decorations?

[kuter]

Tank decor is terribly expensive. Can one use silk or plastic plants from craft stores, etc? I do know that there can be NO metal involved, but other than that what are my options if any?
I had posted elsewhere that I would like to use some PVC pipe and adhere fish safe rocks or artificial plants to it with the sealant that is used to fix leaks. Does anyone see any reason not to do this?
Kuter & Krew

 

[dixaisy930]

I too like the challange of cheap tank decorations...

A great place to find stuff is thrift stores (like Arc or Goodwill...not sure what you have in your area). I found two unique shaped glass bottles there, and my fish love them. I've also heard of people using Legos, and plastic slinkies.

 

[MizPlaya692003]

I never made any decorations for my tank. I just go to the store and buy them. And you are right about the prices $$$$. Somethings that could work are plastic toys. Depending on the theme of your tank. If you want a werid tank you can use barbie toys. Like small plastic chairs or plastic barbie tv's. Also cake decorations.Even plastic toy coins.

GOOD LUCK !

p.s. Since I have tryed to help you all I ask for is that when I post a topic for you to help me.

MY FISHYS :

1 Goldfish Male (Berrie)
1 Goldfish Female (Marble)
1 Zebra Danio Male (Todd)
1 Zebra Danio Female (Taddy)
2 Black Skirt Tetra Male (Frank, Martin)
1 Black Skirt Tetra Female (Elizabeth)
1 Red Wag Platty Male (BL)
1 Alage Eater Male (Almond)
2 Blood Fin Tetra Male (Speck, Dover)

 

[lizard]

Tank decor is terribly expensive. Can one use silk or plastic plants from craft stores, etc? I do know that there can be NO metal involved, but other than that what are my options if any?
I had posted elsewhere that I would like to use some PVC pipe and adhere fish safe rocks or artificial plants to it with the sealant that is used to fix leaks. Does anyone see any reason not to do this?
Kuter & Krew

I have a couple pieces of PVC pipe in my tank and my fish love it. My Plec has taken up residence in it. It's long enough to other fish can go in there too. Adding some sort of "decoration" on the outside would be nice, as I don't really like the look of white plastic in my tank. Maybe I could get some Java fern to grow on it....

Pamela
aka Lizard

 

[star_tenshi]

Hey...have you ever thought of putting in live plants as tank decor? they aren't really that expensive...they only cost a few dollars at LPSs...last time i saw a cabomba for less than 5 bucks.....or if you don't like putting it at the bottom of your tank...you can buy floating plants like water sprites, hornworts, water lettuce or azollas that can float on the surface of the water....the only downside to live plants is that you probably hafta give more care to your tank...just a suggestion!

 

[kuter]

I do like the live plants but one of my tanks are gold fish and they are a bunch of pigs! They can turn a nice little live plant into a stump in no time flat! They are the main reason for asking about the artificial plants. I have figured out that if a plant shows promise of getting to large, I can just put it in the goldie tank for a few days and it will be trimmed right back down to size!
Now I do like the idea of plastic toys but as the proud grandmother of a 3 yr old boy, I have had the opportunity to examine some of these close at hand. EXAMINE ALL PLASTIC TOYS CLOSELY! MANY ARE PUT TOGETHER WITH METAL SCREWS!
Another suggestion I have is using electrical wire ties to secure things. Now these are NOT the wire ties you see on your bread or trash bag wrappers. Those are ties made of wire. The type I am suggestion are nylon zip ties that were originally made for the electrical/electronics industry. They are also known as cable ties. Any radio shack or electronics store will have them. They come in a variety of sizes and black or white are common colors. Please be aware that if you use them you will need a pair of cutters to remove them. You will not break these with your hands. As an example of their use, I have tubing running down to an air stone in either end of my tank. One could take a piece of artificial vine, wrap it around the tubing and secure it to the tubing with the cable tie.
Larger sizes of the cable ties can be used as handcuffs for small children. This could be a consideration after Little Johnny has broken 3 glass thermometers in the tank causing you to have to start all over from scratch in order to make sure you had gotten all the broken glass out! This is also a good time to move the tank to higher ground.
Kuter & Krew

 

[millym]

i love planted tanks but as we've found out it can be expensive at first till you find out what survives & grows best & what is not munched by the finned ones!!!

be careful with plastic toys - ive read quite a few posts where people have lost fish or got injured fish that have managed to get bits of themselves stuck in the most unlikely places, even in decorations that are actually sold as fishtank items.

we've got heaps of rocks in our tank & they look great, my husb found them at work (hes in the building trade), we scrubbed them & soaked them first.

although im sure it depends what sort of rocks you can get as i suppose some can leach stuff into your water & could change the pH dramatically. im sure someone on this forum with more knowledge could fill you in on that. i suppose as well it depends on whther you like the more 'natural' look or like castles & treasure chests & things like that.

 

[nightlife20]

i totaly agree with the price i mean theres this lovly decoartion at my lfs its like a rotting old ship (apart from its not rotting cause its made of plastic lol) and its like fromt he armarda days figure head ect but its 140 quid!!! they must think we are daft!!!!

i got a nice peach/pink/cream rock for 15 but its still dear for a rock!!! i could go up parkhall( loads of hills an countryside round myway) and get somthin like this for nowt!!! but like someone said u dont know what it could leak into the tank...