Malaysian Driftwood

Also sold as Malaysian Mangrove Wood

Synonyms Malaysian bogwood · Malaysian wood

Malaysian Driftwood is a piece of aquarium driftwood sold by the piece, typically around 26 × 14 × 12 cm (10.2 × 5.5 × 4.7 in). In the water it leaves the water chemistry alone, tints the water strongly, and sinks straight away.

At a glance

Material	Wood
Raises hardness	No
Tannins	Strong
In the water	Sinks right away
Edges	Smooth
Prep	Boil
Default size	26 × 14 × 12 cm (10.2 × 5.5 × 4.7 in)

Before it goes in

Malaysian 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 tannins strongly and will tint the water tea-brown for months. Extra water changes or carbon clear it if you want the water colourless.
It sinks straight away, so no soaking or weighting is needed.
Before it goes in, boil it.
7 different pieces of Malaysian Driftwood are modelled, so the one you place looks like one you could actually pick out of the bin.
A default piece is 26 × 14 × 12 cm (10.2 × 5.5 × 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: boil it before it goes in.

Will it tint the water?

Yes, strongly and for months. Water changes and carbon clear it if you want the water colourless.

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

	Malaysian Driftwood	Bonsai Driftwood	Manzanita Driftwood
Raises	None	None	None
Tannins	Strong	Some	Some
In water	Sinks	Sinks	Floats at first
Prep	Boil	Soak	Soak

More hardscape

Plan a tank with Malaysian Driftwood →

Sources (1)

Sinking, Tanninsbuceplant.comSep 2026