Nico’s Wood:

Our Committment

Locally collected Manzanita

We love nature, and it is important to us to harvest our wood with respect for our wonderful environment. All of our pieces are locally collected by Nico, almost always manzanita, and gathered in a sustainable way. We never cut live plants. Everything we collect is dead and down material or old root stumps from wildfire zones a few years after the burn. Most of our wood comes from the mountains north of Sacramento.

Free from Aquatic Pathogens & Parasites

Although it is commonly called “driftwood”, our wood never actually drifted down a river. It is all collected from dry places, which is generally safer for aquariums, as there is no risk of transferring parasites or pathogens.
Because of this, we do not feel the need to sterilize or boil our wood. That said, you should do whatever helps you feel confident about adding new pieces to your setup. Everyone has a different routine, and that is totally okay.

Rooted in Passion for Nature

This started as a passion project when I started collecting interesting manzanita pieces, with nowhere near enough tank space to use it. Sharing it became the obvious next step, because I find every part of the process incredibly fulfilling. I love researching potential collecting spots online and reading the landscape while hiking or driving through the mountains, always on the lookout for a good stump. There is no better feeling than driving down the mountains, into the sunset, with sore legs sore and the car filled to the brim with wood. I even enjoy the cleaning process, thanks to the pressure washing. Watching dirt and old bark fly off and reveal that clean, pale manzanita beneath feels almost meditative and I regularly lose track of time.
I am grateful for the chance to share this passion with other hobbyists, whether it is chatting at local events or seeing photos of someone’s eight foot tank filled with pieces they picked out in person.

Buy Directly From Us

Find Us at West Coast Events

We love sharing our locally collected manzanita, along with a rotating mix of aquatic plants, houseplants, shrimp, and fun extras from our home. We sell our driftwood at local and regional events all over the West Coast, mainly around California. Nico helps plan FIN-DIG with the Sacramento Aquarium Society, so you can always count on finding his booth there. Meet us there to check out our selection or just come chat about your plants or critters.

Local Pickup in Rancho Cordova

You can pick up your order at our place in Rancho Cordova by appointment. We prefer Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, and on other days we are available after 7 pm. Picking up at our home gives you access to our full stock since we can never bring everything to events or stores. We might even offer a small discount for making the drive. If you love plants, you can check out our tanks and take home cuttings at prices you will not find anywhere else.

Any Questions?

Send Message

Our Wood in Local Shops

Partnered Retail Stores

You can find our locally collected manzanita wood in a growing number of partner stores. If you visit one of these shops, please let them know you came in for our wood since it helps them and helps us. If you are interested in becoming a partner store, there is a form below where you can reach out to us.