Driftwood Decorations
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Driftwood Decorations
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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