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.
Try it in a tank
Put Malaysian Driftwood in a 3D tank at your size and see how it sits with everything else. Free with an account.
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) |
Shapes · No two pieces look the same. Pick a shape to see it.
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.
Malaysian Driftwood: care and setup
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 |