Plastic

[CKutz]

Hi smart people.

I was just wondering if it is safe to use plastic grocery bags in aquariums for decorations.
i'm trying to make a sewer biotope.


....ha, just kidding.
but is it safe to use plastic grocery bags?
When i first got loaches, they hid themselves inside my one ornament. i had to crack open the holes in the bottom bigger to get the fish out. to prevent this happening again..i squeezed up grocery bags, and stuffed them in the wholes till it was full. (i guess it was just pieces of grocery bags, a whole bag wouldn't fit. )

I haven't had any fish loss in this tank at all..but the ph is a little low. not sure what exactly.. forget the last test...and can barely tell the differences between the ph card colors.

 

[Jonathangerous]

To be sure, it depends on the situation, but most colorless plastics of resin codes 1-6 are functionally inert for the purposes that you're talking about.

 

[CKutz]

uhh....

it was white i think..does that matter?

 

[Jonathangerous]

Long answer short--most grocery bags are HDPE, I think, which is type 2. They are nontoxic and inert. I wouldn't worry about it, except perhaps the possible leeching of colorants. I have no data to back that last part up, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[CKutz]

ok! thanks so much!

i'm going to be redoing my tank soon, so it probably won't be in much longer anyways. i just thought i should check.
i really appreciate the replies, thanks

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Clown loaches like to hide, its part of keeping them, you shouldn't force them to be out. Also once you have had them a while they tend to stay out alot more.

 

[fifefish]

haha, i like your idea for a sewer biotope could be interesting:L..
but im not sure about the ammonia levels in such a biotope, maybe do a polluted stream as a biotope