Make sure your driftwood is a hardwood. Softwood will break down a lot faster and turn a nice tank into a crappy tank. Your pet stores will have hardwood. When your checking the shore line just make sure its hardwood.

i was maybe thinking trying ebay for a peice because all the fish stores around have really ugly pieces of wood.or ill try just diffrent places online.so is there a sealer on the wood?or hows it stay fresh

No sealer. Most hardwoods are just dense enough to remain intact underwater. I'm sure over a long long period of time they can break down too (they are organic after all) but not fast enough or in an amount that will effect your water quality.

Thers not a sealer that i know of. Hardwood just rots a ton slower than soft

If you did find a soft you like you just have to make sure you keep up with water changes and take out before it got really bad. I also think most soft wood floats. Not sure on that

i found a couple that interest me but they really dont have a opening in the middle that i like for my firemouth to make his home?and there very expensive