New 5 Gallon LEGO THEME

[bizzy928]

Hello all!!!

I'm going to be getting a donated 5gal hex tank soon.

I want to make a lego theme. I'm probably going to build some houses, then other structures and add some lego people in it.

I have three questions:

1) Is this safe for the fish? Short run? Long Run?
2) How do I clean the lego?
3) Has anybody done this before?

Thank you very much!

[VoodooChild]

I've heard of it being done, so I don't think you'd have any problems. I'd bleach them first though, let'em sit for about an hour, then soak them in a vat of water with ALOT of dechlorinator. If it looks like any of the paint or little faces or anything are starting to come off, I wouldn't do it.

[bizzy928]

I was thinking of boiling them for a short while in salt water.
Then building the pieces.
Then boiling the finished structures in salt water again
Then adding it into my tank.

Then fishless cycle my tank for about one week.
The cycle should get rid of any thing the boiling didn't right?

[mt_marcy]

Hmmm....putting in lego pieces and or people, i'd be very careful!!! Lego isn't made to go into aquariums, so it could have negitive effects on either your water quality, fish or both. Have you spoken to anyone educated on fish at a trusted lfs? I would do so. Personally I wouldn't put anything in my tank that wasn't made/ment specifically for a aquatic tank, but if I were, I'd speak to a trusted lfs on disinfecting the pieces and process of placing them safely in the tank... Good luck,
mt_marcy!

[TKOS]

I'd be careful about boiling those lego pieces. They are made of thin plastic that will end up melting in boiling water, or at the very least getting really soft and becoming deformed.

I'd go with the mild bleach solution option.

[bizzy928]

Thanks for the replies!

What is an "lf?" (Mt_marcy)

[kveeti]

Originally posted by bizzy928
What is an "lf?"

That was "lfs" = Local Fish Store

Check this Lego Club site out, the FAQ #7
http://www.akasa.bc.ca/vlc/faq/#8

quoting:

Is LEGO® safe in an aquarium for both the fish inhabitants and LEGO®?

After consultation with The Lego Company, it is indeed safe for all concerned. LEGO® is comprised of a very stable inert hard plastic and will therefore not breakdown in an aquarium environment.

[bizzy928]

WOW! Thanks a lot for that link!
Vancity Lego Club!
AWESOME!

I just got news that the 5gal was actually a 2gal :(
But I have another 10gal!

I will post pictures when I am all setup!

Thank you VERY much for all your help.

[Molino]

Very cool idea :cool:, I would definately like to see some pictures once set up.

[superstein61]

Originally posted by mt_marcy
Personally I wouldn't put anything in my tank that wasn't made/ment specifically for a aquatic tank,

Sorry, but I diasagree wholeheartedly. People place things in their tank that aren't specifically made for aquatic tanks all the time. As long as the material is inert and cleaned before hand, there should be no problem whatsoever.

Examples - clay pots, rocks, wood, plastic items, DIY projects like my DIY background made out of styrofoam, sand and epoxy resin, etc, etc, etc

Do not fall into the LFS trap of Only buying things marked for Aquarium use.

[mt_marcy]

LFS= local fish store