Rubbermaid vs. the real deal

[Perry]

Hello All from a first time postee,

I am making my first foray into ponding. I'm familiar with the products and
techniques, but have never actually used them. To practice, I've bought a
large Rubbermaid type storage bin from Wal-Mart which I intend to disguise
well and stock with literally one or two small mosquito fish or tadpoles
from a nearby pond.

My question: Does that type of plastic emit any dangerous chemicals or
gases into the water that would poison flora or fauna? I'm not looking for
long-term quality, just short term practice.

Thanks.

[Charles]

On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 19:13:22 -0400, "Perry" >
wrote:

>Hello All from a first time postee,
>
>I am making my first foray into ponding. I'm familiar with the products and
>techniques, but have never actually used them. To practice, I've bought a
>large Rubbermaid type storage bin from Wal-Mart which I intend to disguise
>well and stock with literally one or two small mosquito fish or tadpoles
>from a nearby pond.
>
>My question: Does that type of plastic emit any dangerous chemicals or
>gases into the water that would poison flora or fauna? I'm not looking for
>long-term quality, just short term practice.
>
>Thanks.
>


They work well, I used one for years, until I poked a hole in it.

totally safe.


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

[Michael Lee]

Charles wrote:

> On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 19:13:22 -0400, "Perry" >
> wrote:
>
>>Hello All from a first time postee,
>>
>>I am making my first foray into ponding. I'm familiar with the
>>products and techniques, but have never actually used them. To
>>practice, I've bought a large Rubbermaid type storage bin from
>>Wal-Mart which I intend to disguise well and stock with literally one
>>or two small mosquito fish or tadpoles from a nearby pond.
>>
>>My question: Does that type of plastic emit any dangerous chemicals
>>or gases into the water that would poison flora or fauna? I'm not
>>looking for long-term quality, just short term practice.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>
>
> They work well, I used one for years, until I poked a hole in it.
>
> totally safe.
>
>

The only issue I can think of is UV deterioration. I have only had
plastic (Rubber Made type stuff) last a couple of years, but if you only
want it for short term, go for it.

[[email protected]]

rubbermaids are water and food safe and highly recommended for use with fish. not so
all other types of plastic. Ingrid

"Perry" > wrote:

>Hello All from a first time postee,
>
>I am making my first foray into ponding. I'm familiar with the products and
>techniques, but have never actually used them. To practice, I've bought a
>large Rubbermaid type storage bin from Wal-Mart which I intend to disguise
>well and stock with literally one or two small mosquito fish or tadpoles
>from a nearby pond.
>
>My question: Does that type of plastic emit any dangerous chemicals or
>gases into the water that would poison flora or fauna? I'm not looking for
>long-term quality, just short term practice.
>
>Thanks.
>



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

[Mark Bannister]

As a plastics person I can tell you that almost all plastics will be
safe for fish. Some products may have surface contamination. Wash
thoroughly. Food grade plastics typically are rated such because they
are safe when exposed to heat, acids or oils that may be in food. These
may cause chemicals to leach from the plastic.
As mentioned the only issue you will have is UV stability. Keep it out
of direct sunlight.
Mark B.
PS: Speaking of plastics, since I am in the plastics business I have
access to plastic pellets. I've noticed some filters use them usually
as a prefilter. Any experience out there? Pros? Cons?

Perry wrote:
> Hello All from a first time postee,
>
> I am making my first foray into ponding. I'm familiar with the products and
> techniques, but have never actually used them. To practice, I've bought a
> large Rubbermaid type storage bin from Wal-Mart which I intend to disguise
> well and stock with literally one or two small mosquito fish or tadpoles
> from a nearby pond.
>
> My question: Does that type of plastic emit any dangerous chemicals or
> gases into the water that would poison flora or fauna? I'm not looking for
> long-term quality, just short term practice.
>
> Thanks.
>
>

[Dances With Ferrets]

I see no problem with this...... I used to use the rubber-maid tubs
for cheap breeding aquaria.... one side cut out with a slat of glass
or plexi-glass glued in for observation from the side. I see no
reason why they can't be used outdoors.... If your looking for
something a lot more sturdy... check your local hardware/feed store
for stock-tanks or feeding troughs.... they are much thicker, more UV
resistant, and generally better in every way.... some even come with
removable drain plugs. We use large 300 gallon stock tanks at my
workplace for keeping koi, goldfish, and floating plants during pond
season.

Good luck in your pond-keeping endeavors.

[Ka30P]

If you use a 150 gallon or even 75 gallon
stock tank
you can use that learning pond as a plant
filter when you do your big pond.
Or leave as a pretty water feature.
Or use it as an isolation tank for future
fish buys.
We have the 150 gallon as the header pond
in our waterfall. Water comes in at the bottom
and out thru drilled holes with bits of pipe in them at the top.



kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

[Gary]

I have used a 300-gal Rubbermaid stock tank as a fish pond for the
past 10+ years with no problems at all. I'm sure this is a different
type of material from what they use in the storage bins they make, but
Rubbermaid is generally reliable and safe.
Gary

[RichToyBox]

All of the bead filters, converted sand filters, use polyethylene beads.
The specific gravity is just less than 1.00 and as such they float and the
water flowing up through them is filtered nicely. Being near the same
specific gravity as water, they are easily backwashed, with the tumbling
action getting all of the material filtered sent to waste. Someone on here
was looking for a source several months ago.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"Mark Bannister" > wrote in message
. ..
> As a plastics person I can tell you that almost all plastics will be
> safe for fish. Some products may have surface contamination. Wash
> thoroughly. Food grade plastics typically are rated such because they
> are safe when exposed to heat, acids or oils that may be in food. These
> may cause chemicals to leach from the plastic.
> As mentioned the only issue you will have is UV stability. Keep it out
> of direct sunlight.
> Mark B.
> PS: Speaking of plastics, since I am in the plastics business I have
> access to plastic pellets. I've noticed some filters use them usually
> as a prefilter. Any experience out there? Pros? Cons?
>
> Perry wrote:
> > Hello All from a first time postee,
> >
> > I am making my first foray into ponding. I'm familiar with the products
and
> > techniques, but have never actually used them. To practice, I've bought
a
> > large Rubbermaid type storage bin from Wal-Mart which I intend to
disguise
> > well and stock with literally one or two small mosquito fish or tadpoles
> > from a nearby pond.
> >
> > My question: Does that type of plastic emit any dangerous chemicals or
> > gases into the water that would poison flora or fauna? I'm not looking
for
> > long-term quality, just short term practice.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
>

[Mark Bannister]

As far as sources there are many, but for most you will have to buy
50-1000 pounds at a minimum. Then again at a market rate of $.30-$.60
per pound that's not so bad.
Most sources also will require business accounts. Brokers like General
Polymers/Ashland (https://ccenter.ashland.com) or GE Polymerland
(http://www.gepolymerland.com) may be better able to handle consumer orders.


RichToyBox wrote:
> All of the bead filters, converted sand filters, use polyethylene beads.
> The specific gravity is just less than 1.00 and as such they float and the
> water flowing up through them is filtered nicely. Being near the same
> specific gravity as water, they are easily backwashed, with the tumbling
> action getting all of the material filtered sent to waste. Someone on here
> was looking for a source several months ago.

[Rodney Pont]

>RichToyBox wrote:
> All of the bead filters, converted sand filters, use polyethylene bead=
s.
> The specific gravity is just less than 1.00 and as such they float and=
the
> water flowing up through them is filtered nicely. Being near the same=

> specific gravity as water, they are easily backwashed, with the tumbli=
ng
> action getting all of the material filtered sent to waste. Someone on=
here
> was looking for a source several months ago.

I found a company in the UK are willing to supply just the beads,
http://www.aquajac.co.uk can supply at =9C60 per cubic foot (+ carriage)=
..
They can also supply stainless steel mesh and other fittings and are
going to add these to their website. Meanwhile anyone in the UK who are
interested can use the contact page and get more information.

I've put just under a half a cubic foot of them in the Fishmate
Pressurised filter and for the first time ever it's filtering properly.
It backflushes with about 25 litres and I'm having to do that night and
morning at the moment but with even tadpoles getting through previously
it's got a bit of catching up to do :-)

--
Regards - Rodney Pont
The from address exists but is mostly dumped,
please send any emails to the address below
e-mail ngpsm4 (at) infohitsystems (dot) ltd (dot) uk