Is it safe to use styrofoam for a floating surface portal

[Solstice_Lacer]

I've seen people create little portals on the surface of their aquarium to prevent surface plants from growing in a certain area. I'm considering using a piece of styrofoam to do this in my tank. Does that seem ok? Is styrofoam a safe material for this or should I use something else

[Biotope Biologist]

Styrofoam should be safe but it is unsightly. Most use acrylic rings which can easily be found at craft stores or plastic specialty stores

 

just be aware some styrofoam is coated with chemicals that can leech into the aquarium. But typically crafting styrofoam is not coated with these materials.

[Flumpweesel]

I think I would get annoyed with bits breaking off it (or their potential to). But I suppose fishing those beads out would be the same as keeping the pond weed in check

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

@nabokovfan87 has a photo of a plant corral made of styrofoam; it kept floating plants away from filter outflow.

I used styrofoam briefly in my aquarium, but it started to compress and change shape.

[Solstice_Lacer]

I ended up finding another solution, thanks for the input 😎

[nabokovfan87]

On 9/7/2022 at 3:21 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

@nabokovfan87 has a photo of a plant corral made of styrofoam; it kept floating plants away from filter outflow.

I found the video of it! Added it to the Seachem Tidal Experiments:tm: thread 😂

I doubt it's safe long term.  Zenzo has a video when he was making his mudskipper tanks on some water safe foams (Islands and fully submerged) and the methods to do so. 

I would say... Cork wood is probably the "best" thing to use for something like that.

Suction cups + airline is the best way I've seen it with stuff available.  As well as the acrylic (or etsy) rings that people have around.

[Solstice_Lacer]

I cut the top off a single serve cereal cup. Made sure it was smooth and washed off any dust. My thinking is; if it's safe to eat out of for humans, it should be safe to float. I'd hope honey bunches of oats doesn't have toxins in their plastic cereal cups.

Edit: It is number 5 plastic which from what I researched seems aquarium safe

 

Edited September 7, 2022 by Solstice_Lacer
Details

[Solstice_Lacer]

Well, it partially sank after a day and no longer kept duckweed out, so the quest continues

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

@Solstice_Lacer 

 

& really, you don't need the suction. If you skip it, the ring will just float around.