# FIMO, lead (came) and fish tanks

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fimo-lead-came-and-fish-tanks/106668>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 1, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fimo-lead-came-and-fish-tanks/106668 "2002-05-01T15:56:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![satanslawyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@satanslawyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satanslawyer)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fimo-lead-came-and-fish-tanks/106668/1 "2002-05-01T15:56:26Z")

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In an effort to be cheap, I’ve been considering making my own structures for my fish tank. I’ve thought about using FIMO clay (similar to Sculpey) and/or having a friend do a stained glass structure.  
Do I have to worry about the FIMO releasing anything toxic into the water? I assume it becomes just a plastic once baked.  
What about the stained glass? Stained glass uses solder which is mostly lead (you can get solder that is only 20% lead but it’s still lead).  
Should I stop being a cheap bastard and just go buy the tacky-ass stuff at the fish store?

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**Author:** ![piratz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@piratz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piratz)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fimo-lead-came-and-fish-tanks/106668/2 "2002-05-01T19:10:19Z")

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Have your friend do the stained glass, but connect it together with clear silicon sealer. ( I had a chess board made of different colored glass squares all held together with the above…it was bendy, but it worked.)