Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey all,

Are fish tank aquariums (new and unused) to be used in an AP system considered food safe? Basically have two concerns:

(a) It's going to be an indoor system and needs to look nice (likely decorative fish) hence an aquarium
(b) Is the silicon while safe for fish going to leech anything into the water that may be absorbed by the plants that we'd consume?

Thanks!

There are two main styles of aquarium: glass and acrylic.

Commercial glass aquariums typically are glass bonded at the seams by 100% silicon adhesive, sometimes with a plastic cage to keep the edges protected. This should be food safe; both glass and cured silicon are fine. (If it is a homemade aquarium, be sure the caulk is 100% silicon. most silicon sealants contain fungicides and are lethal to fish, bad for humans.)

Acrylic tanks are typically cell cast acrylic sheets which are bonded with a plastic "glue," which is actually something like methylene chloride. It melts the acrylic edges which are pressed together and re-congealed. That would probably not be technically food safe. That said, I would have no problem whatsoever eating fish raised in an acrylic tank. Especially not if some form of activated charcoal were employed in the system, because charcoal absorbs plastic compounds as well as organic pollutants.