where can i get acrylic eggcrate ?

[tlc]

i am in the planning stages of my next reef build and need eggcrate that is safe to be submerged. i have read that styrene eggcrate can leach phosphates. thanks for any help..

 

[uncleof6]

Home Depot, in the lighting department. What you have read about styrene leaching phosphate is unscientifically derived speculation. The key is the wording is usually "may" leach phosphate, and as such is nothing but unsupported anecdote. In other words it is just another myth perpetuated by many that don't know what they are talking about, and is driven by Enviro-politics. In the aquarium hobby such things are put forth as an excuse for poor conditions in ones tank, when the blame rests solely with the hobbyist. Folks spend way too much time looking for phosphate boogeymen. (they should start with the salt mix they use, but... and as a byproduct of, and essential for, life.)

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...r-Replacement-Diffuser-L2GT-PLTS-R5/100579509

 

[d2mini]

You can also order the black stuff online at Bulk Reef Supply.
Home Depot only carries the white stuff.

 

[tlc]

well that's good to know. I haven't been in the hobby for a long time. years ago I used the stuff from home depot and had a lot of it in my tanks. I never had a phosphate problem.

 

[uncleof6]

well that's good to know. I haven't been in the hobby for a long time. years ago I used the stuff from home depot and had a lot of it in my tanks. I never had a phosphate problem.

What I linked to is acrylic, just so you know...

 

[tkeracer619]

Triphenyl Phosphate

 

[uncleof6]

Triphenyl Phosphate

Yes, but what is the point you wish to make? Triphenyl Phosphate is an ester of Phosphoric Acid. An organophosphate, and is known to not meet the criteria for a persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT,) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB,) substance.

Myth: Plastics can leach just like any other material.

Fact: Most plastics don't leach toxic substances. Once the plastic is hard, it only mixes with substance of similar macromolecular structure. Even if you heat it, it still won't mix with water or saltwater. However, some plastics (Namely #1 and #7 plastics)have been known to leach traces of toxic substances when exposed to microwaves or super hot liquids(water,milk etc).

In more simple terms, styrene is a polymer; since it will not mix in water or saltwater, it is not going to leach anything because to do so it has to dissolve. Just like with the silly BPA nonsense, unless something actually eat the material, it is not going to do any harm to anything. For the record: PVC pipe contains BPA and often TPP, as does ABS.

Let's get real here: neither are causing any apparent problems in aquariums. Aquariums are such a stew of organics (organic compounds/secondary metabolites,) and the small subset of a subset of parameters that are tested for do not begin to tell us what is going on chemically in these systems, that no one could trace an issue anyway. There is no direct evidence to even support the comment that "styrene may leach phosphate," and there won't be for a very long time—if ever.

As far as "leaching phosphate" and feeding luxuriant algae growth, it is even more ludicrous to believe that hard styrene will leach inorganic phosphate, (the ions H₂ and PO₄,) without some type of catalyst to trigger a chemical reaction/degradation. (Water and saltwater are not going to do it.)

Polystyrene is very slow to biodegrade, which has made it a target (along with BPA, and several other compounds) that is largely myth driven for effect. However, most of the attention is focused on the "foam" product or Styrofoam. I seriously doubt that anyone would be inclined to put Styrofoam in there tank, however. If one can seriously be concerned over such things, the majority of "egg-crate" is acrylic... it can be obtained from Home Depot...

 

[tlc]

uncleof6 thanks for the plastics edumacation..

 

[McPuff]

I love to read uncleof6's posts... they are actually factual and based on science. As a scientist, I appreciate this!

 

[sleepydoc]

I think the bigger problem with egg crate is that when placed on the bottom of a tank it provides thousands of little nooks and crannies to accumulate detritus.

 

[RocketEngineer]

I think the bigger problem with egg crate is that when placed on the bottom of a tank it provides thousands of little nooks and crannies to accumulate detritus.

:facepalm:My sand has the same problem.:facepalm: We should all remove every trace of sand from our tanks because if one spec of sand is left we will come home to our fish swimming through a forest of algaes.......:debi:

Poor husbandry is poor husbandry. Blaming one single thing on not doing the basics is just an excuse. Eggcrate under a sandbed isn't going to wipe out or tanks any more than having a refugium is going to instantly cure all our ills.

Relax folks. This is a hobby. Take things in stride and enjoy it.:beer:

 

[tkeracer619]

The point is eggcrate is sprayed with a phosphate coating. Seems like a good place to grow some algae for a few weeks until it is broken down. Long term issue, nope. Can it give a good place for algae to start growing? The anecdotal evidence says yes. But this hobby is all about scientifically proven things so none of that means jack.

 

[ghellin]

Dang I wish RC forums had a like button!

I am not a fan of full egg crate on the bottom of a tank due to the loss of space for my wrasses. I just make an egg crate piece that is just big enough for my rocks to sit on and leave the rest open.

 

[tkeracer619]

Im glad there isn't a like button. If there was people wouldn't reply with discussion and that is what makes rc a good resource.

 

[d2mini]

[like]

 

[FraggledRock]

[like]

:thumbsup:

 

[ghellin]

Im glad there isn't a like button. If there was people wouldn't reply with discussion and that is what makes rc a good resource.

Logical reasoning! But I still like all the "smart" posts!