Wood for Indo-Malayan aquascape

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Planning on cutting up the following piece of wood into smaller branches/pieces to be part of an Indo-Malayan aquascape in my 2nd 473 liter.

Those pieces are going to be included in the following aquascape (minus the piece of wood in the middle of course, but with some fake plants at the front), layed out in the fashion of the following to emulate branches or chunks of wood in a lake, swamp, or river.

Aquarium Plants Native To Southeast Asia

The Allure Of Southeast Asian Blackwater Habitats A New Obsession

aquariumviews.blogspot.com

Any tips or tricks I should know for a better/more natural aquascape? Or will I get a good aquascape as outlined above?

 

[aussieman57]

I like that piece of driftwood as is but would position it so that the longer branches reach upwards into the tank (from bottom to top of water). This will most likely require attaching it to another similar looking piece of driftwood so that is free standing. I wouldn't cut it up.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Fully agree. Worst thing you can do with any wood for under water is make it smaller. It does that to itself over time. If you want smaller pieces, find/buy smaller pieces. Best aquascapes that look more realistic do so with naturally formed pieces, not ones with saw cuts.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Thanks to both aussieman and Fishman Dave. As I'm fairly new to biotope aquascaping, the tips on both the positioning of the branches and on wood making itself smaller/looking more unnatural when cut are things I had not thought of before, so are especially appreciated.
I'll have to keep an eye out for wood that looks like the 2nd image without having been cut. This thread will be updated if I find a good piece and a good position for it.

 

[duanes]

I agree, I would not cut the wood up.
And Cryptocorne are some of my favorite Asian aquatic plant species, they will tolerate low light, and low nutrient conditions, i never used CO2.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/plants/crypts/.highres/05-05-07_1214.jpg?width=450&height=278&crop=fill

I often grew them in my sumps with just hardware shop lights, in PFS as substrate.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/plants/crypts/.highres/image001-122.jpg?width=450&height=278&crop=fill

Above a crypt tank during a water change.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/plants/crypts/.highres/038_zpsa0711c4c.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Java fern is also apropos for an Asian biotope, another easy to keep plant, and works great attached to water logged wood.