Solstice_Lacer Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 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. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flumpweesel Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 @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. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted September 7, 2022 Author Share Posted September 7, 2022 I ended up finding another solution, thanks for the input 😎 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted September 7, 2022 Author Share Posted September 7, 2022 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstice_Lacer Posted September 8, 2022 Author Share Posted September 8, 2022 Well, it partially sank after a day and no longer kept duckweed out, so the quest continues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted September 8, 2022 Share Posted September 8, 2022 @Solstice_Lacer & really, you don't need the suction. If you skip it, the ring will just float around. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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