Why You Should Add Botanicals Like Cholla Wood to Your Aquarium

Aquarium botanicals are an often-overlooked way to enhance your tank’s natural beauty while also improving water quality and creating a more natural environment for your fish and invertebrates. One of the best botanicals to add to your aquarium is Cholla Wood—a lightweight, porous driftwood derived from the dried skeleton of the Cholla cactus. But why should you add Cholla Wood to your tank? Let’s explore its benefits!

1. Natural Habitat Enrichment

In the wild, fish and invertebrates thrive in environments rich in leaf litter, branches, and submerged wood. Adding Cholla Wood to your aquarium helps replicate these natural conditions, providing essential hiding spots, surfaces for biofilm growth, and areas for fish to explore. This is especially beneficial for shrimp, small fish, and bottom-dwelling species that seek shelter.

2. Encourages Biofilm Growth for Shrimp & Fish

Cholla Wood slowly breaks down in the aquarium, forming a layer of biofilm that serves as an excellent food source for shrimp and certain fish species. If you’re keeping Neocaridina or Caridina shrimp, they will graze on the biofilm that naturally develops on the wood, promoting healthy growth and molting.

3. Releases Beneficial Tannins

Like Malaysian Driftwood, Cholla Wood releases tannins into the water, slightly lowering pH and creating a soft, acidic environment that many tropical fish, such as tetras, bettas, and rasboras, prefer. These tannins also have mild antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can help improve fish health and reduce disease risks.

4. Great for Aquascaping

Cholla Wood has a unique, skeletal structure that adds a visually striking, natural element to any aquascape. Its hollow design allows for creative placement, whether you want to stack pieces to create caves, combine them with mosses for a lush look, or use them as a centerpiece in a biotope tank.

5. Supports Beneficial Bacteria

The porous nature of Cholla Wood provides an excellent surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize. These bacteria help break down waste and improve overall water quality, making Cholla Wood a functional and aesthetic addition to your tank’s ecosystem.

6. Safe and Easy to Prepare

Cholla Wood is lightweight and safe for all freshwater aquariums, including shrimp, betta, and community tanks. Before adding it to your aquarium, it’s recommended to:

• Boil it for 15–30 minutes to remove impurities and speed up water saturation.
• Soak it for 24–48 hours if you want to reduce the release of tannins before placing it in your tank.

Conclusion

Adding botanicals like Cholla Wood to your aquarium isn’t just about aesthetics—it enhances water quality, provides shelter, supports beneficial bacteria, and encourages natural behaviors in your fish and shrimp. Whether you're looking to create a shrimp-friendly habitat, a softwater biotope, or a natural aquascape, Cholla Wood is a fantastic choice!

Ready to enhance your aquarium with Cholla Wood?

Check out our selection of high-quality driftwood pieces: SHOP NOW!