater aquarium you can be as creative as you want. If you are going for a natural look and you don't mind doing a little extra work, it is worth the effort to attach some plants with some drift to use as a decoration for your tank.

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