Safe Plastics?

[xcharmanderx421]

i'm planning to make a cave of rocks out of water bottles and i'm wondering if gatorade bottles are ok? since they're safe for consumptions i assume so, but i'm not a fish so i don't know if its safe for them.

(like chocolate for dogs)

 

[Cory_Dad]

Glass or plastic?

All plastic releases some chemicals, some more than others. Here in Canada we've had a recall on things like baby bottles because of this. Now Gatorade has a lot of chemicals in it (for the electrolytes) so I would imagine they use a good grade of plastic. But, it would be better to use glass bottles and be sure of zero leaching.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[xcharmanderx421]

Glass or plastic?

All plastic releases some chemicals, some more than others. Here in Canada we've had a recall on things like baby bottles because of this. Now Gatorade has a lot of chemicals in it (for the electrolytes) so I would imagine they use a good grade of plastic. But, it would be better to use glass bottles and be sure of zero leaching.

But that's just my opinion.

glass isn't really an option for me... simply because i can't cut it. i only have aquarium safe silicon and scissors. oh well, here goes nothing hope fish can be energized with the refreshing chemical balance of gatorade

 

[geo7x]

If a plastic is designed for food then it will be fine for fish tanks

 

[Rooster]

If a plastic is designed for food then it will be fine for fish tanks

NO NO NO NO NO.... not neccesarilly true, a LOT of plastic containers are designed to bio-degrade - check the labling and maybe contact the manufacturer before comitting !

Glass is inert, and not difficult to "cut" ... I remember my dad doing the hot/cold method, and Ive seen bottles cut with flaming string ! Google, and have a go !

 

[Helen G]

glass! Like rooster said, some bottles can decompose and really **** up your tank. What ever you do use though, just becareful of sharp edges (this means plastic too!!!!

 

[MoondustBob]

People here have been using empty plastic fish food containers for simple sponge filters, so they should be safe.

Or why not use some terracotta pots?

 

[xcharmanderx421]

well i went against some peoples opinions and decided to try it out anyways, and this is the end results. my kuhli's seem to like it, my tiger barbs ignore it now, and my rainbow shark goes in for food but goes back to his coconut cave to sleep, and i have no idea where my shrimp went.

so far the fish are ok, but at any sign of trouble this baby is going out. but anyways' what do you guys think?

i don't know about the java moss though, it seems like its going to die...

 

[TheConstantGrower]

Cant say as i know exactly what im looking for... perhaps larger pics. with detail on your construction? pics during build? ect.

 

[xcharmanderx421]

Cant say as i know exactly what im looking for... perhaps larger pics. with detail on your construction? pics during build? ect.

sorry took so long to reply.



basically its used water bottles cut in 1/2 long side and siliconed on a slate.
Then a bunch of rocks siliconed on the bottles and finally some java moss (i think it is...) on the rocks tied down with fishing line.

 

[Tolak]

I've been using water & pop bottles for years, usually for homemade filters. A 1 liter bottle with foam, hooked up to a powerhead keeps the bottom of bare tanks nice & clean. The only problem I've had is the neck of the bottle cracking after a couple of years, either from yanking it out when cleaning, or maybe vibration.

I have a 2 liter Pepsi bottle hooked up to a powerhead filtering a 150 gallon tub outside. I want to switch out the powerhead for a pond pump I found in a box of stuff last week, probably build a second one for the bottom of the tub.

 

[Cooper2085]

Im using an ice cream tub as a fry saver