A rather unusual question

[DrChaos619]

This is kind of a weird question, so I'll just get it out there:

Can anyone give a general idea of any reaction between salt water and the components of the plastic they use to create plastic models?

more specifically, the negative effects of chemical leaching from the plastics. I'm not sure of the chemical makeup of the plastics so I'm hoping that someone could at least point me in the right direction.

Also

In order to preserve the paint I'd use and any potential problems from the plastic, I'd coat it in a resin to make it more sturdy as well as preserve it from the corrosive properties.

I understand that this isn't something someone would normally ask, but any help would be cool.

Any thoughts?





In case you guys were wondering about what i'm doing, Ill tell you. I'm a college guy who is creating a portfollio to transfer to an art school. I know, being a college guy and maintaining a 90 gal reef is not the best of combinations, especially since i enjoy eating from time to time . I wanted to create a unique portfollio instead of using my normal pecil and ben medium. My Idea is to create a sort of surrealist art using several tanks in my possesion by creating scenes by using some models I've built and creating things to add to the scene. There will be two scenes, one being a field in spring time thats going to be very bright and summery with nothing but yellow tangs in them. The next scene will be an aggressive tank with rather threatening looking creatures, maybe even a moray (provided I can get my hands on a big enough tank) depicted inside of a rather delapidated looking hanger with old and decreped weapons of war. The algae will really set it off.

I'm not sure how well this is going to work out but I figure at least asking the knowledgable people of this forum to help me would set me in the right direction

 

[BeanAnimal]

Most plastics are fairly inert over the period of time you are looking at. The thing that may cause them to break down is UV.

 

[PruneHands]

Most plastic models are made from polystyrene. If you were making a reef tank with a bunch of plastic models you would have some reason for concern as there may be plasticizers and other chemicals used to facilitate injection molding that could leach out. For what you are trying to do I don't expect there will be any issues.

 

[Pandafish]

Photoshop doesn't leach chemicals...Lighting is going to be your real problem. IMHO

 

[Letmegrow]

Most hard plastic is safe. Softer plastics can have chemicals on/in them to make them more pliable.

This is purely my opinion....

A flock of Yellow tangs in a 90 gallon is not a good idea.

Two words - Digital art.

Another two words - Freshwater Fish.

Those are two better means to your end.

Cost and the value of the lives of the animals would be something to consider.

 

[grupper]

I've heard of someone putting a model of a ship in there tank. After a little while it was completely covered in coraline algea. Remember that your "art" is not going to stay in the same condition if you put it into a saltwater aquarium.


Greg

 

[M270]

It goes without saying... watch for glues and solvents used to put models together. Also, paints. Just be careful with what kinds of models you put in there. The hard plastics themselves won't do anything. It's the paints and glues that can be harmful.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

The plastics are a non-issue.
The glue should be safe (I assume you will use "super glue")
its going to the the paint that will be questionable.