Manzanita Driftwood

Manzanita Driftwood

Manzanita wood is becoming one of the most sought out types of aquarium wood. Manzanita is an excellent wood for aquariums. The most obvious advantage of this wood is its appearance. Not only are its unique shapes it grows into attractive, it also has colors and a texture that is like no other wood. And the colors are only amplified when the wood is wet.

Manzanita also makes an ideal aquarium wood because of its physical and chemical properties. The wood is non toxic and considered to be chemically inert, so it is safe for aquatic and terrestrial animals including fish and reptiles. It also releases very few tannins into the water compared to many other types of aquarium wood. It does release some, so it is recommended that you soak the manzanita wood in water for around two weeks to release most of the tannins before putting it into your aquarium.

Manzanita wood is highly resistant to decay and will last much longer than other aquarium wood, such as grape vine. Manzanita aquarium wood will last for a long time both in and out of water. Under water in an aquarium, it can last for decades. This means the wood will last a long time without rotting, and it is also good because it wont be decaying and releasing chemicals into the water the way some woods do as they break down.

Manzanita Wood

Idea for an aquarium because it is so dense and heavy, making it one of the easier woods to sink. But dry manzanita will float in water until it becomes saturated with water. This can take a few days or weeks depending on the size of the wood. Until it is saturated enough to sink you can weigh it down with a rock or other heavy object.

What you see in the picture is the actual piece or pieces you will receive. All pieces are measured from the widest points which is usually a thin branch. So if a piece is only a few inches to big for your tank it can be trimmed most of the time without loosing it's style. Trimming Manzanita Driftwood can be easily done with pliers, snips, saws, or even scissors.