Mopani Wood

Also sold as Mopani

Synonyms Mopani driftwood · Mopane wood · Mopani root · African mopani

Mopani Wood is a piece of aquarium driftwood sold by the piece, typically around 18 × 10 × 12 cm (7.1 × 3.9 × 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 and soak
Default size	18 × 10 × 12 cm (7.1 × 3.9 × 4.7 in)

Before it goes in

Mopani Wood 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 and soak it.
6 different pieces of Mopani Wood are modelled, so the one you place looks like one you could actually pick out of the bin.
A default piece is 18 × 10 × 12 cm (7.1 × 3.9 × 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: boil it and soak 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

	Mopani Wood	Cholla Wood	Ghost Wood
Raises	None	None	None
Tannins	Strong	Some	Some
In water	Sinks	Floats at first	Floats at first
Prep	Boil and Soak	Boil	Soak

More hardscape

Plan a tank with Mopani Wood →

Sources (1)

Sinking, Tanninsbuceplant.comSep 2026