10 Things You Shouldn’t Put In Your Fish Tank

If you’re at the stage where you’re ready to set up your fish tank, you’ve probably done a lot of research.

You most likely know what size tank you’ll need, how to set it up, how many fish and which fish species you’re going to keep in your tank.

If you’ve bought your fish from a reputable supplier, they will have given you plenty of guidance on how to care for your fish and what to include in the tank.

What most people don’t tell their customers though is what not to include in the tank.

This is just as important, if not more important than knowing what things to include in your tank.

If you unknowingly put certain things into your aquarium, you could very well put them in danger and some items can be fatal for fish.

But what are these things?

As a side note, Chewy.com has some great accessories for your fish tank at reasonable prices. You can check out their range and offers here.

1. Plastic

Many fish shops sell plastic toys, like Nemo or SpongeBob, to include in your tank.

When plastics are left in water for long periods of time they can release potentially toxic chemicals into the water, so they should be avoided in fish tanks at all costs.

There are a number of exceptions to this if the plastic has been graded food safe. This is often displayed with a triangle made up of three arrows.

However, avoid one-time-use plastics such as water bottles.

Recent research undertaken on plastic bottles left in cars shows that chemicals can leach if used for a prolonged period of time.

Often the plastic toys you can purchase from fish stores are painted, and the paints may not have been sealed. Ensure when you buy plastic toys that you find out whether or not they have been sealed and are safe for your aquarium.

Unsealed, painted plastic toys will release toxins into the water which could poison your fish.

Even with sealed plastic, there is always the chance that they could chip or split and then release toxins in the water.

We advise that you make the fish tank as similar as possible to natural habitats and avoid plastic when possible.

2. Ceramics

Some ceramics are OK to use in your tank – if they are marked as ‘dinnerware safe’ they will usually be fine for your tank.

As a basic rule of thumb with ceramics, if it’s not safe to eat off, don’t put it in your aquarium.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, for example, we can eat using copper-glazed ceramics, but they would be harmful to shrimps, and other species. Always check if there are any substances that are harmful to your particular inhabitants.

There is also evidence to suggest that lead is present in some pottery which is a health hazard for both humans and fish alike.

Highly decorated items and glazed terra cotta clay can sometimes contain lead, however, most countries have been manufacturing lead-free terracotta for years now.

If you’re unsure, there are kits available to test whether lead is present.

3. Anything Consumable

Aside from the food you provide your fish, no other consumable objects should be placed into your tank.

Fish chew and bite a lot. If you place a rock in there which is loose, it’s possible they could chew off a small piece which could be fatal. Or, toxins could be released into the water.

Make sure you know all the side effects of adding things to your tank, there are even some plants that are harmful to fish so do your research thoroughly.

4. Wood

Driftwood in Tank
Don’t put untreated wood in your aquarium.

Many of the wooden ornaments that you find in pet shops have been treated, so they are fine to include.

But you can’t just put un-treated wood into your aquarium. This can alter the chemistry of the water in your tank.

Driftwood is fine to add and is a nice addition to an aquarium.

If you’re going to include driftwood you should choose a hardwood. This is because hardwoods take a long time to decompose and won’t have a drastic impact on the water.

As a side note, Chewy.com has some great accessories for your fish tank at reasonable prices. You can check out their range and offers here.

5. Beach Sand

Whilst treated sand can make a great substrate, beach sand is generally polluted and will contain chemical residue which can harm your fish.

Logic may tell you it’s fine to include some in your tank; it’s the fish’s natural habitat.

However the ocean is a vast collection of water that is constantly renewing – your fish tank is not so big so just a few chemicals can drastically harm your fish.

You can put sand in your fish tanks; just make sure you buy it from a reputable place.

If you’re determined to use beach sand in your tank, it can be done but you need plenty of patience and time.

It involves lots of soaking the sand, and changing the water, rinsing, and letting the sand settle in the tank water. This process is lengthy and can take 2-3 weeks.

6. Shells, Corals, and Rocks

Shells in Aquarium
Don’t put shells in freshwater aquariums.

We should note here that we’re only talking about freshwater aquariums for this category. Shells and corals add calcium to the tank and this is not needed in freshwater tanks.

Basically, anything that will cause chemical changes in the water should not be put in.

Seashells, amongst other items, can change the PH hardness which will cause difficulties for your fish and it’ll be harder to maintain the tank.

7. Anything Degradable

If you put something into your tank which can degrade, it will alter the water which is far from ideal.

Depending on the object, again, this can release toxins and chemicals into the water, or it can make the water become dirty.

While we’re on this topic – it’s important to remember that fish food should only be left in the tank for 5 minutes and the remainder should be removed to reduce the amount of waste left in the tank.

8. Your Hands

It is fine to put your hands into your fish tank as long as they are not contaminated. By this, we mean, hand soaps and creams should be thoroughly washed off.

Soaps and other residues left on your hands can be harmful to your fish.

Before putting your hands into the tank, wash them with soap and rinse them off a couple of times to ensure all the soap is off.

9. Anything Sharp

Don’t put anything sharp into your tank. This includes glass with sharp edges, or painted glass, objects, or decorations with sharp edges.

Paint can flake off objects and poison your fish.

Remember, this doesn’t just apply to items you have found, make sure you also check your shop-bought items frequently too.

One cut to your fish could lead to infection if not quickly treated so best just to avoid anything sharp altogether.

10. Large Fish Breeds

This is perhaps an obvious observation to those who are more experienced, but it is one that must be covered.

Even if you have a 100-gallon tank, there are still many breeds of fish that are not suitable for your tank.

An example is the Iridescent Shark, a large catfish that is a very active swimmer and can grow up to 4 feet long in the wild.

Always do your research into saltwater fish breeds and their requirements before you add them to your tank.

Not only is buying the wrong fish a waste of money but placing fish in a tank that is too small for them, will inevitably lead to early death.

Summary

To conclude, if you have an item you want to include in your fish tank, ask yourself these questions:

  • Will it release toxins into the tank?
  • Is it degradable?
  • Is it sharp?
  • Is it consumable?
  • Is it going to cause chemical changes in the water?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, do not put the item in your tank.

As a side note, Chewy.com has some great accessories for your fish tank at reasonable prices. You can check out their range and offers here.

Let us know in the comments section below what items you have placed in your aquarium…

About Robert 468 Articles
Robert Woods is the creator of FishKeeping World, a third-generation fish keeper, and a graduate in animal welfare and behavior. He is also a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America, and the Nature Conservancy.

77 Comments

  1. Ashreeti says:

    Some of my decorations are sharp but my betta seems fine with it. I know that betta’s fins are very delicate- but I could not find anything soft. However, I did get some fake plants with a ceramic base from Walmart. Is it okay if I use those plants and decorations?

    • Robert says:

      Please send me an email with photos Ashreeti so I can take a look,

      Robert

    • Jess says:

      Variety of iving plants are always better…research type of plants bettas lay their eggs in.

    • Alibaba says:

      Imo, your best bet is to buy real plants for your tank. One easy to grow low maintenance plant is the Anubias (the “nana” variety). The plant is very hardy, stays somewhat small, and takes time to grow/expand. Also, a real plant will help filter out nitrates, nitrites and ammonia from the water, and in return release oxygen. I would consider it the ideal plant for Bettas (and other fresh water fish) for those reasons alone.

      • Alibaba says:

        I almost forgot, you’ll have to find an aquarium safe rock to tie the plant to, because you can’t put the Anubias plant directly into the gravel, because it would slowly die from root/rhizom rot. Many local fish stores that carry this plant sell it already attached to a small rock, so you dont need to worry about attaching the bare plant to something.

    • Veda says:

      Yes, it should be fine. I have a calico fish and gold fish at home and they are loving the fake plants I have and they are not harmed at all! ? I have some sharp ended red and blue crystals too and they are perfectly fine with it!

  2. Cathy Freeman says:

    I have a lead crystal bowl. Is this safe to use as a fish bowl? Will the lead seep out of the crystal?

    • Robert says:

      Hi Cathy, thanks for your message.
      This is a detailed review on the effects of lead on marine fish: http://www.ukmarinesac.org.uk/activities/water-quality/wq8_4.htm
      As to whether the lead can seep out of crystal, manufacturers of lead crystal recommend you don’t store liquids in them as they are more likely to leach.
      Personally I would choose another tank just to be on the safe side.
      I’ll leave your post here in case anyone has any first hand experience of a lead crystal bowl.
      Thanks, Rob

  3. Abby says:

    Do you know if craft foam sheets would leach anything toxic into the tank water? I’m interested in making some foam decorations for my Betta but I can’t find any information on whether it would be safe or not. I bought a flower that’s made of foam, but I don’t know if it’s different than regular craft foam.

    • Robert says:

      Hi Abby,

      It depends what the craft foam is made from. If you send me a list of the ingredients I can let you know how safe it is in your aquarium.

      Thanks, Robert

  4. Carpenter says:

    Can you put gold fish/coys in a metal horse watering container?

    • Robert says:

      Hi, this depends on may things – the type of metal, whether you’ll use a filter etc. A lot of non-ferrous metals are poisonous for fish. Is there a specific reason you want to keep fish in a horse watering trough? Let me know further details and I’ll see if I can be of more help.
      Robert.

      • ed schmidt says:

        i use the grey plastic. 100-150 gal an they work. I made a three stage filter using them for my 2600 gal. koi pond. If someone would like I will send you a general plan.

  5. Tara says:

    I’m getting ready to set up my Marina Portrait Aquarium and have been hunting for decorations for my very special, frowny faced Betta. I’ve been looking at the biorb decor, but the plant bases and sculptures seem to all be ceramic. I’m nervous about gravel substrate changing the pH, so I’ve found some manufactured sea glass gravel so no sharp edges, pretty and neutral colors, and not painted, but will I get a good bacteria bloom with it? I’d put some moss balls in with him, but I’ve read live plants can carry disease risks. Granted, I’ve also seen don’t feed live food for the same reasons; there’s a lot of conflicting info out there! I know there are Betta hammocks out there, but the ones I’ve seen are either a silk leaf with a wire in it or a painted foam lotus that is secured to the bottom of the tank with fishing line. I really want him to have the best environment I can give him and get him into his permanent home ASAP. Poor guy is in a gallon atm, but I’ve tried to put a lot of thought and research into what I should be doing as a new Betta owner.

    • Robert says:

      Hi Tara,
      It’s excellent to hear you’re putting so much thought into your Betta tank, many people keep them in tanks that are way too small.
      As for what you’ve described – everything sounds great.
      How large are the pieces of sea glass gravel that you’re using? Your bacteria build up will depend on whether you’re using a filter or not. Whilst most people do not use a filter, it will be easier to look after your tank if you include one. A filter will also encourage good bacteria growth in the filter media.
      Including plants depends on how much time you want to dedicate to your tank. Silk plants are definitely the easier option, however live plants will remove ammonia and nitrates from the water and add oxygen to the water.
      Good luck with your Betta.
      Robert

      • Tara says:

        Thank you, Robert. The sea glass goes up to about 1/2 inch pieces approx, so they should be anywhere in that smaller range. The large sea glass goes from 1/2 to 1.5 inches approx, so, going by that, the smaller pieces I’m looking at should be perfect. The tank comes with a filter, so I’m good there! It’s three stage filtration. I’m looking into the aqueon pro 50w heater for him and thinking of using something like API quick start to cycle the tank a bit faster. I’m still leaning towards the silk plants exclusively; I’d add some marimo moss balls, but they prefer colder water. They might do okay though. Again, thank you so much! Getting ready to order some decor now!

  6. Cleo says:

    I acidentally fed too big a pinch of flakes into small fish tank when I fed my aunties fish. Flakes sank and are on the bottom, not many. Fish had not been fed for neatly a week. Will that cause problem or is it OK as long as I do not feed afain

    • Robert says:

      Hi Cleo,
      I recommend removing as much as you can and sticking to their original feeding schedule. As the food breaks down it affects the water chemistry, even more so in a smaller tank.
      Robert

      • Gayle says:

        What I’ve found to work realy well for periodic cleanups of old food or debri is a long turkey baster. Sucks it up quickly and easily as you would do a spot vaccuum cleaning now and then!

  7. char says:

    hi, thanks for all the useful information. can i put golf balls as decor in a betta’s tank? thank you!

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      I don’t have any personal experience with this. I would recommend contacting the manufacturer to see if they coat the balls in anything that could be toxic to your fish. I’ll leave your comment here, incase any of our readers have any helpful advice.
      Robert

  8. Sarah says:

    I currently have a poor, little glowlight tetra. Pretty sure the bigger tetras nipped a number of his fins off, though it could have been our gourami. Anyhow, we have him in a 1 gallon right now since he can’t move much. Doing 100% change every day. My question is about tea tree oil. I’ve extensively read about it and decided to try that instead of Melafix to help him regrow the fins (as I read bad things about melafix and tiny fish. And many ppl said tea tree, though strong, is milder than cajput oil in melafix). I’m not sure if I should be using quick start and stress coat with the tea tree oil. It is unfiltered tank with full water change daily, a drop of diluted oil, and quick start with stress coat. Also, what are “normal” behaviors for a fish missing fins? And how often should I try to feed him? It seems he highness at his favorite, bloodworms, but doesn’t quite eat it.

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Let us know how you get on with the results. Feed his once a day and just remove any food he hasn’t eaten within 3 or 4 minutes. If you can, I’d put him in a bigger tank and carry out larger partial water changes rather than 100% changes daily, whilst this is OK for healthy fish, it may stress him out more whilst he is recovering. Robert

  9. Johandre says:

    Good day.
    I want to ask I live in a town where there aint any fish shops or petshops around. I just want to ask if I can put any artificial plants purchased at my local shop in my tank.

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hello,
      Thanks for your question. Yes artificial plants are fine as long as your thoroughly rinse them before you put them in the tank.
      Thanks, Robert

  10. Carol says:

    Could I use silicon plants to decorate instead of plastic plants from the aquarium store… are their any other types of material that is safe to use for plants. I have Koi and they eat fresh plants. Thanks

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Carol,
      Some silicone is safe to use – they will usually have ‘aquarium safe’ written on the packaging. You can get very realistic fake plastic plants, silk plants are also a good option. Thanks, Robert

  11. Nicole says:

    Hi! Is it safe to use an air stone and pump from a friends tank that has been dry for months? Her fish died from unknown causes and I don’t know how long the disease could survive outside of water. Do you think I could potentially infect my tank using it?

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      If you thoroughly clean it with boiling water and white vinegar it should be fine. If you don’t want to risk it you could just buy a new one. Thanks for your question, Robert

    • Alibaba says:

      Personally I would just buy a new airstone and some new air hose. Those things are relatively cheap. The used air pump should be fine since it wasn’t in the water/tank.

  12. Kyle Welke says:

    Hello, I have a large piece of coal in my 55 gallon tank and was wondering if that could be a potential problem ? It’s been in there about a year and I have had no problems until recently but I believe it was because of the piece of driftwood.its not very big but my pH level dropped and the fish started acting strange and then I lost a few. I would hate to have to remove it because my plecto loves it and is eating it. I changed the water and the fish are doing much better so from now on I will have to keep a good eye on the water quality.

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      It really depends where it was mined. If you can get access to a report from where it was mined to see which impurities are likely to be in it, that’d be good, but it’s probably unlikely you’ll be able to. If it were me, I wouldn’t use it. You risk introducing lead, sulphur, arsenic and other impurities into your tank. If you like the dark color of the coal, try using slate. Thanks, Robert

  13. Arnold says:

    OK, I have an idea for a fish tank theme that involves plastic figurines and I need to know if there is some kind of fish tank safe clear coat – the idea is to completely seal the figurine from getting damaged and leak toxins and protect the fish ?. Someone suggest nail polish enamel but I need to know what is the best thing to use. I appreciate your help in this matter.

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      I had never used anything to cover plastic figurines – most of the ones available in fish stores or pet stores are safe to put in fish tanks. Thanks, Robert

  14. Brittany says:

    My son has toy trucks with interchangable tops (Plastic). I’d like to add a couple of the tops to the tank (possibly sharp wheel wells buried in the gravel). How would I know if they are fish tank safe?

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Brittany, I’d imagine they will be fine as they’ll need to have been approved as child safe to make it into the toy industry. Thanks, Robert

  15. Kenzie says:

    I have a few ceramic figurines that I really want to put in my fresh water tank but I don’t know if the clay or paint could be deadly for the fish. Is there anything that I could coat them with to make them safe or should I just refrain from adding them to my tank?

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Kenzie, usually if it is marked as dinnerware safe, it will be safe to add to your tank. If not, I would avoid adding it. Thanks, Robert

  16. lauren Moschetta says:

    Hi Robert-
    Setting up a new tropical freshwater 10 gallon tank (second time in 8 days, fed the fish too much, water got cloudy and all died but 2) The pet store says fill the tank with tap water, put in the correct amount of water conditioner, run the filter for 24 hours, put the heater in near the end of 24 hour period and your good to go. I noticed your description of cycling is much lengthier. I have to the 2 remaining fish in a giant bowl with the heater waiting to go back in the now cleaner, healthier tank. I’m not sure they will make it in the bowl much past one full day though. what do you suggest?? help!

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Lauren, this happens all too often, as most pet stores are keen to sell you fish quickly. If I were you I’d return the fish to the pet store and say you’ve researched how to cycle a tank properly and the process takes much longer than two days. You can then go back and collect the fish once your tank is properly cycled. Thanks, Robert

  17. Angela Clements says:

    Are Eva foam lotus leaves safe for aquarium use

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      It depends which product you’re buying. There are plenty of foam lotus’ that are designed specifically for aquariums, I recommend choosing one of those. Thanks, Robert

  18. Lee says:

    Can I coat plastic ornaments with fish safe silicone or is there an alternative

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Lee, If they are plastic fish tank decorations, they will be fine to add to your aquarium. Thanks, Robert

  19. Josh Croneck says:

    I want to put a plastic toy soldier in as a decoration.

    The small army men with no paint type

    Is this fine? will it harm plants?

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Josh, it’s impossible to say without knowing all the materials used to make the soldiers. Personally, I wouldn’t put plastic in my tank unless it’s marked as food grade safe. Thanks, Robert

  20. Aromal says:

    Can I place metals in aquarium

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Aromal, the only metals that are safe for the aquarium are totally inert metals such as titanium and some stainless steels. Avoid iron, bronze, brass, copper, alum and carbon steels. Thanks, Robert

  21. steve says:

    Hi Robert. I have a lighting problem with my led lights being too bright.Cant control them with dimmers so I am using condensation traps which i have whitewashed with vinyl silk emulsion. It works a treat dimming the light into the tanks, and the vinyl silk isnt in the water.
    Will it peel off due to the light as one has to be face down facing the water as the tank lid is tight and the light rests on the trap itself. There is very little heat but i want to make sure the paint wont peel and drop into the tank. thanks. steve

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Steve, I can’t say this is something I have ever tried, but I’ll leave your comment here in the hope that someone else might be able to share their experience with you. Thanks, Robert

  22. Carrie L Weber says:

    Hi,
    We are setting up a fresh water 10 gallon tank. No matter what water conditioner we use the test strip doesn’t get lower than 8. I came across this blog when searching what can make your tank more basic. We want to correct the water before putting a fish on the tank. We use a water softener for our hard water which we were thinking is the issue. After reading this I now think it is the 2-3 sea shells in the tank and we will remove them. Would the shells be enough to give consistently high alkaline levels?
    Thanks in advance

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Carrie, depending on which shells yes this is quite possible. Let me know how you get on after removing them! Robert

  23. Sydney says:

    Hello I recently bought a skeleton from my local craft store. I’m not sure what it’s made of and would like to know if it is safe to keep with my Betta fish. I’ve had him for about three years now and I don’t want to risk anything.

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Sydney, it’s difficult to answer this without knowing what the skeleton is made from. There are aquarium safe sealants you can coat it with if you want to be on the safe side. Many thanks, Robert

  24. Michael Sawyer says:

    Hello,
    So I’m so use to 29 gallon tanks and decorating was easy for me. Just recently got a great deal on a 55gal and am struggling trying to figure out how I want to decorate it. You’re article helped me as far as what to not put in it. I guess I’m struggling with how to find sites that can give me information on where I can get maybe a list of things I can put in it and where I can get them from that won’t break my pocket. Want to leave that to the fish lol

  25. Dorothy says:

    About 6 months ago, I bought some Scallops in shells from a supermarket and saved the shells to use in the aquarium with our guppies, platys and clown loaches. They rest tilted in pebbles so make a nice hiding place for the fish as I don’t put plastic items in. I wondered now, if it was ok putting these shells in as they would have come from the sea. I thoroughly cleaned them and our loaches prefer to sleep under them rather than their rock bridge.

    • Fishkeeping World says:

      Hi Dorothy, I wouldn’t advise putting shells in a freshwater tank because it might add calcium to your tank. Thanks, Robert

  26. Bob says:

    I have a 55 gal freshwater tank with a variety of fish (cats, angel, silver dollar, red shark, loach, tetras) and a large blue crayfish (7″ with claws out). The fish will nibble on the algae growing on the plastic/silk plants. The crayfish does this too, but I believe he is consuming the plant also. I have been removing a lot of very small pieces of plant floating on top. Any “safe” artificial plant to use. Live plants do not last long.

  27. kelly says:

    honestly i love the look of natural tanks… i had put natural driftwood (cleaned) in my 40g and i don’t see that as a problem, it lowers my ph levels and i keep up with it enough so my water doesn’t turn that yellowish brown. secondly i use playground sand in my tank (also cleaned) and have no issue with that.

  28. Kayla Palmari says:

    Hey, I have a toy octopus. Probably made of some kind of rubber. Is that okay to put into the tank with my Betta fish? Please let me know as I and exited to add the octopus to my tank if I can.

  29. Williams Myles says:

    Can you put Kangen water in aquarium

  30. Everett Miles says:

    Thanks for the post. I knew things that shouldn’t be in the aquarium. Now you can give me some advice on what to put in the fish tank? Thanks you!

  31. Will says:

    In Many cases PH buffering is a good thing, if your tap water is a 7ph for instance, you are being cruel trying to raise something such as Wild caught or F1 soft water fish or hard water fish in that tank.(soft water Discus Hard water Lake Tanganyika Cichlids come to mind) In these cases natural buffers are great, tannins naturally lower the PH for black water fish, where as crushed coral, shells etc. raise it for fish like Frontosa, I mean there is an entire family of Shell Dwelling Cichlids, and lets not get started on the PH range of plecos.

    All in all its not a bad list, I just feel like some of the information was a bit misleading.

    I just boils down to know your fish, know what it needs, ensure tank mates all have the same needs or some one is getting the short end of the stick. Look at the bright side, if you have two fish you love and they simple shouldn’t share the same water, that’s a reason to get another tank. This is why my MTS (multi tank syndrome) has gotten a bit out of control.

  32. Michele Leslie says:

    SILK PLANTS!
    Various freshwater fish I’ve had love their silk plants! No sharp edges like stiff plastic plants in general, texture and pliability closely mimic live plants-some actually look like live plants. I have an Amazon sword and java fern silk plant that many people have thought were live plants. Also come in various sizes shapes and colours.
    Also tend to grow a thin layer of slimy algae – my plecos, gouramis, cichlids keep busy devouring this fresh, healthy source of nutrition. Seems like they enjoy swimming through the leaves, great hiding spots for any fishes and my aquarium dwarf frogs especially love these plants sitting on them or hanging on them for hours; lots of my cichlid babies sleep in them as well.
    I have a very large pleco that actually liked sitting on top of one of the smaller silk plants he looked very funny but seemed to be enjoying himself LOL.
    Anyway, if real plants are not feasible I recommend silk plants as an alternative!

  33. Michele Leslie says:

    I often use the nursery plant pots that you got in the summertime when you buy potting plants the fish seem to like them and the tinier ones can swim through the holes. Does anyone know if there’s any concern about the material these are made of being in an aquarium?

    Thanks,

  34. Michele Leslie says:

    Also curious if anyone has used live or other types of bamboo and if this is safe?

  35. Darbok says:

    What specific toxins are released by plastics?

  36. Febe Gif Benecario says:

    Hi.. can I put plastic flowers and roses into my aquarium? Would it harm my guppies?

  37. Aurora says:

    Hi, I bought two plastic plants to put in my fish tank for my new fish that I just bought today. Will the plastic be ok?? X

  38. DARREN DELMONACO says:

    You might want to reconsider your advice on coral for freshwater tanks, it’s well know by african cichlid keepers for decades that caral is one of the best ways to stabilize and raise your ph due to these fish needing high ph, I’ve done it for many many years and it works perfectly.

  39. Obubbles says:

    I know that you need to avoid food and edible things when you’re putting things in a tank, but what about treated and carved bone? Will that affect pH or cause problems for fish or plants?

  40. Janet says:

    Thanks for the post. We are setting up a new aquarium for my daughter and I’m bitten by the bug and want to set up another planted tank for me, more for plants than fish but I will want a few fish/snails when the plants have matured. Could I decorate it with unglazed fired terracotta pieces I made from local clay? Any advice about how to test these for trace minerals? Could I just set up the tank with them and then test the water for trace metals before I put livestock in?

  41. Bella Smith says:

    Is it okay if I put driftwood in the tank?

  42. Fleur says:

    One of my ornaments is losing its colour. Can I paint over it and then seal it with something? Or use a non-water soluble paint like oil paints? I don’t want to risk contamination though, so if it’s safer not to bother I won’t do anything. Thanks!

  43. Kile says:

    Sometimes calcium IS needed in freshwater tanks, and changing the pH of the tank is sometimes what you do want to do. For example, adding calcium to a tank is vital for those keeping snails.

  44. Stephana Boles says:

    I have some very old sea shells. If I boil them first can I add to a fresh water tank

  45. Arthur Farris says:

    Make your aquarium decorations safe by using safe materials such as: ceramic, plastic, glass, etc. Also, avoid placing wood, metal, stone, beach sand, etc., coins, seashells, corals, and anything that can be decomposed or consumed in the aquarium to keep your fish safe.

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