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Hardscape

Mopani Driftwood

Mopani Driftwood Origins

The Mopani Driftwood originates in parts of Africa from the famous Mopani (Mopane) tree. Typically harvested from old branches and the trunk that tends to fall off naturally, it is one of the most common pieces of driftwood used in the aquatic and reptile world.

Mopani Description

Mopani Driftwood has a very natural gnarly texture to it. With dark and pale streaks running through it, the Mopani is one of the more dense types of driftwood. Thus, it won’t need much help with sinking in an aquarium. It does hold a lot of tannins which will be released into the water column, so it’s best to boil or water soak this type of hardscape before adding it into any aquascape. The Mopani wood is favored in the aquatic world because of its longevity in the water as well as fauna liking to graze on it.

Fungus on Mopani Driftwood

One of the downsides of Mopani wood is that sometimes it grows a white fur-like slime or fungus on its bark when submerged. It does goes away after time but it is somewhat of an eyesore until the fungus dies out. People usually soak or boil their Mopani to kill off any fungus and often scrub it before adding into an aquarium. If you do soak or boil your wood, it will also help with releasing tannins before adding it into the aquascape.

Mopani for Sale & Where to Buy

Mopani Wood can be found in almost any fish store and usually at some of the large pet stores as well (in the reptile section). They are typically “hit or miss” in the shops when looking for a centerpiece or creating a hardscape. Expect to pay top dollar as well for scraps of Mopani. Online vendors can be a guessing game with buying Mopani pieces, but they usually have beautiful selection that you can pick from. It is also strongly advised to ask for pictures of pieces. Check out below for information about online vendors that are selling Mopani Driftwood.

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