Elder Root Wio

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Elder Roots is the ultimate material for achieving realism and dimension in your landscapes. Sourced from natural roots and heat-treated for durability, these dark-toned roots are available in a wide variety of shapes, curves, and thicknesses, each unique, each full of character.

Their rich, very dark brown color creates a dramatic contrast with lighter substrates and lush vegetation, making them ideal for both underwater and terrestrial designs. Whether you're recreating a forest floor or creating a wild riverbank, Elder Roots allows you to build complex structures with an organic flow. Strong enough to support moss and epiphytes, they open the door to beautiful botanical landscapes.

Beyond aesthetics, elder root is a natural source of tannins, which help gently lower pH and recreate the gentle, acidic conditions of tropical freshwater biotopes. This not only benefits aquatic life, but also imparts a warm, tea-colored hue to your water, evoking the authentic beauty of places like the Amazon Basin.

The WIO Difference: Elder Roots are our best-selling wood product, carefully selected for their natural shape, strength and adaptability.

See what you can create, explore our gallery for layout inspiration.

Key points:

• Highly realistic: Adds authentic texture, depth and organic shape to any landscape.
• Unique and Flexible: Each piece is one of a kind and easy to shape when dipped.
• Versatile Use: Great for aquariums, paludariums and terrariums.
• Plant support: Strong enough to support moss and epiphytes.
• Dark Elegance: The very dark brown tone enhances contrast and atmosphere.
• Natural Tannins: Releases beneficial tannins that support aquatic life and create a natural biotope appearance.
• Safe: 100% natural root, heat-treated and dehydrated.
• Packaging: available in 250g packs.
• Size: Thin to very thin, 10-30 cm long.
• Water chemistry: May slightly lower pH. Does not affect hardness.
  Usage:

• Preparation

  – Rinse thoroughly before use to remove dust.

  – Soak in water for 24 hours to restore flexibility and sinkability.

• Positioning Tips

  – To avoid floating, weigh initially or secure to hardscape.

  – For a long-lasting bond, use the WIO ScapeGlue kit to glue Elder Roots to stone, wood, or structural members.

• Water conditioning

  – Elder Roots release natural tannins that color the warm, colorless, and beneficial water.

  – For a lighter color: pre-soak for 1-4 weeks or boil for several hours.

  – Perform partial water changes as needed to manage discoloration.

• Natural behavior

  – Biofilm or white fungus (Saprolegnia) may temporarily appear normal and harmless.

  – Gently remove if necessary; it usually resolves within a few weeks.

• Notes

  – Each piece is unique: expect natural variations in shape, size, and texture.

  – Monitor water parameters regularly, especially when adding to established reservoirs.