Metal Tank Decorations: Advice Please!

[Satan's Goldfish]

I know putting Metal objects in the water is very bad for the fish, throwing a big lump of steel in as decoration is probably going to kill them (and go rusty!)

But what about Aluminium? What effect would that have on the water chemistry and the fish?

I bring this up as one of my other passions is pretty much anything with an engine and always thought it would look kinda cool to have maybe a corner tank with just an engine block for decoration. The coffee table in my lounge is built on an old 3.5ltr rover V8 block with all it's internals removed and is now essentilly just a huge lump of Aluminium with enough space for even a 12" Pleco to swim through the cylinders. I'm no expert on the effect of metals in water, but is this potentially a good idea or a reciepe for disaster?

 

[Satan's Goldfish]

Bump

 

[ShipOfFools37]

Hey there, I brought up aluminum recently in a thread, search "aluminum cans as decoration" I got mixed answers, but in the end I'd read enough to be convinced that it was worth a try. I've had the cans in there about a month or so, and I've had some zebra danio's in there cycling the tank for about 3 weeks. I'm seeing some algae growth on the cans but no rusting or anything. The fish also seem to be doing well. I'm not sure how an engine block would work, I'm assuming that, if it is cleaned well, stripped of all dirt/grime/grease/other engine chemicals, it might work.

I'd say give it a try, and just constantly check the parameters and such. If it goes on a while and stays stable, maybe throw a few hardy fish in there, see how they take it and go from there.

Here's the aluminum in my tank...

 

[Satan's Goldfish]

Many thanks for that.

I think i will give it a go at some point. The hardest part is going to be completely stripping it down and removing any trace of oil, coolant, chemicals etc. I suppose, if it doesn't work then i can just make another table in the end!

Still interested to hear others oppinions.

 

[JioFreed~alias~]

Aluminum is technically a heavy metal (aluminum cans are treated/oxidized) if its oxidized or anodized aluminum it should be safe

you could try using a pressure washer to remove the chemicals and grime



Source: survival guides from the internetz

 

[Satan's Goldfish]

Aluminum is technically a heavy metal (aluminum cans are treated/oxidized) if its oxidized or anodized aluminum it should be safe

What would that process involve if it isn't?

 

[JioFreed~alias~]

http://astro.neutral.org/anodise2.shtml

this might help

edit: Kits http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/aluminum.htm (you need to get the acid yourself and a power supply if you get standard, just acid for the deluxe)

 

[Satan's Goldfish]

http://astro.neutral.org/anodise2.shtml

this might help

Thanks, think i'd need a lot of acid! But on the plus side, i could change the colour of the block

 

[JioFreed~alias~]

You could just look for a place that does anodizing locally and ask for a qoute

 

[crazyryceman]

This is a very unique idea. How big of a tank are planning to put it in? I like your table but seeing an engine block inside an aquarium would be a first. Keep us updated