polyresin decorations

euromomtx · 02/21/2011, 11:21 AM

those polyresin ornaments for aquariums: are they always safe for both fresh AND saltwater? Or are the saltwater ones 'special' in some way?

jmchzn123 · 02/21/2011, 11:43 AM

be very careful with those decorations. Leeching is an issue with some manufacturers I heard from an aquarium tech who maintains some very large commercial systems. They always use the fake stuff. The fish were getting sick all with the same thing. I have forgotten now what it was as this was a few years ago but they finally traced it to a decoration manufacturer. One of the color resins was leeching toxic crap into the water. Just something you may want to be aware of before you buy.

euromomtx · 02/21/2011, 11:51 AM

ugh.
that's what I was afraid of. I am wanting to do a biotope with mangroves. Of course there will be lots of real mangroves in it but I was hoping to add a big 'mangrove root' to the display. Saw some made from polyresin but of course also don't want to take a chance...

bertoni · 02/21/2011, 07:06 PM

I wouldn't trust them, either.

steelhead77 · 02/22/2011, 12:10 AM

If they're painted, (you can scrape off the color) I wouldn't trust them, if they're molded with the colorant in the plastic melt, they should be fine in saltwater (or fresh). Most of the plastics that you have in your tank (powerheads, locline, etc.) have colorant added to them either in the molding process or as a masterbatch from the plastic resin supplier. None of these things leach anything into the water column. Once thermoplastic is set, it is inert and does not change under normal conditions, that's why so many people scream about plastics not being biodegradeable. If you drop a plastic widget in the ocean today, it will still be there 100 years from now, looking just like the same widget.

euromomtx · 02/22/2011, 12:12 AM

Thanks for your input. I'll stick with real mangroves and rocks in the display and just shadowbox me some big mangrove roots behind the display.

steelhead77 · 02/22/2011, 12:23 AM

Real is always better. But you really don't need to worry about the plastic.

Post some pics after you have it set up. Mangrove tanks are pretty cool.

OregonReefer · 02/22/2011, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euromomtx

ugh.
that's what I was afraid of. I am wanting to do a biotope with mangroves. Of course there will be lots of real mangroves in it but I was hoping to add a big 'mangrove root' to the display. Saw some made from polyresin but of course also don't want to take a chance...

You could use Bog Wood

euromomtx · 03/02/2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhead77

Post some pics after you have it set up. Mangrove tanks are pretty cool.

Here you go. I just went with mangroves and macro and a lighted from behind translucent background

No polyresin...

cody6766 · 03/03/2011, 10:06 AM

That's awesome! I may do that with my 10g rimless that's sitting empty. I could build some islands and collect a couple of hermits from the beaches or something.

Scubagal8 · 07/07/2020, 10:02 AM

will polymer be ok in a tank?

Sk8r · 07/07/2020, 10:36 AM

Problem with the plastic and ornament things is that by the time your tank livens up, you'll have a brown or green ornament with no features but algae. Everything will go brown or green.

hhaase · 07/07/2020, 12:57 PM

The one time I tried the stuff, about a year later it was all the color of the bare plastic, as the paint had dissolved into the water column. Never again.

bertoni · 07/07/2020, 05:25 PM

What sort of polymer are you considering?

02/21/2011, 11:21 AM	#1
euromomtx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 742 Blog Entries: 3	polyresin decorations those polyresin ornaments for aquariums: are they always safe for both fresh AND saltwater? Or are the saltwater ones 'special' in some way? __________________ Karin Current Tank Info: 215g Caribbean Inspired Reef with Shadowbox

02/21/2011, 11:43 AM	#2
jmchzn123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 240	be very careful with those decorations. Leeching is an issue with some manufacturers I heard from an aquarium tech who maintains some very large commercial systems. They always use the fake stuff. The fish were getting sick all with the same thing. I have forgotten now what it was as this was a few years ago but they finally traced it to a decoration manufacturer. One of the color resins was leeching toxic crap into the water. Just something you may want to be aware of before you buy. __________________ 10 years running - 90 gal Tech Tank, 48x18x24/ 30 gal sump/ BK 180 mini/ 3 AI Sol Blues/ DSB / UV / Tunze Wave Box/ APEX-Lite controller/ dosing pumps on the way/ Goldfish

02/21/2011, 11:51 AM	#3
euromomtx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 742 Blog Entries: 3	ugh. that's what I was afraid of. I am wanting to do a biotope with mangroves. Of course there will be lots of real mangroves in it but I was hoping to add a big 'mangrove root' to the display. Saw some made from polyresin but of course also don't want to take a chance... __________________ Karin Current Tank Info: 215g Caribbean Inspired Reef with Shadowbox

02/21/2011, 07:06 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I wouldn't trust them, either. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/22/2011, 12:10 AM	#5
steelhead77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 1,117	If they're painted, (you can scrape off the color) I wouldn't trust them, if they're molded with the colorant in the plastic melt, they should be fine in saltwater (or fresh). Most of the plastics that you have in your tank (powerheads, locline, etc.) have colorant added to them either in the molding process or as a masterbatch from the plastic resin supplier. None of these things leach anything into the water column. Once thermoplastic is set, it is inert and does not change under normal conditions, that's why so many people scream about plastics not being biodegradeable. If you drop a plastic widget in the ocean today, it will still be there 100 years from now, looking just like the same widget. __________________ This really isn't rocket science - it's more like marine biology. Current tank info: 180 gallon AGA, 40 gallon custom sump, AquaC EV240 skimmer, PM calc reactor, 3x 250w DIY MH, PCI CL-650 Chiller, 2x Koralia 4's, 2x Koralia 2's Last edited by steelhead77; 02/22/2011 at 12:17 AM.

02/22/2011, 12:12 AM	#6
euromomtx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 742 Blog Entries: 3	Thanks for your input. I'll stick with real mangroves and rocks in the display and just shadowbox me some big mangrove roots behind the display. __________________ Karin Current Tank Info: 215g Caribbean Inspired Reef with Shadowbox

02/22/2011, 12:23 AM	#7
steelhead77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 1,117	Real is always better. But you really don't need to worry about the plastic. Post some pics after you have it set up. Mangrove tanks are pretty cool. __________________ This really isn't rocket science - it's more like marine biology. Current tank info: 180 gallon AGA, 40 gallon custom sump, AquaC EV240 skimmer, PM calc reactor, 3x 250w DIY MH, PCI CL-650 Chiller, 2x Koralia 4's, 2x Koralia 2's

03/03/2011, 10:06 AM	#10
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	That's awesome! I may do that with my 10g rimless that's sitting empty. I could build some islands and collect a couple of hermits from the beaches or something. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

07/07/2020, 10:02 AM	#11
Scubagal8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 4	will polymer be ok in a tank?

07/07/2020, 10:36 AM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Problem with the plastic and ornament things is that by the time your tank livens up, you'll have a brown or green ornament with no features but algae. Everything will go brown or green. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/07/2020, 12:57 PM	#13
hhaase Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Dakota Posts: 368	The one time I tried the stuff, about a year later it was all the color of the bare plastic, as the paint had dissolved into the water column. Never again. __________________ This hobby would be easier if my local stores had more fish. https://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2701233 Current Tank Info: Slowly stocking up 150 gallons, only a little livestock right now.

07/07/2020, 05:25 PM	#14
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	What sort of polymer are you considering? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

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