[MrsMohr]

I'm working on my top secret tank redecoration project and was wondering if silk flowers from like a craft store are safe for fish, they seem to be made out of the same material. Anyone know?

[Gigi]

That's a great idea!! I never thought about that! :yeah: I would like to know also.

[tiffsgold]

You'd definitely have to ask someone with more experience on the subject, but I know that there's a post around here about someone who was making a "hidey-hole" by using silk ivy from the craft store. You have to be careful that the silk is dyed and NOT painted. I have no idea how it is you're supposed to tell the difference.But I would buy them and soak them in some tankwater overnight, so I could see if the water had become discolored to be sure, plus it would probably help to leech out any chemicals that may have been used on it. I know the post is in the DIY section somewhere...I'll see if I could find it

http://www.kokosgold...diy-hidey-cave/

Found it!

This post has been edited by tiffsgold: 05 November 2009 - 12:01 PM

[Chloeheartsfish]

Hmm, I am wondering this too. "Silk" plants in aquariums are a very popular trend in my city, and I was thinking of doing it too, for my 10g. But then I realized that most of the fake plants I would buy for it would come from the local "dollar store", and I am not sure about how safe they are.

I think I will buy a few plants and soak them for a week or so and test the water periodically to see if it affects the chemistry in any way. I'll let you know how it turns out!

[MrsMohr]

I was thining about buying some and letting them soak in my qt tank so see what happens as well but if you're going to do it then I will just let you lol...please let me know how it goes! There are so many pretty flowers in the craft stores I think they would be a great addition to tank decor AND you would have an original decoration for your tank. I don't know if you guys have noticed but i've seen a lot of the same plants on the forum (nothing wrong with that) b/c there is such a limited supply available (of cool looking fake plants anyway) that i see a lot of the ones i have in other people's tanks....I like to be different you know?

[tiffsgold]

I've been thinking about this too... but I wanna see what other's outcomes are. I really want to buy some fake wheat grass, and trim it down and apply it to some plastic mesh and suction cups to make a bottom mat....

[Anielynn70]

Oh me too. I found a really huge soft plastic plant that i would love to use. I couldn't find wire showing anywhere. It looked perfect. But in the end i chickened out. Poo!

[MrsMohr]

steph..I the link that tiffsgold posted for me the pearson said that if there was any wire showing you could just cover it with silicone aquarium sealant. I was at the store the other day and they had these little betta decorations that were made out of what looked like the same material that the flowers at the craft stores were. I hope we can use that stuff...how cool would that be!

[Anielynn70]

It would be just fabulous. I just can't get my lighting right for live plants on my limited budget (blasted economy). So silk or plastic are my choices right now and they are expensive too because i want a BIG one. Or tall. Either way. And it would really expand our options!

[MrsMohr]

mmmaaannn I wish we knew right now!

[Hidr]

If you want live plants you can do a low tech low light plant set up with a limited budget.
Any news on how the silk plants are doing?

[Chloeheartsfish]

Well, I finally got out to a dollar store and picked up a plant for my experiment tank. it's been in there for about two days, and so far so good. I'm not at home right now so I can't get you the parameter numbers, but I will do so once I get home. Irving (the Betta) seems less perturbed by the plant than he is by the small current caused by the little filter I added to the tank - he absolutely hates to exert himself and huddles in a corner now. The tank is comparably huge (ten gallons) and if he really wanted to he could go to the "calm end" but he much prefers to dash angrily around the current area in great indignation. I think I'll take pity on him and move him out of there when I get home.

I'll get you all the numbers in a jiffy!

[MrsMohr]

awesome..thanks for the update!!!

[Chloeheartsfish]

Ok, so I am home! I did a strip test just to get the feel of things:

GH 60
KH 80
pH 7.0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0 (drop test)

I can't say much about how the plant is affecting the tank just yet, since it's only been in for two days, and I had only done a reading of the basics (ammonia, 'trites and 'trates) at the beginning, and those were all 0. The filter media was taken from a healthy mature tank (the 55g). The ten gallon has only one Betta in it, which I think might explain the late of nitrates (the seeded filter material is used to working on the bioload of four fat goldfish).

I'll keep taking readings every few days and post the results.

[Hidr]

Wonderful. Thank you for reporting for us.