Can You Put Metal Objects In A Fish Tank [Also, What Materials Are Safe For A Fish Tank]

A fish tank is an artificial habitat for fishes. The tank is filled with water and different types of fish. People also put many kinds of decorative items inside the tank. It is usually transparent for people to view the acqua life in the tanks. However, you can not put metal in the fish tank. There is an exception in the case of steel which has qualities that enable it to stay in the water without causing damage. But, even steel has its disadvantages, it’s better not to risk it at all and suffer dire consequences. If the decorative item is made of metal, then do not put it in. Decorative items such as clay pots, tocks, ceramics, glass, wood, plants e.t.c are deposited in the tank. These items are there to give the tank the feeling of a beautiful underwater kingdom. 

Metals can make the water toxic for the acqua life inhabiting it. The fishes could grow deformed from the toxicity of the metals. They can get acute poisoning, which leads to a fast death. You can detect when they have acute poisoning when they have uncontrollable motion, glazed eyes; it is just floating on the surface. Metals also rust, which makes it not ideal to use even if it’s not toxic.

When decorating a fish tank, make sure the materials can survive in water for a long time, such as glass. If the material disintegrates inside the tank, you will lose money, and it can cause complications for your fishes. Avoid anything like Metals and plastics that can poison your water and kill the fishes. Let the material be something that can add useful nutrients to your water, making it an ideal habitat for your fishes. Or, it can help the growth of your fishes

Glass is used in a fish tank because of its extended survival in water. A glass can remain intact in water for 100yrs. Ceramics can also rain intact in water for a long time. These items are why when an underwater ruin or shipwreck is explored centuries after the ruin or shipwreck. You still find stuff like glass ceramics, materials made of clay e.t.c in it. This is because these materials can remain the way they are without getting destroyed by the water or eaten by fish. This is why glass is usually used to make a fish tank and why ceramics are sometimes used for decorations. So, find any material with these qualities, and you are good to go.

All animals or fishes kept as pets by man should have regular vets check upon them. This is very important. You, as a layman, may not be able to detect or be aware if certain about the fishes as you ought to. However, if there are regular vet visits, he can, with all his/her knowledge and vet tools, quickly discover if there is anything wrong with fishes. They can also check the chemical and nutrients content of the water to ensure it is just in proper ratios for the fishes well being. If fishes are dropping and floating on the surface of the tank, you should call a vet.

Can You Put Metal In Fish Tank

No, you can not put metal in a fish tank. Metals are corrosive, and they also rust inside water. This will poison your water and make your fishes sick and consequently die. Most metals like iron, titanium, lead, arsenic, silver, tin, copper e.t.c have these effects. Some like steel can be safe, but it’s better to keep your fish tank from metal completely.

Moreover,  when metals are exposed to the elements, they rust. It wouldn’t be worth the investment to buy something costly to decorate your fish tank only to have it rust and useless. It won’t only rust, and it will also poison your fishes, by the way. It can kill them, make them sick or deformed. To avoid all these troubles, it’s better to keep metal away completely. Look for beneficial things to your water, fish and appeals to your aesthetic demands without harming the water and fishes. 

What Should You Not Put In A Fish Tank

A fish tank is susceptible due to its inhabitants. The slightest mistake can be toxic for the fishes and plants living in the water. So, extreme care is needed in considering what you can put in your fish tank or can not. There are three categories of items, the toxic ones, the harmless and useless ones, and the one that adds nutrients and quality to the fishes’ lives. The only category you can not put in your tank is the toxic one. The poisonous materials include metals such as iron, titanium, lead, arsenic, silver, tin, copper e.t.c, and plastics. Plastics are made of chemicals. When dipped in water, it dissolves and poisons the water and fishes.

Don’t put items that might be harmless to the water, but if accidentally swallowed by the fish is fatal to it. It could be something poisonous to it or just an object that can injure its mouth while eating. When you want to put any item in your fish tank, make investigations on whether the material used to make it and other properties about it are suited for your fish tank. It’s always best to ask professionals, but you can also request an experienced fish tank owner or someone who had a job taking care of them.

Sharp objects, this is important. Some items may not poison water or fish but are physically harmful to the fish. If something sharp is placed in the fish tank, a fish could impale itself on it one day. It’s a dead body poisoning the water until the water is changed. Avoid using anything sharp when choosing decorative items for your tank.

What Materials Are Safe For Fish Tanks

Anything that is not poisonous to the acqua habitat, the fish, and is not physically damaging to it is good enough. You can put objects like clay pots or anything made of clay, there other varieties you can add as well such as, plant, ceramics e.t.c anything non biodegradable and does not cause pollution to the environment.

Clay

Clay is natural and is from mother earth. It works well with water. Suppose anything is made of clay; no matter what design, it’s okay. Just make sure to remove the bottom first.The clay mold should not be sharp enough to injure any fishes in the tank. Clay lasts long, and some qualities in it make the water more habitable for the fishes. Clay is just natural, like stones and gravel. It has an earthy feeling to it which can help the fishes relax more. Materials like this help to prevent the fish tank from being a monotone cage, with white hospital walls and no feelings to it. But when natural things are added to it make the fish feel more at home, almost like they are in the ocean again

Plant

Plants are also safe to use. The plant is essential because it provides underwater oxygen to the fishes. It also serves as a source of food for the smaller fishes. Without the plants, the fishes will die because the older fishes derive plant nutrients from the small fishes which eat them. The small water life that survives on fish will die without plants. The plants can also be set in strategic places to give a beautiful look to the tank. 

Ceramics

Ceramics are not incredibly popular as ornaments for the water, but they can be used. Any item made of ceramics that do not harm the fishes in any way is okay. They can serve as great ornaments to the water, projecting the smaller version of what you think the ocean below looks like. From the ceramics found in shipwrecks that have happened over a hundred years ago, the ceramics are usually still intact like they just fell into the water a couple of minutes ago. They should be used sparingly. They do not have any nutrient qualities to give the water or the fishes, unlike plants, clay, and natural stones.

Stones and gravel

Stones and gravel can also be used as the tank’s floor carpet to make it look more natural. It’s ideal because it’s easy to clean, unlike colored glass pebbles. Glass pebbles are pretty but cause unnecessary troubles and are more challenging to clean than stone and gravel. Rocks and gravel can be found at the bottom of oceans, creeks, and other water bodies. It will make the fishes feel more at home and in a natural setting. Glass pebbles, on the other hand, are of no use to the fishes. Though not harmful, they only fulfill the aesthetic demand of man. When they look inside the tank, it will look more magical and shimmering with the fishes swimming around.

Water conditioner

A water conditioner is a good addition. The water conditioner removes chlorine from the water to make it safe for the fishes. You might wonder why chlorine is harmful to your fish. Chlorine, when high, is poisonous to the fishes. The fishes will die off when there is too much chlorine in the water. If the chlorine concentration is low, it stresses the fishes. It can cause damage to their gill, which is what they use to breathe. If they can’t live because their gills are damaged, they will die without the needed oxygen. 

Do Fish Like Lots Of Decorations

The article has been based on what you can and can not put in your tank. The question now is, do fishes like the decorations? Do they appreciate the beauty, or is it an inconvenience for them? Yes, ornaments make the fishes comfortable. Most of the time, they are aware they are prey. The decorations relax them a little bit. But, do not make your decorations too much. Too many decorations can get your fish stuck in them. It also takes too much space, not leaving enough for your fishes to swim through.

Be careful in the things you put inside, though. Wash your decorations very well. If they are dirty, they can pollute the water and cause drastic repercussions. Please ensure they are the cleanest and do not have any plastic that can leak out of them. It is best to keep your decorations natural, such as rock, plant, clay pot, e.t.c. Artificial items tend to have chemicals that can poison water and kill your acqua creatures. This is why ocean life dies from pollution. Yearly. However, you can use some artificial ones certified by scientists and professionals to be safe for use in the water tank. 

However, even though decorations make the fishes feel at home, you should not overdo it. No matter how good anything is, if it is overdone, problems arise. You may have a favorite food, but if you eat it morning, afternoon, twilight for many days, you will get sick. So let the ratio of your decorations and other things inside the fish tank be in proportion with space in the fish tank and the number of fishes as well.

Conclusion

Humans are always looking for ways to amuse themselves. Keeping fishes as pets or sightseeing is a way to make life more interesting for them. The fish tank is filled with water and other decoration material for fish habitation. Proper care of the water is essential. If the water was polluted or poisoned by chemicals, it may damage the fishes’ growth or kill them directly. Sharp objects are to be kept far away from the tank.

The decoration should not be overdone. This will give wriggle room to the fish and not restrict their movements. Items like clay pots, rocks, plants, e.t.c can be used for decoration. They must be well cleaned to prevent them from polluting the water.