Trio123

Anyone ever use plastic fake plants from a craft store in an aquarium? Did you have a problem with bottom feeders, such as cory cats, dieing? I have had 4 cory cats die one at a time over the last month and before I try anymore I would like to make sure that I rule out all possiblities causing them to die.

Right now I am thinking it must just be the slight nitrite spike that killed the last two and the other two died right after the tank was cycled with them in it so that probably stressed them out. But I just want to make sure.

ps I used the plants from Michaels because I need taller plants for my aquarium than any of the stores had. My tank is a 65 gallon tall.

Butterfly

Most plants from craft stores have wires in them that rust and the dye is not completely water proof.
Artificial plants made for aquaria is about the same price and are aquarium safe.
Carol

COBettaCouple

Yea, crafts store plants can also have dyes and metals that can leach into the water so yea, definitely best to stick with plants for aquariums. www.drsfostersmith.com is the way we get ours.. they work out cheaper and we like to get the Tetra Wonders plants.

Trio123

I took the wire out of the plants. So check on that factor. So the dye can leach out and kill fish?

I couldnt find any over 18 inches... maybe Im looking in the wrong places... I will keep looking.

COBettaCouple

Yea, a lot of those crafts store plants have dyes that slowly leach into the water and can be toxic to the fish.

Trio123

Thanks! Thier out

Trio123

I dont know if you'll read this but I was looking through the random discussion threads and saw one with people's pictures. COBettaCouple, you have the most posts (that I seen) but yet I didnt see you post a pic!!! What's that, did I miss it? Pure curiousity

COBettaCouple

Our pic is in the thread, but probably WAY deep in it by now.

Trio123

Cool! I'll find it

Butterfly

Trio123

ya that's where I saw the pictures to cause me to ask the question. I went right over it... it was on the first page... I was pictureing way older... I mean I thought it would take decades to get up to 18,000 posts and become a Master of Fish Poo

tricky_tink

The LFS here uses fake plants from the craft store in all their tanks, they suggested it to me because it's cheap and I wanted a lot. Just make sure they are plastic or silk with no dye or wire. I have them in my tank and have for 2 weeks no issues yet and I test everyother day. But I also would remove and replace as soon as they look yucky. But do what your most comfortable doing.

angelfish220

There is a thread of this in the DIY section, just thought you might want to know.

COBettaCouple

LOL, not for a ..