Instructions
Consider the size and shape of your tank as you select a piece of driftwood. Generally, taller tanks should use taller pieces of wood, while a horizontal arrangement is more attractive for longer tanks. This planning allows you to try out different designs without disturbing your tank inhabitants.
Clean the driftwood. Boil smaller pieces for 15 minutes, then drain the water and boil them once again for 15 minutes. Scrub larger pieces of driftwood with a clean brush and water only. Do not use soap or cleaners on the driftwood.
Cure the driftwood by allowing it to soak until it sinks naturally. Boiling speeds this process, but larger pieces may need to soak for a week or two until they are fully saturated, according to the Pet Education website.
Fasten pieces of driftwood that will not sink after curing to something heavy, such as a piece of rock or piece of slate, using monofilament fishing line. The weight will keep the wood submerged.
Attach live plants to the driftwood with monofilament line or thread, if desired. The plants will eventually grow to conceal the attachment points.
Aquarium Driftwood Preparation
Natural driftwood adds an attractive element to freshwater aquariums, particularly when used in combination with live plants. Aquarium hobbyists can leave the wood bare and let the branches create their own design, or attach aquatic mosses to the driftwood to make a green underwater sculpture. Before adding driftwood to your tank, however, you need to take a few steps to ensure that it will not harm your fish or introduce parasites or algae to the tank.