Typically, duct tape is a sensitive adhesive material that is not waterproof. It can seal fabric, glass, and plastic, but you cannot stick it in an aquarium filled with water.
Many people complain about their fish death after fixtures with these tapes.
I have mentioned the reasons and their harmful effect on fish life. In addition, it cannot seal the tank permanently, and leakage happens.
Can You Put Duct Tape in an Aquarium? You should not put duct tape in an aquarium because it is not waterproof, results in free-floating patches, and releases toxic chemicals. Also, duct tape destroys tank water through harmful dye, removes rubber material, and kills fish. Moreover, it becomes loose, wraps fish, suffocates them, and reduces the light passage.
I have surveyed 300 aquarium owners about tank cracks and their fixing preferences. Around 80% to 90% of users across the USA had not used this duct tape inside the tank.
Moreover, 8% to 10% of people stated that they used duct tape for emergencies and worked for one hour.
I have explained six significant reasons that prohibit the addition of this tape inside a tank.
Contents
No waterproof effect
Typically, people use it inside their aquarium to cover the sidewall cracks. However, the duct tape can resist water, but it is not waterproof.
In addition, the duct tape can survive in water for around 30 minutes to 55 minutes. Also, high-quality products have higher water resistance, but they can also sustain for one hour to sixty-five minutes.
The tape leaves the sticky position after water affects. The patches spread in aquarium water.
In addition, a few fish engulf them due to misconceptions.
They match the tape patches with food particles. Moreover, the crack gets open, and water starts leaking.
As a result, the water level decreases without any notification to the owner.
It is a life threat to the fish, and they die. Moreover, this tape hinders the air stone passage.
It wraps around the air stone and does not allow to produce oxygen.
In addition, tiny air bubbles do not produce, and oxygen level decreases inside the fish tank, which is life-threatening for them.
Toxic chemicals
The multi-layered duct tape comprises different stages of chemicals. These chemicals are essential components of the taping material but are toxic for fish life.
The adhesive material contains harmful toxins, and exposure to the polymer is dangerous for aquarium animals.
Moreover, the elastic components are dangerous because the eliminating chemicals affect the fish body drastically.
The rubber material is non-dissolvable in tank water. In addition, the fish eat them as food particles, and it destroys their digestive system.
Also, prolonged chemical impact results in their death and develop different diseases. They cannot break down feed particles into beneficial energy and quit swimming.
The removal of duct tape from the aquarium is advisable. As a result, the oxygen level stabilizes in the water, and pets’ life improves.
Also, their digestive system requires treatment after such toxic exposures. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid duct taping in the bottom limes of the container. Also, never use it for long periods because you can lose your fish.
Tape dye destroys fish tank water
Generally, the tank fish have a specific lifestyle and compatibility with water. They communicate through swimming postures and different movements.
As a result, they play and breed while living in the container. But, the use of duct tape destroys the standard water environment.
The dye from tape spread inside the aquarium, and small pieces float randomly. Moreover, the identification of electrical pulses and other communication signals becomes challenging.
The tape pieces mix the information, and fish cannot communicate with each other. As a result, they stop eating and breeding, which affects the entire aquarium life.
In addition, it disturbs their standard swimming patterns inside the tank. So they start hiding behind the artificial rocks and plants.
The water life becomes dead after adding tape in a small patch. So only use it for small cracks and follow the emergencies.
Never leave the smallest piece of tape inside water. Also, check your fish movements and record their swimming pattern. Then, remove these and make the tank water healthy for the tiny creatures.
Fish death
The fish owner does not want to lose their tiny pets. I lost multiple aquarium fish due to concealing a small crack with duct tape. It had not killed all my pets, but slowly each of them died.
They lack the appropriate water oxygen level. Also, the pet engulfed the pieces, and it destroyed their internal body structure.
The foamy polymers spread in the water and are un-dissolvable.
A few types of fish undergo stress and fear due to the sudden free-floating of tape patches. It shocks them, and they die at the spot.
The expert never suggests duct tape concealing aquarium walls and other cracks. In those circumstances, while you seal the glass crack with such tape, then remove it after 20 to 30 minutes.
Also, arrange a permanent solution for your leaking container. Moreover, make sure that you do not leave a small adhesive piece in the tank because it has a similar adverse effect as a larger one.
Loosening of duct tape
Typically, it has adherence, and I have used it inside my fish tank. But, it cannot survive water on its top layer.
Moreover, it cannot handle the penetration of water droplets and leaves the attachment spot. As a result, it becomes loose, and one end detaches from the surface.
In such situations, the tape attaches to the glass surface but remains unattached all the time. As a result, it entraps the free-swimming fish, and they cannot save themselves.
In some conditions, it wraps around their mouth, and struggle results in patching. As a result, the fish cannot get oxygenation and food simultaneously.
Adverse effect on the aquarium light
Aquarium water requires sunlight to produce oxygen and other life cycles for tiny pets. The tank gets direct light from the sun and makes the water vibrant.
They actively swim, and it makes them playful. Also, they remain healthy and alive for long periods. It keeps them energetic, and plants grow.
People fix the tank cracks with duct tape while having fish and natural plants. The tape leaves the adhering spot and blurs the passage of light. In addition, a few pieces block the entrance of light in the tank.
Moreover, the tape has a cotton mesh, and it does not allow light penetration. As a result, the water and tape pieces make different shadows, and the light becomes faint.
The fish tank becomes darker, and fish cannot see anything. It frightens them, and they start hiding behind different things.
In addition, a few people attach the artificial tank lights with duct tape. But, it interferes in their light passage, and the fish becomes lazy and stops eating feed particles.
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