sirdarksol

Does anybody here know if the plastic netting that they make bags out of for oranges/onions/other produce is safe to use in tanks? It seems like great stuff to hold plants to driftwood.

COBettaCouple

good question.. maybe treating it like driftwood and boiling it and soaking it to test for dye leaching would make it work if the netting was 'soft' enough?

sirdarksol

That's a good start.

Butterfly

I use the plastic netting from potatoes to hold Java Moss on rocks and clay pots. Look at the Java Moss on the left. would you believe theres a clay pot inside it?
Carol

sirdarksol

Awesome. Thank you very much.
How long have you had it in there? I presume you haven't had any unexplained deaths in that tank since introducing the stuff.

COBettaCouple

Hmm.. I've got a ton of java moss in the Mahachai Bettas tank. They spend all of their time in it, being such a timid species so I'm not sure if I could do that since they are happy with it gone wild, but I like the idea and need to remember it for future reference.. great idea there, Carol.

Butterfly

That is an old picture. The java moss was put on the pot originally to use as a cave then the moss covered it and kept going. There is a pic around here somewhere that shows the same moss and it had filled that 10G tank . Never had any problems. I have had the moss grow through the netting and just left it without any problems and have left it on others until the moss is attached and gently removed the netting. Never had a problem in the tanks I've used it in but do rinse it in cool water to remove any dust that might be on it.
Carol

sirdarksol

The way Java moss grows through things is exactly why I thought about using it. I had wrapped the stuff in string before on another log, and I can't even see the string anymore, so I figured the same thing would happen with the netting. You have confirmed that, and the fact that it sat in a 10g tank forever would suggest it isn't likely harmful to fish.

Chief_waterchanger

Twist ties off of the bread bags are useful also. (That tidbit is for those like my parents, save every twist tie in sight for some unknown usefulness later. )

COBettaCouple

lol.. my mom does that too - she must have a million of those things.

sirdarksol

My only concern with that is that the metal in the twist ties corrodes when it's wet.

≈ D ≈

COBettaCouple

what about those plastic ties for electronics cabling?

jack11

do you mean like zip ties? i imagine they would work well

≈ D ≈

If you are talking about zip ties, try to get the clear ones as I would be concerned about the coloured ones leaching by-products into the water. This may not be the case but I'm just playing it safe

COBettaCouple

I mean these: http://store.cwc-group.com/8cati100pacl.html .. they can be pulled tight & cut, if desired.

≈ D ≈

Yep, they be the ones I'd be on about too