How to Choose and Prepare Aquarium Wood for Your Tank
By Pro Shrimp | Published: 2026-10-21
Category: Buying Guides
Learn how to select the right aquarium wood for your tank, prepare driftwood to avoid tannins, and match wood types to your aquascape goals.
Quick answer
Start by matching the wood's shape and size to your tank's layout and livestock, then prepare it by soaking to reduce tannins before adding it to your aquarium.
Why wood shape matters more than type
When choosing aquarium wood, the silhouette and branching pattern determine how it fits into your hardscape. Fine-branched pieces create hiding spots for small fish and shrimp, while solid, hollow roots offer caves for catfish and plecos. Think about the function the wood will serve in your tank before you fall for a particular look.
Tannins: a natural trade-off
All natural driftwood leaches tannins into the water, which can tint it tea-colored and lower pH. Some aquarists welcome this for blackwater biotopes, but if you prefer crystal-clear water, you'll need to soak the wood beforehand. This is a key decision point: embrace the tint or put in the prep time.
Decision rules for choosing and preparing aquarium wood
- Match wood to tank size: Choose a piece that occupies about one-third to one-half of the tank's footprint, leaving open swimming space. For nano tanks, select smaller pieces like the 20-25cm honeycomb wood; for larger tanks, consider 45cm+ pieces. Measure your tank's interior before ordering.
- Match wood to livestock needs: If you keep catfish or plecos, choose hollow roots like Corbo Catfish Root. For shrimp and small fish, fine-branched wood like Ramous Wood provides climbing and hiding areas.
- Decide on tannins: If you want clear water, soak the wood in a bucket for several days to weeks, changing the water daily. If you want a blackwater effect, skip the soaking and let the tannins tint the water naturally. Test the wood in a bucket before adding it to your display tank.
- Prepare for planting: Attach mosses, Java Fern, or Anubias using cotton thread, fishing line, or plant glue. Ensure the wood is fully waterlogged before planting to prevent it from floating.
Wood options at a glance
- Driftwood 10-60cm: Driftwood 10-60cm is natural driftwood ideal for attaching mosses, Java Fern, and Anubias. Its varied sizes and plant-friendly surface make it a versatile base for a planted aquascape.
Driftwood 10-60cm - Corbo Catfish Root: Corbo Catfish Root features stunning hollow roots that create perfect hiding places for fish like Catfish and Plecos. The hollow structure gives shy bottom-dwellers secure caves, making it a functional centerpiece for a community tank.
Corbo Catfish Root
Who should choose which wood
Best for
- Aquascapers who want a natural base for epiphytes like Anubias and Java Fern
- Keepers of catfish, plecos, or shrimp that need hiding and climbing structures
Not for
- Aquarists who want zero water tint and are unwilling to soak the wood
- Tanks with very limited space where a large piece would overcrowd the layout
