Childrens Toys in Aquarium?

[TediouslyUseless]

Im currently saving up to get more decorations for my tank. In the mean time I was thinking of using some old plastic toys like Legos or plastic snap togther rods called Knex. Are they safe for my tank? Do they release poisons?

[Rue]

Most are okay...avoid anything that's painted.

[rookie]

if you are set up for live plants cover the toys with java moss and then it would make it look like it was naturally occuring thumbs2:

[Lab_Rat]

Like Rue said, avoid painted things, and I would also avoid anything with metal parts. If it's pure plastic, give it a good rinse and it should be fine.

[rookie]

would legos be considered painted because they are colored or do you actually mean products with a coat of paint

[Northernguy]

Lego are very safe!

[Lab_Rat]

I mean the products coated in paint. If the color is impregnated into the plastic it should not be an issue. Even certain paints would be ok, but you've heard the stories of lead paint on childrens toys from China...

[Jaster]

Legos are perfectly fine. And a good idea. I thought about doing sometihng like that but my son wont give up his legos for the tank... lol

[Lab_Rat]

Stupid question here, but won't Legos float? Do you somehow weigh them down? I could see how they could be very useful as a base for a moss/riccia coated object, lots of different shapes you could go with.

[wlepse]

I do believe that they float but I would also imagine they are going to be very hard to clean. Sounds like a cool idea though.

[tybizzel]

I also was thinking of lego. I was gonna buy some of the little building scene they have, like a race pit, fire station, and a couple cool vehicles. But i didnt.

[Pele]

but won't Legos float? .
That, my friend, is why we have super glue and rocks

[Garrett]

I have some old knex buried in the closet, I may use them to anchor Java moss when I set up the 55 on Thursday...

Wouldn't do it with my legos...28 and I still bust them out once in awhile. thumbs2:

[bluebluecow]

wow lego would be kinda cool, i suppose you could put some plant weight or sand in the gap between brick to feel up any air space. Even though it wouldnt go in my tank very tempted to raid sons lego box

[TediouslyUseless]

Legos do seem to trap air and float but if you push down whatever you build fast enough they stay down. I built a little 4 inch tunnel frame out of Knex and my blood parrot seems to like sitting inside keeping watch over his area of the tank.

[TediouslyUseless]

Also you can try to build the lego thing underwater.