Plant Shelf

[johnnyjohnson]

i would like to create a shelf of sorts in one corner of my tank using fake plants, to create somewhat of a hiding place/ shaded area in the tank. is it ok to use the plants that are sold in stores as decorations like what would go on a table or something like that? also i will have to build the actual frame for the plant shelf out of wire then cover it with vine like plants. is it ok to put galvinized or any other wire in the tank or maybe i should use small but ridgid plastic tubing? hopes this makes sense.

 

[treefella83]

i wouldnt use metal of any sort and galvinized metal may leach a poison or be toxic to aquatic life i cant remember its been a long time since i was at school.
many years ago i had a 6ft x2 x2 in which i made planting racks out of plexi glass which just sloted together like cheap shelving units.
i wrapped each shelf with a non toxic fibre matting and added java fern java moss and many different types of anubias but never did finish it .
i just stick to large branches of mopani now as its cheaper and more natural looking.

 

[shelaghfishface]

can you not make some,half moon "hanging baskets" except they dont hang, they are stuck using suckers, using some plastic netting or similar, then you could build up the area around them to different levels like a rockery garden......... i dont even know if you know what i mean lol, bit early

 

[saltynay]

I would use plexi and then a sloped moss wall to make it look like a hill covered in moss down to your substrate. Galvanised wire has zinc on it which is toxic and causes copper deficiency in humans, it is used due to its electrochemical potential nature. It saves the iron from rusting by oxidising itself and as it is more likely to oxidise then the iron (which forms the rust) it attracts more electrons until its depleted at which point the iron will rust. Point is you will be putting high quantities of zinc and then after the zinc has become depleted you will be putting high proportions of oxidised iron in the water. Incidentally if you want to stop your bike rusting in the rain wrap a little galvanised wire so that it is contact with a section where rust may have slightly started and the zinc will radically slow down the rate of rusting.

 

[treefella83]

yep that is what i was trying to say but have forgotten what all the long words mean, and most of the short words too