Is Styrofoam Ok For Hood On My Tank

[Aleksandar]

It's getting colder in my country, and i dont have cover (hood) on my tank, so to prevent losing to much heat i was thinking to put styrofoam as cover on my tank. Is there any chemicals or something in the styrofoam that can harm my Betta. i have heater but i dont want my Betta to breathe colder air if i dint have cover (can get very cold at night in winter)
 
Thanks

 

[nicky1200]

Sorry to say but no. I had this idea and didn't work. If you google "is Styrofoam Ok For Hood" you will find out that Styrofoam has around 20 toxic subtenants in it which if burnt can kill you. So if the Styrofoam ever got hot and burnt then you would have problems. Also if you burn a little bit of Styrofoam out side you will notice it " cherry drops" which would drop burning styrofoam into your tank. So the answer is no. I bought a 12ft bit of Styrofoam and i put 6ft under my tank and was gonna use the other 6ft to make a lid but didn't work the way i planned
 
Here is a link
http/wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_the_fumes_of_burning_Styrofoam_poisonous
 
When burned Polystyrene (styrofoam is expanded polystyrene) produces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (causes cancer) carbon soot (also can cause cancer) and carbon monoxide which is poisonous.
 
Also please remember carbon monoxide you can not see so if it started burning in the middle of the night the carbon monoxide it makes could kill.
 
Im guessing if you did not have any heat has in lights etc under the foam or near the foam it could be fine but then again i wouldn't take the risk.

 

[Aleksandar]

Sorry to say but no. I had this idea and didn't work. If you google "is Styrofoam Ok For Hood" you will find out that Styrofoam has around 20 toxic subtenants in it which if burnt can kill you. So if the Styrofoam ever got hot and burnt then you would have problems. Also if you burn a little bit of Styrofoam out side you will notice it " cherry drops" which would drop burning styrofoam into your tank. So the answer is no. I bought a 12ft bit of Styrofoam and i put 6ft under my tank and was gonna use the other 6ft to make a lid but didn't work the way i planned
 
Here is a link
http/wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_the_fumes_of_burning_Styrofoam_poisonous
 
When burned Polystyrene (styrofoam is expanded polystyrene) produces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (causes cancer) carbon soot (also can cause cancer) and carbon monoxide which is poisonous.
 
Also please remember carbon monoxide you can not see so if it started burning in the middle of the night the carbon monoxide it makes could kill.
 
Im guessing if you did not have any heat has in lights etc under the foam or near the foam it could be fine but then again i wouldn't take the risk.

 
Thanks for the info... i didnt know that this can be so problematic... i was looking on the net and confused me cos some use it inside the aquarium. I wont use it as hood

 

[nicky1200]

 

Sorry to say but no. I had this idea and didn't work. If you google "is Styrofoam Ok For Hood" you will find out that Styrofoam has around 20 toxic subtenants in it which if burnt can kill you. So if the Styrofoam ever got hot and burnt then you would have problems. Also if you burn a little bit of Styrofoam out side you will notice it " cherry drops" which would drop burning styrofoam into your tank. So the answer is no. I bought a 12ft bit of Styrofoam and i put 6ft under my tank and was gonna use the other 6ft to make a lid but didn't work the way i planned
 
Here is a link
http/wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_the_fumes_of_burning_Styrofoam_poisonous
 
When burned Polystyrene (styrofoam is expanded polystyrene) produces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (causes cancer) carbon soot (also can cause cancer) and carbon monoxide which is poisonous.
 
Also please remember carbon monoxide you can not see so if it started burning in the middle of the night the carbon monoxide it makes could kill.
 
Im guessing if you did not have any heat has in lights etc under the foam or near the foam it could be fine but then again i wouldn't take the risk.

 
Thanks for the info... i didnt know that this can be so problematic... i was looking on the net and confused me cos some use it inside the aquarium. I wont use it as hood
 

 
 
When they use it in side the tank they add cermet to it. I was told that i could buy no flammable paint to go onto the styrofoam which would stop it from going up in flames but im just one of them people who would rather not risk it.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

You should have a cover on your tank, whether its summer or winter. The reason is that Bettas are jumpers and can clear amazing heights!
 
I've heard of craft mesh working well, though I'm not sure about how well that would keep the temperature in!
 
How big is your tank? Some tank manufacturers have lids designed for specific tanks, and if your tank is one of them then you might be able to buy one.