# Using computer parts in a fish tank
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 20, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263 "2004-06-20T02:40:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rayray5884](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayray5884)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263/1 "2004-06-20T02:40:28Z")
My fish tank currently looks like any other fish tank. Some rocks, fake plants, other plastic fishy things that are supposed to make a fish believe it’s at home! Anyway, I was thinking it would be cool to use computer parts to liven it up and put a little bit of me into it, if that makes sense. Not just any random computer parts, I know for sure that some could be harmful. What I’m looking at are CD’s, hard drive platters, maybe a random IC here and there. Does anyone know if any of these will have a huge effect on my tiny 5 gallon tank? Thanks for your input in advance!
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### Author:  [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263/2 "2004-06-20T02:56:39Z")
CDs are metal coated onto plastic. If you’ve got the kind that are plastic-metal-plastic sandwiches then the plastic won’t be bothered by the water. If you’ve got the kind that don’t make a metal sandwich, then the metal is going to corrode and flake off. I’m not sure what that will do to your fish but I imagine it won’t be good.
I don’t know what they coat disk drive platters with these days, but it’s some sort of metal material that I imagine would also corrode and flake off.
The pins on ICs will rust. The plastic won’t bother anything. The silicon bits are sealed inside the plastic so you don’t have to worry about those.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263/3 "2004-06-20T03:44:49Z")
I’ve always been partial to live plants myself.
What do you have in your aquarium?
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### Author:  [@rayray5884](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayray5884)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263/4 "2004-06-20T04:13:52Z")
Not too much of anything at the moment **carnivorousplant**. I had a whole bunch of stuff while at school but I added some water one day along with my concoction of normal chemicals and later in the day found that there was a very above normal amount of chlorine in the water. The amount of chemicals I normally put in wasnt nearly enough to make up for it and many died. Currently I have 2 Dannios and a Scissortail. LOL. Thanks for the input everyone!
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### Author:  [@Dan\_Turk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Turk)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2004, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263/5 "2004-06-20T07:02:36Z")
5 gallons? 2 danios and a scissortail?
leave it alone, maybe throw in a snail or a shrimp, sounds perfect…
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263/6 "2004-06-20T12:46:18Z")
Computer _parts_? Why not go the distance and throw in the whole thing, maybe a gyno chair, too, while you’re at it… (as seen [here](http://www.people.virginia.edu/~bwg4b/photos/London-031.jpg) )
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### Author:  [@august9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/august9)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263/7 "2004-06-20T18:40:08Z")
Remember to be careful with sharp edges and things that stick out.
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### Author:  [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263/8 "2004-06-20T22:40:14Z")
Perhaps coat everything (or even encase everything) in acrylic. Stops the leaching of heavy metals and prevents rusting.
Check with hobby and craft shops for acrylicizing kits.
Peace.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-computer-parts-in-a-fish-tank/251263/9 "2004-06-20T23:10:51Z")
Remember the Southpark episode where the Sea People develop technology and nuke each other?
You might want to reconsider this…
🙂