Tank decorating for the freshwater angelfish can include adding wood for aquariums. Bogwood and driftwood are common woods used in fish tanks. These can enhance the look of your tank and the habitat for your angels.
What is Bogwood?
Bogwood is wood that has been immersed in peat bog for many years. Pine, oak, and yew are common woods found in a peat bog. Bogwood is a natural choice to decorate a blackwater aquarium.
How Bogwood Affects an Aquarium
Bogwood absorbs peat tannins that leach out in an aquarium, lowers pH, hardness, and darkens the water. Because of this ability to color water and lower pH, bogwood is a good addition to a blackwater or freshwater angelfish tank.
Preparing Bogwood for the Aquarium
Bogwood needs soaking before using in tropical fish tanks. If it is dry, bogwood floats, and contains tannins from the peat, which turns the water brown. Before putting it in a tropical fish tank, soak bogwood in a container of water so it will sink and to leech out some of the tannins. Change the water frequently early in the process. When the brown color takes longer to color the water, change it less frequently.
Bogwood In The Angelfish Aquarium
Bogwood will turn water a tea color unless there is carbon in the filter. Bogwood isn’t as susceptible to fungus growing on the wood because the peat inhibits fungus growth. If fungus does appear, scrub it off with a brush. The fungus is not harmful to angelfish.
Bogwood can be an attractive addition to a fish tank setup. Plants will grow on the wood and enhance the aquascape and help create a a blackwater aquarium for your freshwater angelfish.
Driftwood for Aquariums
Driftwood is dead wood that has spent time in the ocean or rivers and can be used in aquariums. Driftwood requires the same process as bogwood before introducing it to the aquarium. If the driftwood is from the ocean, it will require more soaking to remove the ocean salt and minerals.