Question about if this is reef safe or not

[jokerjohnson]

Question, so I got this little skull thing. I thought it’d be cool to try and put my rose bubble tip anemone inside of it so it would poke out of the head of it. But I’m concerned whether or not this would be safe to put inside of my reef tank. I’ve seen people post photos with skull decoy in side of there tanks. Any input appreciated thank you

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I've seen the cyph and lipto covered skulls too that would be cool with the bta. But sorry idk if its reefsafe but I'd bet if it was for fish tanks you would be ok. Its not a freshwater decoration is it, thats what I was thinking..

 

[jokerjohnson]

Yes i got it at a little fish store in the freshwater section. It says on the thing “glow fish”
So I assume it’d like a glow fish decoration

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Yes i got it at a little fish store in the freshwater section. It says on the thing “glow fish”
So I assume it’d like a glow fish decoration

Sounds good to me, I think give it some bubble tip hair

 

[Brucealmighty]

I have used those decorations in my tank before one with two fake plate corals on it not that they are recognisable anymore as they're covered in real coral now zoanthids and mushrooms and they are all living happily

 

[Uncle99]

Question, so I got this little skull thing. I thought it’d be cool to try and put my rose bubble tip anemone inside of it so it would poke out of the head of it. But I’m concerned whether or not this would be safe to put inside of my reef tank. I’ve seen people post photos with skull decoy in side of there tanks. Any input appreciated thank you

Good idea….don’t know if he’ll stay….but that would look cool.

 

[ProxyAquarist]

Question, so I got this little skull thing. ... But I’m concerned whether or not this would be safe to put inside of my reef tank. ... Any input appreciated thank you

One would think that coming from a fish store that it would be safe; however, the tag in your picture makes me cautious.

Excluding the "This Is Not A Toy" warning, there is the mention of exposure to chemicals including styrene and cancer risk. While your tank inhabitants will be unlikely to injure themselves in to play or live long enough to get cancer, chemical toxicity may be an issue. That said, the tag indicates it was produced in Virginia, USA. That is a bit more reassuring as I assume there are some enviromental rules and EPA oversight.

A quick literature search finds that styrene can kill algae:
- "Toxic effects of styrene on some aquatic organisms"

There is also evidence that fluorescent styrene microplastics may be more of an issue for fish larva.
- " Ingestion, egestion and post-exposure effects of polystyrene microspheres on marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) "

However, this is not my field. SoI did ask my son home from college and is a double major in Earth & Environmental Science Science and Chemistry who is finishing research on microplastics in the CT River. His couch consult is that you will probably be okay as the styrene will likely be in a polymere that the inhabitants of your tank are unlikely to absorb.

I hope that helps,
Jim

 

[i_am_mclovin]

For what it’s worth, the BTA has exactly a negative 6% chance of staying inside that.

 

[ProxyAquarist]

For what it’s worth, the BTA has exactly a negative 6% chance of staying inside that.

Dang ! Those are Tardis grade numbers !

Yours in science fiction,
Jim

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

For what it’s worth, the BTA has exactly a negative 6% chance of staying inside that.

-6% is actually not that bad, id go for it with those kinda numbers!

 

[Rmckoy]

The anemone will not stay inside it .

they would be cool to have covered in encrusting monti or even gsp would look cool !

whether it’s reef safe or not .
not woukd depend on what it’s made of .
Most times decorations don’t stay pretty long and will eventually become magnets for ugly algae .
That said .
coralline algae seams to be attracted to black plastic such as frag racks