Lego in Aquariums

[Oky]

Hello there. As I already mentioned, I have gotten two dwarf frogs for my birthday, and all they have in their little aquarium is a rock and a bamboo-like plant. I thought it would look much more interesting with some minifigs in it, but I'm unsure if I should put some in. Therefore, I ask you: Has anyone tried this before? Will the water damage the Lego? Or more importantly, will the plastic be harmful for the animals?

Please share your experience and advice. Thanks.

[mania3]

Sealife Aquarium, adjacent to LEGOLAND, California features many HUGE LEGO models in the tanks with the various animals. So, my assumption would be no and that incorporating the two shouldn't be a problem.

[Siegfried]

I've done it... and I don't recommend it unless you are prepared to lose the LEGO. Prior to coming out of the closet I used any excuse I could to build "needed" stuff out of LEGO. A breast pump was one... and fish tank decorations was another. This was back in 2004 and I had got into fish keeping (it's a long sad story) so...

..while the tank was stabilising I made some decorations. Note for one how lame they are (it was my childhood LEGO, that's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it!), and secondly how clean they are. Fast forward just three months...

... It doesn't take long for stuff to start growing on it...

...and trust me; it's a lot of work to get off. I still have some pieces that I can't get clean.

As a free bonus, he's another picture of my (now dead ) Oscar Cichlid, Bargearse. This guy used to eat food out of my hand; I'd hold it about 5 centimeters (2 inches for Yank types) above the tank and he'd (OK, "he" could have been a she ) grab it out of my hand, sometimes my finger as well. He was big too; about 15 centimeters (6 inches)! He especially loved eating smaller fish...

Sealife Aquarium, adjacent to LEGOLAND, California features many HUGE LEGO models in the tanks with the various animals. So, my assumption would be no and that incorporating the two shouldn't be a problem.

I bet they have the time and money to keep the algae out.

[L-space]

Yes, as said before it can be done.

However you must be willing to clean it every week/ two weeks to stop the algae from taking over. A chlorine bath is best suited for that; don't forget to rinse extensively after a chlorine bath.

Or you have to spend hundreds of dollars/ euro's / other currency for professional pumps and filters. And even then you have to clean on a regular base.

[mikey]

I think its a great idea. Obviously having seen the damage that is caused you should do something small with Lego that is already old or that you do not want. Im sure you could BrickLink some used pieces quite cheaply. If you viewed it as you would end buying some decorations to go in the tank, then buying some Lego to use is not that bad an idea, and you get the fun out of design and build, and cleaning it!

...

..while the tank was stabilising I made some decorations. Note for one how lame they are (it was my childhood LEGO, that's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it!),

...

That little yellow submarine looks really cool. I think this aquarium decoration is a really cool idea, but im not sure your fish appreciated, he (she?) does not look very happy...

...

Prior to coming out of the closet I used any excuse I could to build "needed" stuff out of LEGO. A breast pump was one...

I have to ask exactly what a 'breast pump' is?

[Siegfried]

That little yellow submarine looks really cool.

Thanks. I actually did like the sub, and that stayed in the tank for about six months. (The ship I broke after about a month as I decided it was too dominating.)

I think this aquarium decoration is a really cool idea, but im not sure your fish appreciated, he (she?) does not look very happy...

I think he was quite happy, and he loved to dig up or dig out the LEGO. (Most cichlids love to dig, it's quite fun to watch them re-arrange the tank.)

I have to ask exactly what a 'breast pump' is?

I made something to automatically pump one of these.

The point of them is to allow mothers to store milk for later. For the record, the wife refused to use it, and sadly there are no photos as it was prior to the digital camera age.

[-JD-]

I'm sure this will be fine, as long as you clean them regularly and make sure the frogs can't fit them in their mouths or eat the parts.

[dr_spock]

ABS plastic should be fine in the fish tank. You may have to clean the algae off them from time to time. I am not sure what effect fish poop and waste will have on the paint of the painted Lego parts.

Siegfried, you made a breast pump out of Lego? Did you have to do 3am feedings too?

[vexorian]

I bet they have the time and money to keep the algae out.

Or perhaps they have some sort of isolation between the construction and the water. I'd guess it is possible with bricky constructions to cover them with some trans plastic? I dunno I just thought of how bad would fish water entering between the bricks can be and so my first idea was something like that.

If you put used bricks make sure to clean them up before introducing to the aquarium, and if you clean them up make sure to get rid of all soap first...

Edited February 13, 2010 by vexorian

[mikey]

...

For the record, the wife refused to use it, and sadly there are no photos as it was prior to the digital camera age.

Im not particulary surprised it remained unused. That is one inventive mind you have!

Or perhaps they have some sort of isolation between the construction and the water. I'd guess it is possible with bricky constructions to cover them with some trans plastic? I dunno I just thought of how bad would fish water entering between the bricks can be and so my first idea was something like that.

If you put used bricks make sure to clean them up before introducing to the aquarium, and if you clean them up make sure to get rid of all soap first...

There has been an interview with a LegoLand Model Builder on Brothers Brick recently, he was explaining how they protect the bricks from UV damage by spraying a varnish or sealent over them. Perhaps they do the same for their underwater models, but they make sure that the water doesnt get polluted by chemicals.

[ProducePrincess]

..while the tank was stabilising I made some decorations. Note for one how lame they are (it was my childhood LEGO, that's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it!), and secondly how clean they are. Fast forward just three months...

... It doesn't take long for stuff to start growing on it...

...and trust me; it's a lot of work to get off. I still have some pieces that I can't get clean.

I bet they have the time and money to keep the algae out.

Siegfried theres these little snails that you can get for your aquarium and they seem to do a pretty good job of cleaning off algae and other gross things.

[JimBee]

I wouldn't recommend it. I remember when I used to have fish, all of the rocks and sides of the tank would be covered with algae. I'm willing to bet the case will be the same with Lego. I'm not sure the water will damage them, but all of the germs, plants, and frog crap will.

5 centimeters (2 inches for Yank types)

We do use centimeters, too, you know. It's just meters and kilometers that we don't use as far as measurement goes (for distance).

[WesternOutlaw]

Interesting topic. I had considered placing some of the Aqua Raiders sets in an aquarium some time ago, but I didn't want to damage/scratch the LEGO securing them in aquarium gravel. Chemicals would be my other concern.

Nice images Sieg. Sorry to hear that you lost your large Oscar.

[vexorian]

Siegfried theres these little snails that you can get for your aquarium and they seem to do a pretty good job of cleaning off algae and other gross things.

There are also fish that do that. One of them is rather cool when sucking everything with his mouth. My father uses them all the time and there is rarely any algae. Though I guess placing the aquarum away from sun sources helps too.

When I said fish water I am talking about all the sort of things that aquarum water brings, mainly algae I imagine water going through the small space between bricks would be pretty bad because of algae growing inside of the construction. Well, maybe someobody should try asking the guys at that aquarium for a tip.

[Oky]

Weekly cleaning? Chlorine? Bah! Sounds like way too much work for my lazy self. My tank is very small (about 4x4x6 inches), so I don't think it'll produce much dirt, but it still doesn't seem like a good idea. Thanks for the feedback guys, especially you, Siegfried.

Oh, and R.I.P. Oscar.

[Siegfried]

Siegfried, you made a breast pump out of Lego? Did you have to do 3am feedings too?

Since we eventually bought a pump, yes. But our kids were quite good for the most part and weren't too demanding at night.

Nice images Sieg. Sorry to hear that you lost your large Oscar.

Yeah, I miss him. I'm not sure if you know this, but unlike many fish, Oscars show interest in the outside world. When I entered the room he got all excited and started expecting food and if I opened my mouth near the tank he would too. Quite remarkable for such a relatively small fish. Most cichlids seem quite smart... and most are trouble makers too!

There are also fish that do that. One of them is rather cool when sucking everything with his mouth.

Like these? We had bristlenose catfish to help out. They did a good job at keeping the sides clean...

...but they didn't show much interest in LEGO care. Look to the bottom right; it's that submarine.... Cool fish though, probably my second favorite. For the most part they were quite reclusive fish and I suspect that's why they were selective cleaners. Sometimes I'd not see them for a week and I'd think they all died.

Thanks for the feedback guys, especially you, Siegfried.

Not a prob.

[YG-49]

*Ba-DUM!!!*

By Armothe.

[Piranha]

Two of my favorite things, LEGO and aquariums.

However I would never mix the two.

Firstly because my aquariums have natural aquascaping, plants, rocks, etc.

And I don't want to have my LEGO in a place where I couldn't easily access them, plus as mentioned they would get dirty fast with algae growth.

[Princess Muttonchops]

The point of them is to allow mothers to store milk for later. For the record, the wife refused to use it, and sadly there are no photos as it was prior to the digital camera age.

It really is a shame you didn't take a photo of it (er, the breast pump, I mean), then everyone would understand why I was so reluctant to use it! I can still hear the whine of the 4.5V motor as you so proudly demonstrated your creation... "Here Sweetie, try this!" "Er, I don't think so, Sweetie..."

[Siegfried]

It really is a shame you didn't take a photo of it (er, the breast pump, I mean), then everyone would understand why I was so reluctant to use it! I can still hear the whine of the 4.5V motor as you so proudly demonstrated your creation... "Here Sweetie, try this!" "Er, I don't think so, Sweetie..."

I would have taken a photo if you used it...

[Princess Muttonchops]

Maybe you should have tested it out on yourself first, then I may have been more receptive to your plan...

[Shadows]

It really is a shame you didn't take a photo of it (er, the breast pump, I mean), then everyone would understand why I was so reluctant to use it! I can still hear the whine of the 4.5V motor as you so proudly demonstrated your creation... "Here Sweetie, try this!" "Er, I don't think so, Sweetie..."

I would have taken a photo if you used it...

Maybe you should have tested it out on yourself first, then I may have been more receptive to your plan...

Perhaps you two could get a room, now?

I'll bring the camera.

[Dunjohn]

Since we eventually bought a pump, yes. But our kids were quite good for the most part and weren't too demanding at night.

Hmm, perhaps something built out of Lego to handle the 3am feedings....

[dr_spock]

Hmm, perhaps something built out of Lego to handle the 3am feedings....

Why didn't I think of that? Wait a sec, I was in the dark ages when my kids were born. My wife pumped and I bottle fed at 3am while she slept. Sounds like something for the NXT and some technic beams.

Back to fishes:

Plecos are good algae eaters. I think there are also some Chinese algae eaters. I can't remember what they were called.

[Dannylonglegs]

I did it for my Beta a long while back with a samurai and a boat. It didn't last long before algae started clinging to it, and whan my beta died I cleaned it of and it was almost as good as new. (The boat piece is hard to clean )

~Insectoid Aristocrat