for 1, metal is bad to put in any tank, it can rust and cut ur fish. get those plastic decor and let them sit in dechlor water for a day. i took rocks from my loca river and wasshed them and let them sit in water and they were safe(quartz rox)
If it's got metal showing, don't put it in there. Even if it's a type of metal that won't rust, it will still leach into the water, and how can you be sure there's no lead in it? Better safe than sorry, man.