Homeaid Molding Clay Tank Oranments?

[fishychick77]

im getting sick of paying the prices for things to put in my tanks and wanted to make my own. i was wondering if anyone knew if it was okay to use molding/model colour clay like one stuff you can bake, as decore in a freshwater tank?
i know i would have to paint it with clear coat acrylic but is it safe to use model clay ? and if so and i paint it with clear acrylic would it harm the fish?

 

[thereverendturtle]

I dont think it would work. If you're using acrylic epoxy then you'd be ok, but if its just the hobby store glaze I think it would break down and the clay will dissolve.

 

[beanz8]

I made tank orniments for my tanks using some pebbles from a local garden center and some aquarium silicone.

You can see it in these

Takes a few days as you have to leave the silicone to cure, theres also a pyramid shaped one in my main tank that took a bit longer.

 

[Shovelman]

Ive made tons of things out of clay for my fish tank. I use terra cotta firing clay. http/www.greatclay.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=glc001&Product_Code=MCL301 that kind is actually the kind i use. Its our local supplier and most of the art/schools order from them, but obviously you might have to find your own supplier unless you live close.

If you fire the clay it wont break down in the water (as its basically like glass once fired), its if you just leave it in the tank without being fired that it breaks down.. obviously its like taking wet mud forming it into a ball and letting it dry and thinking hey this will be perfect for my vase of flowers, and obviously it terns into its original mud state once water is added....lol that was a bad analogy..

Long story short fire your clay and you don't need to coat it. however i do know there are none toxic glazes and under glazes that wouldn't harm your fish as well...

 

[thereverendturtle]

I agree with shovelman, if you use terra cota and have access to a kiln, you could do that. When you said modeling clay, I was thinking of the colored stuff from a hobby store.

 

[Shovelman]

I take that back lol you need to figure out whats in the clay, and now that i think about it, yes you should probably put a coating of glaze on before firing, i know for a fact that there are food safe, non toxic glazes otherwise my whole clay class would be blocked up and constipated for weeks from all the sediment that would have been rubbing of from their cups they made...

 

[thereverendturtle]

I take that back lol you need to figure out whats in the clay, and now that i think about it, yes you should probably put a coating of glaze on before firing, i know for a fact that there are food safe, non toxic glazes otherwise my whole clay class would be blocked up and constipated for weeks from all the sediment that would have been rubbing of from their cups they made...