Ceramic flower pots in saltwater?

[JohnBents]

Hey guys i just relocated my 55gallon saltwater fish tank and i decided to put a ceramic flower pot(Made in Italy) in the tank so it can look like a cave i covered it with rockes to hide the color, but im worreid that the flower pot is going to leek out chemicals into my aquarium. I had it like that for like 3days now. . . so what do you guys think?

[piranha45]

I use ceramic pots and stuff in my tanks, I've never had a problem with them at all, personally. I think you should be fine, too.

[rayman45]

i never put in a s/w tank

i have in f/w tho

should be a problem

[Caveman]

I have used ceramic pots in a few of my tanks and I have never had a problem with them. I wash them off thoroughly and keep an eye on them for a few days to make sure no problems arise.

[fishing4exotics]

A clown fish breeder talked about breeding clown fish using ceramic pots. He mentioned that he learned this trick from cichlid breeders.

[Jay R.]

Supposedly, the porious ceramic is ideal for anarobic bactieria, the stuff that turns nitrates into nitrogen gas. it's what alot of the companies use for nitrate filters.

[Toodleypops]

BUMP!
sorry i thought this last post was interesting...
i was under the assumption that only plants and waterchanges got rid of Nitrate. this was interesting so i brought it back up

[alcohologist]

hmmm. i wouldnt guess that the clay is dense enough to allow for anaerobic areas, but what do i know?
i actually have been looking for some nice clay urns/pots for my moray tank. saw a photo of a sunken greek temple style scape somewhere ages ago.

[water_baby83]

Ceramic flower pots consist of inorganic (not living) earthy materials that form into a clay. The clay goes into a heating chamber or kiln to harden the material to make a more durable product. Terracotta which literally means "baked earth," is made from natural clay which gives it a characteristic reddish-brown color. The color varies slightly depending on the clay used.
As long as you are purchasing natural pots (not painted, glazed, or otherwise "cured" for decorative purposes), you should not encounter a problem. The natural compounds within the clay absorb and neutralize nitrates naturally (hence "ceramic rings" are used regularly as filter media), and their porous nature allows for colonization of beneficial bacterias. With that though, algae can also take hold, so make sure you keep them clean (scrubbing in tank, or removing and rinsing, using a new (unused for household purposes) sponge and softly cleaning surface). Do not use soaps or other chemicals, only water. They can naturally leach calcium and sometimes Iron as well, so keep that in mind when dosing with these supplements and check often for the first 6 months+.

-Em

[Reefscape]

Ceramic flower pots consist of inorganic (not living) earthy materials that form into a clay. The clay goes into a heating chamber or kiln to harden the material to make a more durable product. Terracotta which literally means "baked earth," is made from natural clay which gives it a characteristic reddish-brown color. The color varies slightly depending on the clay used.
As long as you are purchasing natural pots (not painted, glazed, or otherwise "cured" for decorative purposes), you should not encounter a problem. The natural compounds within the clay absorb and neutralize nitrates naturally (hence "ceramic rings" are used regularly as filter media), and their porous nature allows for colonization of beneficial bacterias. With that though, algae can also take hold, so make sure you keep them clean (scrubbing in tank, or removing and rinsing, using a new (unused for household purposes) sponge and softly cleaning surface). Do not use soaps or other chemicals, only water. They can naturally leach calcium and sometimes Iron as well, so keep that in mind when dosing with these supplements and check often for the first 6 months+.

-Em

Hunting through Water_babys post.....lol....she raised the only concern i would have with using ceramics in a SW tank...ensure there is no treatment, coverings etc etc on the pot....otherwise, fine to use...

With regards to them housing anerobic area's, i really cant see this....but, thats just my opinion :)

[cullens089]

i know alot of clownfish breeders that use them with no problems

[BobbyG123]

is that why i had a piece of drift wood in my oscar tank and i took it out a couple months later and it smelt like gas?? i always wonderd that...interesting

[Toodleypops]

wow lol im surprised this thread got attention haha. i found it as the LAST thread in general aquaria. well looks to me like im gonna go add some nice pots to my tanks along with my plants lol

[Nic]

guy by me has had then in his reef and eel tank for years... never had a problem or mentioned any problem to me...