Driftwood and other Decorations are safe to place items in your tank as long as they are inert, meaning they won´t release (leach) chemicals into the water.

Wood may leach substances into the water, changing the pH in a possibly inappropriate manner. Driftwood often leaches tannins and other humic acids into the water, possibly softening it and lowering its pH. The water may also obtain a yellowish tea-colored tint. The tint is not harmful and can be removed by filtering the water through activated charcoal.

If you use wood that you´ve found yourself (e.g., woods or lake), boil it first to kill any pathogens. Boiling it long enough will also make it sink.

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