Driftwood..
- Thread starter jagr200
- Start date
Dangerdoll
Global Moderator
really jag, it depends on the look you are looking for and the shape of the wood.... only you can tell if it's right.
Im going for a natural look. Its hard because I dont have the tank yet and Im ordering online so I dont know! Its so stressful!!!!
I agree w/ Danger, but if I were you I'd go w/ a few decent sized pieces strategically placed instead of one big one- I have one large piece in my 55, I just plunked it down in the middle and I have to say, it looks kinda weird. lol It's a nice piece though- I got it from ebay seller rockartsource. They have some nice wood w/ really thorough descriptions, including all dimensions. Highly recommended. 
i try to look for pieces that I can imagine plants growing in specific places or that has interesting dynamics. Depends on what look you are going for, stumpy, viney, dynamic, peaceful.
I don't have a specific answer in inches for you, but I have some advice... Look at your tank and decide how much of the footprint YOU want taken up by driftwood.
When I ordered my driftwood, I ordered a "centerpiece" sized piece for my 29g, and now I wish I could break it in half because it takes up so much space and interferes with my aquascaping. I'm sure someone with more talent could get creative and make it look wonderful, but I wish I had less wood and more room for plants. My wood also has a flat, sawed off bottom, so I'm limited in ways I can place it without that showing. Look for a piece without a big sawed off surface.
When I ordered my driftwood, I ordered a "centerpiece" sized piece for my 29g, and now I wish I could break it in half because it takes up so much space and interferes with my aquascaping. I'm sure someone with more talent could get creative and make it look wonderful, but I wish I had less wood and more room for plants. My wood also has a flat, sawed off bottom, so I'm limited in ways I can place it without that showing. Look for a piece without a big sawed off surface.
My driftwood peice is my centerpiece in my 55g..it is exactly 24" long and thick. I thought it would be a good idea at first but it limited my other decorations (clay plots for spawning fish) and plants. I am going to be getting a 125g next weekend and want to find another piece of driftwood that is about half the size of mine now and has lots of branches on it. There is a really cool LFS here that has a nice selection so I am hopefull that I will be able to find something kind of like what I am looking for.
I'd agree that multiple pieces are more versatile than 1 huge piece.
But what you do with it really depends upon what you're trying to achieve. I like to use wood to add some vertical interest to what might otherwise be a pretty flat-looking tank.
Also, keep in mind that the wood will leak tanins into the water. Mopani can do this a lot. This is great if that's what you're going for. But if it's not, one standard way of helping to reduce it is to boil your wood (like making tea) a few times until the water doesn't turn as dark during each boil. If you get one huge piece of wood, you're not going to be able to fit it in anything besides your bathtub for a soak.
Boiling is also good to kill anything that might be on the surface of the wood. I'd also give it a scrub with a stiff brush. Mopani is super hard, so I've actually used a wire brush to help accentuate the great textures. The nooks and crannies you can't get to stay darker, and the exposed areas become highlighted. Just be prepared to use some elbow grease.
As with rocks, make sure that any construction you do with wood isn't going to collapse if some inhabitant moves the substrate around some.
Also, mopani has all sorts of texture. It's a perfect place to anchor different types of fern, moss, anubias, or to make little wooden caves.
But what you do with it really depends upon what you're trying to achieve. I like to use wood to add some vertical interest to what might otherwise be a pretty flat-looking tank.
Also, keep in mind that the wood will leak tanins into the water. Mopani can do this a lot. This is great if that's what you're going for. But if it's not, one standard way of helping to reduce it is to boil your wood (like making tea) a few times until the water doesn't turn as dark during each boil. If you get one huge piece of wood, you're not going to be able to fit it in anything besides your bathtub for a soak.
Boiling is also good to kill anything that might be on the surface of the wood. I'd also give it a scrub with a stiff brush. Mopani is super hard, so I've actually used a wire brush to help accentuate the great textures. The nooks and crannies you can't get to stay darker, and the exposed areas become highlighted. Just be prepared to use some elbow grease.
As with rocks, make sure that any construction you do with wood isn't going to collapse if some inhabitant moves the substrate around some.
Also, mopani has all sorts of texture. It's a perfect place to anchor different types of fern, moss, anubias, or to make little wooden caves.