Juwel Rekord Aquarium

[Athena]

If you have a Juwel Rekord aquarium you might be interested in reading this so that you can check your own tank for the same thing...

A couple of years after setting up my Juwel tank, I rehomed a couple of my Short Bodied Pink Convicts into that tank. One day I noticed the female was removing the gravel from that small gap under the built-in filter unit (who knows why!) and after she'd finished she was trying to swim under there sideways and I happened to notice she had moved something grey/whitish from under there.

After investigating I found, to my horror, that it was a square piece of the white packing foam stuff that the manufacturers had wedged under that tiny gap and as I hadn't turned the tank upside down when I bought it (why would I?) I never even knew it was there!

I've no idea what chemicals had been released into the water during the course of those couple of years, if any, but I'm sure polystyrene packing is not a good thing to have in an aquarium LOL

Anyway, just thought I'd mention it in case it's a standard way of packing these tanks - I would never have known if it hadn't been for that fish digging around under there! I have a feeling she was intending on laying eggs under there.

Best regards - Athena

 

[justjon]

I noticed this with mine when I got one years ago, by CHANCE as I thought the bottom was marked so turned it over to check... what a silly idea in my opinion... the filter is stuck on so how on earth would it un-mount the smash the bottom? Not only that, it's plastic!

The tank lasted about a year and a half for me, then I gave in and got my current Lido (which is the biggest I can go )

 

[ian]

all Juwel tanks have the foam under the filter, its used for transport reasons, it does really need to be there during transporting to be fair, i'm sure they have had smashed tanks in the past and this is the reason its there.

 

[justjon]

all Juwel tanks have the foam under the filter, its used for transport reasons, it does really need to be there during transporting to be fair, i'm sure they have had smashed tanks in the past and this is the reason its there.

I realise it's used for this, but the point is that the plastic box is glued slightly above the glass, so what are the chances of it somehow smashing the tank? It's wasted packaging and as the OP says risky!

 

[ian]

I'm sure it's happened in the past, so this is why it's done and what is risky about it?

 

[justjon]

Well I doubt having plastic loose in the aquarium isn't a risk, the OP already said her fish was almost sideways near it and could potentially get stuck.

 

[ian]

As with all internal filters, there is a risk of fish getting stuck, whether is a juwel, fluval ect ect. Even if he foam was under there the fish wouldn't get stuck anyways. This kind of thread could start worrying people, when to be honest, if you have left the foam bit underneath the filter, it's not going to harm the fish in any way.

 

[Athena]

Sorry, I didn't say I was worried my fish would get stuck under the filter - that wasn't the issue. The only reason I posted this was because I was unsure if polystyrene foam packaging would leach any chemicals into the water if left there. That's what I was worried about.

Normally the substrate would be high enough to fill in any gap under the filter unit in the Juwel, so the gap itself isn't a major worry. The filter unit box (contains the sponges, powerhead and thermostat)is glued to the corner of the tank and can't move about (anyone with a Juwel will know what I mean).

It's usually cichlids that insist on moving the substrate gravel and creating nesting areas and for some reason that tiny female decided to go digging under the filter, removing all the gravel from underneath into a pile at the side LOL. She was then able to swim underneath the filter sideways. I doubt she would have got stuck under there as she is a narrow-bodied fish and she was still able to move about under there, albeit at a very strange angle.

Once I had removed the polystyrene I then filled the gap back up with substrate again...only to find that the next day she had removed it all again LOL - talk about determination!

Anyway, I was just concerned about having a piece of packaging in the tank that may react to the tank water or begin to disintegrate over time. I've no idea of the long-term consequences (if any) of having it in a tank.

That was all... not trying to scare anyone...it's a very nice tank!

Athena

 

[alex.wardle]

Polystyrene is safe in water so i would not worry about it. It does not biodegrade and does not leach. Most new backgrounds in tanks are made from polystyrene, they would not use it if it was not safe.
http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene

 

[Athena]

Thanks for the comment, Alex. I've just been reading through that link you posted and am now confused because one minute it says it takes years to biodegrade and then it says:

"Polystyrene foam is a major component of plastic debris in the ocean, where it becomes toxic to marine life."

Also, do you remember some years back when we were all being advised in the Press not to drink hot drinks out of polystyrene cups as the heat causes some sort of reaction and it becomes a carcinogen?

Yes, that's true, they do make tank backgrounds out of some type of polystyrene but it has layers of some strong, safe sealant painted over it first.

I still think it's probably advisable to remove any bits of hidden polystyrene from the tank.

Regards - Athena