Aquascape
Preparing driftwood before the tank
New driftwood is often dry, light, and full of tannins. The order should be: lock the composition with a dry fit, then soak and sink, then install. Do not soak for two weeks only to find the piece sits wrong.
Recommended order
- Set a layout direction—try it in the aquascape studio, or start from a wood-island or forest skeleton you already want.
- Choose the wood and dry-fit in an empty tank (especially azalea: place before you soak).
- Soak through, manage tannins, weight if needed.
- Install, then substrate and plants.
Choosing wood
- Use aquarium or aquascape driftwood and azalea root.
- Skip pieces that are rotten, heavily worm-eaten, or smell of chemical treatment.
- Rinse off mud and sawdust.
Dry-fit and lock it
In an empty tank or on a cloth, set the piece to the angle and place you accept, and remember the orientation.
1. Soak through
Dry wood is full of air. Weighting it without soaking usually means it keeps bobbing up. After the layout is locked, soak the piece through in a clean bucket or tub.
How to soak
- Fully submerge; hold floaters down with clean stone or a bowl.
- Change the water when it clouds or yellows.
- In warm weather watch the smell: if it turns foul, change the whole bath and scrub the surface.
How long
There is no single timetable. Small twigs often need a few days; large pieces commonly one to two weeks; dense hardwood longer. The standard is that it mostly stays down when you let go.
Boiling or not
Boiling or a hot soak can drive out air faster and scald some surface growth. Only do this if you know the wood and the vessel can take heat. Do not force-boil fine twigs, wood of unclear origin, or pieces that may be glued.
2. Get it to sink
Soak until it mostly stays down when you let go, then put it in the display tank. If it still floats a little, secure it with the methods below.
If it still floats a little
- Weight a root or branch with stone once it is in the tank (if the layout allows).
- Tie stone with clear fishing line, hidden from view—more reliable than suction cups.
Avoid: pouring lead or unknown glue into the wood—leaks become a worse problem.
3. Tannins (yellow water)
Many woods leach tannins and turn the water tea-brown. Blackwater layouts can keep some; clear planted and Iwagumi tanks usually do not want it.
- Frequent water changes while soaking dilute the early release.
- Carbon or purifying resin can adsorb tannins, and other compounds with them—use as needed.
- Tannins are not the same as “toxic” for most tropical fish; they change the look and can lower pH slightly.
For blackwater, early stain is often expected. For ultra-clear open sand, soak and change more before the wood enters the display tank.
On the day it goes in
| Step | Do |
|---|---|
| Rinse | Lift from the soak, rinse slime and debris |
| Place | Return it to the dry-fit orientation, then add substrate |
| Secure | Weight what still needs it, then plant |
| Watch | In the first week, check float and how yellow the water gets |
Common issues
- White film: often fungal bloom on new wood; usually fine for fish and shrimp—siphon it or wait for the biofilm to settle.
- Keeps floating: soak longer, or use denser wood; very light pieces may need permanent weighting.
- Harsh chemical smell: do not use it—may not be aquarium-grade.
In short
Compose and dry-fit first, prepare the wood second, install last. The aquascape studio is for trying direction; the real angle is locked at dry-fit.
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2026-09-25