polyresin decorations

[euromomtx]

those polyresin ornaments for aquariums: are they always safe for both fresh AND saltwater? Or are the saltwater ones 'special' in some way?

 

[jmchzn123]

be very careful with those decorations. Leeching is an issue with some manufacturers I heard from an aquarium tech who maintains some very large commercial systems. They always use the fake stuff. The fish were getting sick all with the same thing. I have forgotten now what it was as this was a few years ago but they finally traced it to a decoration manufacturer. One of the color resins was leeching toxic crap into the water. Just something you may want to be aware of before you buy.

 

[euromomtx]

ugh.
that's what I was afraid of. I am wanting to do a biotope with mangroves. Of course there will be lots of real mangroves in it but I was hoping to add a big 'mangrove root' to the display. Saw some made from polyresin but of course also don't want to take a chance...

 

[bertoni]

I wouldn't trust them, either.

 

[steelhead77]

If they're painted, (you can scrape off the color) I wouldn't trust them, if they're molded with the colorant in the plastic melt, they should be fine in saltwater (or fresh). Most of the plastics that you have in your tank (powerheads, locline, etc.) have colorant added to them either in the molding process or as a masterbatch from the plastic resin supplier. None of these things leach anything into the water column. Once thermoplastic is set, it is inert and does not change under normal conditions, that's why so many people scream about plastics not being biodegradeable. If you drop a plastic widget in the ocean today, it will still be there 100 years from now, looking just like the same widget.

 

[euromomtx]

Thanks for your input. I'll stick with real mangroves and rocks in the display and just shadowbox me some big mangrove roots behind the display.

 

[steelhead77]

Real is always better. But you really don't need to worry about the plastic.

Post some pics after you have it set up. Mangrove tanks are pretty cool.

 

[OregonReefer]

ugh.
that's what I was afraid of. I am wanting to do a biotope with mangroves. Of course there will be lots of real mangroves in it but I was hoping to add a big 'mangrove root' to the display. Saw some made from polyresin but of course also don't want to take a chance...

You could use Bog Wood

 

[euromomtx]

Post some pics after you have it set up. Mangrove tanks are pretty cool.

Here you go. I just went with mangroves and macro and a lighted from behind translucent background

No polyresin...

 

[cody6766]

That's awesome! I may do that with my 10g rimless that's sitting empty. I could build some islands and collect a couple of hermits from the beaches or something.

 

[Scubagal8]

will polymer be ok in a tank?

 

[Sk8r]

Problem with the plastic and ornament things is that by the time your tank livens up, you'll have a brown or green ornament with no features but algae. Everything will go brown or green.

 

[hhaase]

The one time I tried the stuff, about a year later it was all the color of the bare plastic, as the paint had dissolved into the water column. Never again.

 

[bertoni]

What sort of polymer are you considering?