Driftwood and Other Decorations

In order to keep their aquariums easier to clean, some people don’t use decorations. However, other people use decorations anyway and just devote more effort to cleaning. You decide what’s best for you. In this article, we’ll look at ways to decorate a discus aquarium, and we’ll especially focus on ways to use wood.

Aquarium Decorated with Driftwood

If you want to put items into your tank, first make sure that they are inert, meaning that they won’t release chemicals into the water. Glass, ceramics, and most plastics are all inert and safe to use to decorate your aquarium.

As you can see in the this article’s photos, wood can be a beautiful decoration for an aquarium. Wood can release chemicals that might possibly change the water’s pH too much, so be sure to closely monitor your water’s pH after you add wood to it. Driftwood also releases tannins and other humic acids, which may soften the water and increase its acidity. The water might became more yellow-tinted, but this is not harmful, and you can filter the water through activated charcoal to remove it.

Aquarium with Close Up of Driftwood

Aquarium Decorated with Wood

You can also use wood that you find in lakes or forests to decorate your aquarium. Be sure to first boil it for a while, and then it will be ready for use.  

Aquarium Decorated with Wood
 

Aquarium Decorated with Wood

QUESTIONS

• How do you plan to decorate your aquarium?
• Out of the photos of this page, do any show wood arranged in a way that you would like for your aquarium?
• How will you obtain wood for your tank?