Bonsai Driftwood
Also sold as Aquarium bonsai tree · Bonsai Tree Driftwood · Driftwood bonsai tree
Synonyms Bonsai wood
Bonsai Driftwood is a piece of aquarium driftwood sold by the piece, typically around 20 × 20 × 12 cm (7.9 × 7.9 × 4.7 in). In the water it leaves the water chemistry alone, tints the water lightly, and sinks straight away.
At a glance
| Material | Wood |
|---|---|
| Raises hardness | No |
| Tannins | Some |
| In the water | Sinks right away |
| Edges | Smooth |
| Prep | Soak |
| Default size | 20 × 20 × 12 cm (7.9 × 7.9 × 4.7 in) |
Before it goes in
- Bonsai Driftwood is inert: it will not move KH, GH or pH, so it is safe in a shrimp tank and in soft water.
- It leaches some tannins and tints the water lightly at first; the colour fades over a few months.
- It sinks straight away, so no soaking or weighting is needed.
- Before it goes in, soak it.
- 6 different pieces of Bonsai Driftwood are modelled, so the one you place looks like one you could actually pick out of the bin.
- A default piece is 20 × 20 × 12 cm (7.9 × 7.9 × 4.7 in); you can stretch it to whatever you bought.
Does it raise pH and hardness?
No. It is inert, so KH, GH and pH stay where your tap water puts them.
Does it sink?
Yes, straight away.
Do I need to prepare it?
Yes: soak it before it goes in.
Will it tint the water?
A little, mostly in the first months, and it fades.
What it goes with
- Plants you can tie or glue straight onto it: Anubias nana 'Petite', Subwassertang, Anubias barteri and Bucephalandra 'Green Wavy'.
- Substrates that leave the water where it is, the same as this one does: Walstad, ADA Amazonia and Colored Gravel.
Often compared with
| Bonsai Driftwood | Malaysian Driftwood | Manzanita Driftwood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raises | None | None | None |
| Tannins | Some | Strong | Some |
| In water | Sinks | Sinks | Floats at first |
| Prep | Soak | Boil | Soak |
More hardscape
Sources (2) · checked Sep 2026
- Tanninsbuceplant.com
- Tanninsbuceplant.com