What is so special about driftwood?

However, the driftwood provides shelter and food for birds, fish and other aquatic species as it floats in the ocean. Gribbles, shipworms and bacteria decompose the wood and gradually turn it into nutrients that are reintroduced to the food web. There is also a subset of driftwood known as drift lumber.

How long does it take driftwood to rot?

Wood is organic and that means it will break down over time. How quickly it breaks down will depend on a number of factors, but on average, most driftwood will begin to show signs of deterioration as early as 2 years after being submerged and may need replacing after roughly 5 years.

What kind of wood is driftwood?

Driftwood is the remains of trees and bushes that were washed into the ocean, lake or river. The wood eventually loses its bark due to decay and the physical action of waves, wind and tides. But not all driftwood comes from the water.

What does driftwood do to water?

Much like the substrate and filter media in an aquarium, driftwood promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria. When driftwood is submerged, natural tannins will slowly leach into the aquarium water. These tannins create a slightly acidic environment that helps to keep viruses and disease-causing bacteria at bay.

What is the driftwood rule?

One of the first rules we were taught on arrival in Shetland in 1980 was the ownership of driftwood rule. On the strand line, a freshly washed up chunk of wood belongs to whomsoever claims it and drags it up onto the upper shore. Much less likely, but not without Shetland precedent is Spanish gold coins.

How can you tell real driftwood?

But, here’s a tip: If you can dig your fingernail into a piece of wood, it’s probably softwood. If you can’t, it’s hardwood. Some types of driftwood are particularly prized over others for aquarium use. Manzanita is good because it naturally contains fewer tannins, which can discolor the water.

What makes driftwood so expensive?

According to the law of supply and demand, the more a certain product is in demand, and the more limited the supply of that product is, the more expensive the cost will be. The rarer the piece of driftwood, the more a seller will charge for it. It’s quite simply due to one of the main laws of economics.

Why driftwood is expensive?

How long does driftwood take to sink?

That said, the average time it takes for most driftwoods to sink is anywhere between 2 days (for boiled, highly porous woods) to 2 weeks. It might take up to 4 weeks or even 2-months for less porous woods to sink. Wood sinks when it becomes waterlogged, and the water replaces all the air trapped inside the wood.

Can you take driftwood off the beach?

The answer to your question is, yes, it is legal, but it does require some paperwork. There are different rules for collecting natural items from the beach, depending on whether it’s for personal or commercial use.