I know this sounds stupid to some, but I was thinking about making a tank that mimicked the Hudson River in NYC. But not cruely. I want to make it look polluted but of course it's not. I though maybe you guys could give me some ideas. please don't be offended by it, I would never put anything in it that would harm fish. I was thinking bottles, and that's really all I could think of. I know metals that will rust is no good so I at a jam. Do any of you have ideas? The tank would be a 30 gallon rectangle. Thanks for any advice.
Garbage dump tank
- Thread starter Jtd724
- Start date
Aluminum cans maybe. You could seal the tops so fish don't get trapped inside or cut themselves on the thin edges of the opening. Also, just some junky looking stuff in general, plastics come to mind, broken toys or something? I dunno. Of course, since this is the Hudson, see if you can find a little plastic toy skeleton and tie it to a rock on the bottom. 
I think you could easily get away with beer bottles, soda bottles, etc. If you can find a way to soften the edges, broken bottles might be cool. Ceramic pots might be neat too. Some soup cans are made with plastics now so you may be able to use them. Glass food jars will work too and I'd use something with a recognizeable shape like ketchup or mason jars.
Bricks, cobblestones, cinderblocks, all would work but you'll need to check their effect on your water chemistry before adding them. Chain and rope might work also. I know they made plastic chain so you may be able to make that work. Otherwise stainless steel may be a possibility.
Man maed wood objects may look appropriate. Things like shovel handles and old crates. You could even inscribe them with clever things (East India Tea Company comes to mind )
We expect to see pictures of this! It sounds really cool
Bricks, cobblestones, cinderblocks, all would work but you'll need to check their effect on your water chemistry before adding them. Chain and rope might work also. I know they made plastic chain so you may be able to make that work. Otherwise stainless steel may be a possibility.
Man maed wood objects may look appropriate. Things like shovel handles and old crates. You could even inscribe them with clever things (East India Tea Company comes to mind
)We expect to see pictures of this! It sounds really cool
tomm10 said:I think you could easily get away with beer bottles, soda bottles, etc. If you can find a way to soften the edges, broken bottles might be cool. Ceramic pots might be neat too. Some soup cans are made with plastics now so you may be able to use them. Glass food jars will work too and I'd use something with a recognizeable shape like ketchup or mason jars.
Bricks, cobblestones, cinderblocks, all would work but you'll need to check their effect on your water chemistry before adding them. Chain and rope might work also. I know they made plastic chain so you may be able to make that work. Otherwise stainless steel may be a possibility.
Man maed wood objects may look appropriate. Things like shovel handles and old crates. You could even inscribe them with clever things (East India Tea Company comes to mind
We expect to see pictures of this! It sounds really cool
Whoah good ideas!
I really wanna see this when it's done!
Goodluck!
-Emily
WOW, this is wierd - I was thinking about a tank like this just yesterday! I read something online about a tank sort of along these lines, and it got me thinking 
I envisioned pieces of cinder block, maybe some broken clay pipe, pieces of beer bottle, and I even thought of making a little mould and using silicone to create small-scale 6-pack rings. I imagined it in a 10-15g, so everything would be scaled down. How about one of those tiny pop cans? (like you get on airplanes, I've seen them for sale at candy stores) I'm not sure if aluminum is safe - if it's not, you could possibly epoxy it.
I'd use sand with some greyish gravel and larger stones to make it look like a river bottom, and add some tall, stringy plants.
I really like the idea of a milk crate or wooden crate too - just let your mind wander, imagine all the things people might throw into a river, the list is endless!
I'd absolutely love to see pictures
I envisioned pieces of cinder block, maybe some broken clay pipe, pieces of beer bottle, and I even thought of making a little mould and using silicone to create small-scale 6-pack rings. I imagined it in a 10-15g, so everything would be scaled down. How about one of those tiny pop cans? (like you get on airplanes, I've seen them for sale at candy stores) I'm not sure if aluminum is safe - if it's not, you could possibly epoxy it.
I'd use sand with some greyish gravel and larger stones to make it look like a river bottom, and add some tall, stringy plants.
I really like the idea of a milk crate or wooden crate too - just let your mind wander, imagine all the things people might throw into a river, the list is endless!
I'd absolutely love to see pictures
Jtd724,
Awesome idea. I am from the NYC metro area, and it is def. a unique idea! Go for it, I'd love to see the pictures myself. Too bad it isn't a bigger tank, it'd be awesome to have some striped bass (which get to 50"+ in some places, ruling them out) or bluefish!! Oh well! Good luck with that idea, the possibilities are as endless as the rubbish!
Awesome idea. I am from the NYC metro area, and it is def. a unique idea! Go for it, I'd love to see the pictures myself. Too bad it isn't a bigger tank, it'd be awesome to have some striped bass (which get to 50"+ in some places, ruling them out) or bluefish!! Oh well!
Good luck with that idea, the possibilities are as endless as the rubbish!
awesome.Harlock said:Of course, since this is the Hudson, see if you can find a little plastic toy skeleton and tie it to a rock on the bottom.
Would some chunks from a rubber tire be safe? Maybe you could go to the toy store and buy a fake diamond ring or something to add a bit of a storyline to the theme of your tank? How about a constant stream of human feces being dumped in?
I think all the good suggestions were suggested before I got here, but good luck to you.
You may also want to consider small plastic and/or glass liquor bottles (nips), like the ones they serve on airplanes. They should be readily available at any local liquor store for around $1 each. Obviously, you want to empty them of liquor and clean them thoroughly first. (I've always wanted to get a Jack Dempsey and put it in a tank with black gravel, black background, a skull/skeleton, and a couple nip-sized bottles of Jack Daniels or other hard liquor. I think that'd be badass...)
I've got Bawls bottles in some of my tanks. They make killer decorations. (Just take the labels off and remove the glue.)
I had been tempted to take it further myself, with some leaflitter, plastic silverware, 6-pack rings, and other assorted things you find in the water around here, but couldn't bring myself to do that to any of my tanks currently. Do post some pics.
I had been tempted to take it further myself, with some leaflitter, plastic silverware, 6-pack rings, and other assorted things you find in the water around here, but couldn't bring myself to do that to any of my tanks currently. Do post some pics.