Plastic Plants

sozza · 10-05-2006, 07:56 PM

I have just bought some plastic plants for my freshwater aquarium, the thing is though, when I opened them they smell really plasticy, would this be an issue putting them in my tank? I have them soaking in just water at the moment... Do I need to do anything else? Or am I just being over cautious? Because I couldn't imagine the plastic would harm the fish... Could it?

Any advice would be appreciated!!!

Puffer Pita · 10-05-2006, 09:13 PM

If they are made for an aquarium, they are fine.

locojay · 10-05-2006, 10:43 PM

I have plastic plants in my 20g. I just opened them and put 'em in. No rinsing or soaking and I didn't have any problems.

Jojo · 10-06-2006, 10:38 AM

Alot of plastic plants have that smell. What I do is get the water as hot as I can out fo the tap, put the plants in and some soap, let them soak until the water gets cold, and then rinse them FOREVER in warm water to get the soap off of them. I've done that in all of my tanks and no problems at all.

locojay · 10-06-2006, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jojo

Alot of plastic plants have that smell. What I do is get the water as hot as I can out fo the tap, put the plants in and some soap, let them soak until the water gets cold, and then rinse them FOREVER in warm water to get the soap off of them. I've done that in all of my tanks and no problems at all.

That sounds like alot of work. Not to mention it seems like a bigger risk than just putting them in there smelling like plastic. If you leave any residue from that soap, isn't it going to be bad for the fish? Have you ever put them straight into the tank without rinsing and had problems?

Jojo · 10-06-2006, 12:12 PM

Nope, but I'm not gonna run the chance.

Damon · 10-06-2006, 01:07 PM

If the smell bothers you, dip them in a water/vinegar mix. 5:1 h2o:vinegar will be fine. The vinegar will kill the smell and any vinegar in the tank wont hurt it a bit.

**Fishfirst** · 10-06-2006, 03:39 PM

jojo, why use soap??? soap leaves a residue pretty much no matter how many times you rinse... I use bleach... chlorine dissipates in hot water and evaporates. Basically all you do is a quick dip in the bleach solution (1pt bleach to 10 pt water) and rinse with hot water and then let dry and I like to rinse one more time.

Puffer Pita · 10-06-2006, 04:36 PM

Regular declorinator also works on bleach.

locojay · 10-06-2006, 10:36 PM

I'm not trying to be argumentative so please nobody take it that way, just trying to learn so if I'm doing something wrong I can change it.

Is it really necessary to get rid of the plastic smell? What's wrong with plastic smelling like plastic? I bet my fish smell like fish.

.

But seriously is that smell bad for my fish? Or is this cleaning just to make sure there's nothing else on the plants that would harm the fish? I have plastic in my 20g and silk in my 10g. Is it better to clean the silk too before putting it in the tank?

Puffer Pita · 10-06-2006, 11:00 PM

No, the smell isn't bad for your fish. I just rinse mine in declor water to remove any dust and such and plop them into the tank. I mostly use silk, but do have some plastic as well and do the same with both.

Jojo · 10-07-2006, 12:44 AM

I do it to make sure there's nothing on them that will harm my fish.

darkfalz · 10-07-2006, 04:17 AM

I prefer silk plants myself.

aaa · 10-07-2006, 07:51 AM

yeah, silk is better, it is easier on long fin fish like guppy, betta and angelfish

10-05-2006, 07:56 PM	#1
sozza Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 4	Plastic Plants I have just bought some plastic plants for my freshwater aquarium, the thing is though, when I opened them they smell really plasticy, would this be an issue putting them in my tank? I have them soaking in just water at the moment... Do I need to do anything else? Or am I just being over cautious? Because I couldn't imagine the plastic would harm the fish... Could it? Any advice would be appreciated!!!

10-05-2006, 09:13 PM	#2
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,672	If they are made for an aquarium, they are fine. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

10-05-2006, 10:43 PM	#3
locojay Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Age: 31 Posts: 320	I have plastic plants in my 20g. I just opened them and put 'em in. No rinsing or soaking and I didn't have any problems. __________________ Jay 55g: 1 pearl gourami 12 harlequin rasbora 4 neon dwarf rainbow 6 peppered cory 4 albino cory 4 upside down catfish 2 clown pleco 1 red tail albino shark 40g: 4 boesemani rainbow 6 long fin zebra danio 10 neon tetra 3 yoyo loach 2 amano shrimp 7 otto

10-06-2006, 01:07 PM	#7
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,972	If the smell bothers you, dip them in a water/vinegar mix. 5:1 h2o:vinegar will be fine. The vinegar will kill the smell and any vinegar in the tank wont hurt it a bit. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

10-06-2006, 03:39 PM	#8
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 5	jojo, why use soap??? soap leaves a residue pretty much no matter how many times you rinse... I use bleach... chlorine dissipates in hot water and evaporates. Basically all you do is a quick dip in the bleach solution (1pt bleach to 10 pt water) and rinse with hot water and then let dry and I like to rinse one more time. __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

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10-06-2006, 10:38 AM	#4
Jojo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tennessee Age: 18 Posts: 189	Alot of plastic plants have that smell. What I do is get the water as hot as I can out fo the tap, put the plants in and some soap, let them soak until the water gets cold, and then rinse them FOREVER in warm water to get the soap off of them. I've done that in all of my tanks and no problems at all.

10-06-2006, 12:12 PM	#6
Jojo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tennessee Age: 18 Posts: 189	Nope, but I'm not gonna run the chance.

10-06-2006, 04:36 PM	#9
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,672	Regular declorinator also works on bleach. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

10-06-2006, 10:36 PM	#10
locojay Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Age: 31 Posts: 320	I'm not trying to be argumentative so please nobody take it that way, just trying to learn so if I'm doing something wrong I can change it. Is it really necessary to get rid of the plastic smell? What's wrong with plastic smelling like plastic? I bet my fish smell like fish. . But seriously is that smell bad for my fish? Or is this cleaning just to make sure there's nothing else on the plants that would harm the fish? I have plastic in my 20g and silk in my 10g. Is it better to clean the silk too before putting it in the tank? __________________ Jay 55g: 1 pearl gourami 12 harlequin rasbora 4 neon dwarf rainbow 6 peppered cory 4 albino cory 4 upside down catfish 2 clown pleco 1 red tail albino shark 40g: 4 boesemani rainbow 6 long fin zebra danio 10 neon tetra 3 yoyo loach 2 amano shrimp 7 otto

10-06-2006, 11:00 PM	#11
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,672	No, the smell isn't bad for your fish. I just rinse mine in declor water to remove any dust and such and plop them into the tank. I mostly use silk, but do have some plastic as well and do the same with both. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

10-07-2006, 12:44 AM	#12
Jojo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tennessee Age: 18 Posts: 189	I do it to make sure there's nothing on them that will harm my fish.

10-07-2006, 04:17 AM	#13
darkfalz Vishy vishies! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Age: 29 Posts: 482	I prefer silk plants myself. __________________ 40L - 1 opaline gourami 160L planted - 8 harlequin rasboras, 6 tiger barbs, 2 swordtails, 1 bristlenose pleco

10-07-2006, 07:51 AM	#14
aaa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grand Prairie, Texas Age: 20 Posts: 519	yeah, silk is better, it is easier on long fin fish like guppy, betta and angelfish

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