Help : Aluminum can in tank ok ?

[outdoorandy]

I went on vacation and a friend decided that a beer can in the tank would be a great addition.
Will a aluminum can be harmful to fish if used as decoration ?
So far no casualties !!!:1zhelp::help2::help:

Thanks for any help on the matter !!!

[Agent_Scully]

I would think sharp egdes could seriously injure the fish or if the die or metal leeched in the water. I'll have to say no.

[Hooked Newbie]

I'd worry more about the ink on it. Take it out and do a water change if you're concerned.

[jm1212]

i hope he rinsed it out first...alcohol is really bad for the fish.

[Virtuoso2K12]

I would have to with no, just for the safety of the fish, go PVC pipes.

[Dangerdoll]

I will say no too... ever see an aliuminum can in a lake or pond... rusted

[247Plants]

LOL....

I dont suppose it would be a problem. Im sure it wasnt in there long enough to do any damage, and it wont leach anything into your tank. It all has to be foodsafe to pass the USDA regulations to sell here in the united states.

As far as if any beer got into your tank. Im sure it was probably pretty empty by the time it went in there and even if it did, beer is made of pretty natural ingredients and nothing that would hurt your tank on a small scale.

[J double R]

I will say no too... ever see an aliuminum can in a lake or pond... rusted


actually.. never seen a rusted aluminum can... aluminum doesnt rust..

i agree with 247 on this one, but my verdict ultimately would be no.. get something more tasteful ;)

[Alan R]

I would have to with no, just for the safety of the fish, go PVC pipes.

That a good alternative to a beer can. I wasn't aware Budweiser made PVC pipes.

[Rbishop]

Depending on the quality of the aluminum, the impurities can rust. Once the plastic coating breaks down, it will start to happen. Besides looking tacky, I would recommend not to do it.

[KuchDaddy]

Although it has already been said, I wouldn't do it because of the sharp edges.

[bushwhacker]

guess there goes my idea of siliconing beer cans together for caves fo fishy hideouts

[Dangerdoll]

LOL....

I dont suppose it would be a problem. Im sure it wasnt in there long enough to do any damage, and it wont leach anything into your tank. It all has to be foodsafe to pass the USDA regulations to sell here in the united states.

As far as if any beer got into your tank. Im sure it was probably pretty empty by the time it went in there and even if it did, beer is made of pretty natural ingredients and nothing that would hurt your tank on a small scale.
actually, even a little may do enough damage. Back in highschool, being a teenager when my parents went out of town for the weekend, we had a party. Soemone thought it would be hilarious to put their finished can in the tank. The can was left with backwash in it and that little bit of backwash destroyed the tank in a few days. Everything was fine until the 3rd day. By the third day, the tank was milky white and all fish were floating.

[Bobnova]

Aluminum itself is unlikely to cause any issues. Beer residue may well be nasty.
The plastic coating on the aluminum is durable stuff, consider what it is built to withstand! Beer, coke (phosphoric acid wooo!), carbonated things, citric acid, all kinds of junk.

That said, i wouldn't put one in my tanks, cause of the sharp edges, and because i don't think i'd like how it'd look.

[1oooop]

I suggest just going with PVC... or if you want some ABS

[Reddog80p]

Aluminum cans do rust. If the beer can is old and neat put it on ebay and buy yourself some driftwood with the money you get for it, and put it in there. I sold an old Dr. Pepper can on ebay once for 60 bucks :headbang2:

[chunkoblue]

This reminds me of when I used to put Sobe containers in my tanks.. can't go wrong with glass! No sharp edges.

[Ajordan]

also, the inside of the can is food safe... not necessarily true for the outside...

[foofooree]

can't go wrong with glass! No sharp edges.
lol, actually, glass can be quite sharp ;)

[The Zigman]

Heck Yeah ! thats gotta look Soooooooooooooooo Awesome!
I'd throw in a couple old tires, maybe a license plate or two, a boot, and maybe a few broken bottles, and old TV....

And a concrete block with some rope tied to it... Man that would be sweet!!

and a stop sign! HA!!

[kingearwig]

Aluminum cans do rust. If the beer can is old and neat put it on ebay and buy yourself some driftwood with the money you get for it, and put it in there. I sold an old Dr. Pepper can on ebay once for 60 bucks :headbang2:

This can you sold for $60 had to have been old. Old enough to be steel. Pop cans and beer cans were steel for years before aluminum. I can remeber Miller High Life saying USSteel up until probably 1997.


Another guy said look at a can that has been underwater for some time... I agree with this, aluminum cans break down in water and I don't think it takes as long as we would think.
This said aluminum does not rust. Rust is a term for iron oxide. Aluminum forms its own oxide.... aluminum oxide... alumina.

[The Zigman]

People associate Rusting with Oxidizing, When Steel or Iron Oxdizes, it forms rust.. Aluminum also oxidizes, and does form aluminum oxide. Its a white powerdy substance on the surface of the can, and since most aluminum cans are paper thin, it wil Oxidize through very quickly.

So to be techinical No aluminum does not rust, but is does oxidize, and therefore, in many peoples eyes, and for ease of explanation, it rusts...

[JohnEX]

are you trying to set up a polluted-industrial-river biotope???

forget about all the technical reasons... a beer can in a tank is just plain ugly... get rid of it :)

[chunkoblue]

lol, actually, glass can be quite sharp ;)

Yes this is true... I don't imagine anybody would use broken bottles.:grinyes: