Driftwood Stump

A Driftwood Stump is a thick-based section of hardwood driftwood with a naturally flat or broad bottom that provides outstanding stability in the aquarium without the need for substrate anchoring or weights. Its stump form — wider at the base with channels, hollows, and remnant root stubs radiating outward — creates an immediate impression of a submerged ancient tree stump teeming with life.

The hollows and cavities in a Driftwood Stump are ideal shelters for bottom-dwelling fish, cave-spawning cichlids, and territorial species that need defined territorial boundaries. Planting ferns, mosses, and Anubias around and on the stump transforms it into a lush living focal piece that anchors the entire composition.

Stump pieces release moderate tannins and soften water over time in a manner similar to Malaysian Driftwood. The wide base typically means more wood mass and therefore longer-term tannin release compared to thinner branch pieces. Pre-soaking for 5–7 days significantly reduces initial water discolouration.