How-To Guide
Cleaning Driftwood
Clean new driftwood by inspecting it for rot, scrubbing it with a stiff brush and plain hot water, then soaking it until it sinks and releases most of its tannins. Never use soap or household cleaners. Boiling helps with pieces that fit in a pot, and the white film that often grows on new wood is usually harmless and fades within a few weeks.
Why Driftwood Needs Cleaning Before Use
New driftwood often carries dust, loose bark, soft decaying fibres and sometimes insects or debris from storage. Cleaning removes material that would otherwise rot in the tank and cloud the water.
Preparing wood also lets you control two things before it reaches your fish: how much tannin it releases, and whether it floats.
Inspect Driftwood Before Cleaning
Check the whole piece for soft, crumbly or smelly patches, which mean rot, and cut or scrape them away. Remove loose bark, because it tends to peel and decay underwater.
Wood from a reputable aquarium supplier is the safest choice. Avoid wood that smells of chemicals, has been painted or varnished, or comes from resinous trees such as pine and cedar.
How to Clean Aquarium Driftwood Safely
Scrub the wood under hot running water with a stiff brush kept only for aquarium use. Work into cracks and crevices to remove trapped dirt.
Do not use soap, detergent or household cleaners: wood is porous and absorbs residues that can harm fish and shrimp later. Bleach is not needed for normal cleaning and is hard to rinse fully from wood.
Soaking Driftwood and Managing Tannins
Soak the wood in a bucket or tub of water, weighing it down if it floats. Change the water every day or two. The water turning brown shows tannins leaving the wood, and the colour fades with each change.
Soaking takes from a few days for dense wood such as Malaysian and mopani to several weeks for lighter wood such as spider wood. Tannins are harmless to most fish and can be reduced later with activated carbon if you prefer clear water.
When Boiling Driftwood Is Appropriate
Boiling for one to two hours speeds up waterlogging, releases tannins faster and kills surface organisms. It suits pieces that fit fully in a large pot.
Large pieces cannot be boiled safely. Pour boiling water over them repeatedly, or simply soak them for longer. Let boiled wood cool completely before it goes into the tank.
Mold, Biofilm, Odor, and Other Problems
A white or grey fuzzy film often appears on new wood during the first few weeks. It is a harmless growth of fungi and bacteria feeding on sugars in the wood. Shrimp, snails and plecos often eat it, and it can be siphoned off during water changes.
A rotten-egg smell, wood that stays soft and slimy, or a sharp rise in ammonia point to decay. Remove the piece, scrub or cut away the soft parts, and re-soak before using it again.
Cleaning Driftwood Already in an Aquarium
Wood already in the tank rarely needs removing. Brush off algae with a soft brush during a water change and siphon away loose debris.
Take wood out only for a real problem, such as persistent rot or heavy algae that cannot be cleaned in place. Removing it disturbs the substrate and the plants or mosses attached to it, so rinse it in old tank water rather than tap water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Soap to Clean Aquarium Driftwood?
No. Wood is porous and absorbs soap and detergent residues, which can later leach into the water and harm fish and shrimp. Use plain hot water and a stiff brush.
Should I Boil Driftwood Before Adding It?
Boiling is useful for pieces that fit in a pot, because it speeds up sinking, releases tannins and kills surface organisms. It is not required, and larger pieces can simply be soaked for longer.
How Long Should Driftwood Soak?
From a few days for dense wood to several weeks for light wood. Soak until the piece sinks on its own and the water stays only lightly coloured between changes.
Is White Film on Driftwood Dangerous?
Usually not. The white film on new wood is a harmless growth of fungi and bacteria that fades within a few weeks. Many shrimp and snails eat it.
How Do I Reduce Tannins From Driftwood?
Soak the wood longer before use and change the soaking water often. In the tank, regular water changes and activated carbon in the filter reduce the colour.
Can I Clean Driftwood With Bleach?
It is not needed and is best avoided. Bleach soaks into the wood and is difficult to rinse out completely. Scrubbing, soaking and boiling are enough for aquarium wood.
When Should Driftwood Be Removed From the Tank for Cleaning?
Only when there is a clear problem, such as rot, a strong smell or algae that cannot be brushed off in place. Otherwise clean it in the tank during routine water changes.