Manzanita Driftwood

Also sold as Manzanita

Synonyms Manzanita branch · Manzanita wood

Manzanita Driftwood is a piece of aquarium driftwood sold by the piece, typically around 26 × 18 × 10 cm (10.2 × 7.1 × 3.9 in). In the water it leaves the water chemistry alone, tints the water lightly, and floats until it is waterlogged.

At a glance

Material	Wood
Raises hardness	No
Tannins	Some
In the water	Floats until waterlogged
Edges	Sharp
Prep	Soak
Default size	26 × 18 × 10 cm (10.2 × 7.1 × 3.9 in)

Before it goes in

Manzanita 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 floats until it is waterlogged. Soak it for a few weeks, or hold it down with rock, or it will lift the scape.
Before it goes in, soak it.
It has sharp edges — worth keeping in mind next to long-finned fish and around fish that sit on the bottom.
7 different pieces of Manzanita Driftwood are modelled, so the one you place looks like one you could actually pick out of the bin.
A default piece is 26 × 18 × 10 cm (10.2 × 7.1 × 3.9 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?

Not at first. It floats until it is waterlogged, which takes a few weeks of soaking — or hold it down with rock in the meantime.

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.

Is it shrimp- and fish-safe?

Yes. It does have sharp edges, which is worth a thought around long-finned and bottom-sitting fish.

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

	Manzanita Driftwood	Pacific Driftwood	Bonsai Driftwood
Raises	None	None	None
Tannins	Some	Some	Some
In water	Floats at first	Floats at first	Sinks
Prep	Soak	Soak	Soak

More hardscape

Plan a tank with Manzanita Driftwood →

Sources (6) · checked Sep 2026