Artificial decoration losing color

[markon87]

Hi all,

I have few artificial decoration items in my tank that is one year and a half old. I've noticed that they are losing color. I think they look more realistic but I'm a bit worried about my life stock. I'm also battling green hair algae at the moment. Not sure if it's worth noting.
What do you think, should I be worried about my decoration losing color?

Thank you!!!

 

[markon87]

bump

 

[samnaz]

Sorry I don’t have any experience but my guess is they wouldn’t make the decorations out of material that would harm the fish when it decomposes. Just a guess I could be wrong, hopefully someone else can chime in! Maybe they are faded from burn from the lights?

 

[markon87]

Sorry I don’t have any experience but my guess is they wouldn’t make the decorations out of material that would harm the fish when it decomposes. Just a guess I could be wrong, hopefully someone else can chime in! Maybe they are faded from burn from the lights?

Thanks for your help

 

[Mikedawg]

Sometimes decorations become detritus traps because, depending on their design, they may preclude sufficient flow - are your nitrate and phosphate readings within acceptable ranges? If not you'll want to make sure you don't have excessive detritus build up which can lead to elevated levels, and you may want to move/restructure artificial decorations if you think that is the cause. Also, I wouldn't think artificial decorations can support the "good" bacteria which convert waste into relatively harmless nitrogen gas and you may want to add some rock, preferably live rock.

Saltwater can be corrosive as you know; not sure I would trust any artificial decoration to be colorfast.

Good luck.

 

[markon87]

Sometimes decorations become detritus traps because, depending on their design, they may preclude sufficient flow - are your nitrate and phosphate readings within acceptable ranges? If not you'll want to make sure you don't have excessive detritus build up which can lead to elevated levels, and you may want to move/restructure artificial decorations if you think that is the cause. Also, I wouldn't think artificial decorations can support the "good" bacteria which convert waste into relatively harmless nitrogen gas and you may want to add some rock, preferably live rock.

Saltwater can be corrosive as you know; not sure I would trust any artificial decoration to be colorfast.

Good luck.

I'm looking to by a phosphate checker and measure my levels. Honestly I never did it. I don't have corals so I didn't think it's a priority to get it.
I have some live rock but I also have this artificial decoration. So basically you are saying that decoration cannot contain good bacteria and it's useless to keep it for that?

 

[Mikedawg]

I'm looking to by a phosphate checker and measure my levels. Honestly I never did it. I don't have corals so I didn't think it's a priority to get it.
I have some live rock but I also have this artificial decoration. So basically you are saying that decoration cannot contain good bacteria and it's useless to keep it for that?

Not 100% sure about type of plastic you have in tank having capability of "hosting" helpful bacteria because many reefers use plastic bioballs, etc. with good results; just suggesting that porous rock is probably much better. For some reason(s) it appears that your nitrate/phosphate may be too high - hence growth of GHA. Testing PO4 is a very good idea and that may give you a strategy to manage water parameters and, ultimately, manage this algae.

Good luck

 

[MarshallB]

It wont harm anything. I have a large fake branch in my fresh water tank. It was originally brown, now its white/gray. I think it looks more realistic that way.


I keep some fake decoration in my saltwater QT tank without any noticeable drawbacks. Water in general salt or fresh is corrosive. Unless the plastic itself is colored it will eventually fade. Almost all decorations are painted. As long as that paint is non-toxic then you are good. Commercial aquariums and hotels keep tons of fake coral without issue.