[Betta132]

Yup, me again. So, what about a squirrel skeleton? It died of a broken back, was picked up by me literally minutes after it died, and spent 10 days underground. After that, it was dug up, soaked in a hydrogen peroxide solution, rinsed, and partially assembled using SuperGlue.
What would I have to do to make sure it's aquarium safe? I have a tree-looking piece of driftwood in my 65, and I think a squirrel skeleton is just what it needs. Yeah, I'm weird for wanting bones in my tank.

 

[Darkblade48]

I would imagine it would be fine, but bone is mostly calcium carbonate, so it would alter the parameters of your water.

 

[Betta132]

It's a 65 gallon tank and a small squirrel skeleton, do you think it would alter them enough to be a problem? I honestly can't see it changing anything all that much...

 

[Elppan]

You could always seal it with some kind of waterproofing so it doesn't deteriorate. Whatever people use to seal the foam they make those awesome fake trees and roots with. Then you wouldn't have to worry.
Also, now I want skeletons in my tank... maybe mice having a garden tea party... bwhaha

Sent from my phone, in the land of magical unicorns and rainbows!

 

[MichaelMcG]

just post a pic when you get it set up!!!

 

[Centromochlus]

Well, you're creative for sure... and I'll leave it at that. roud:

 

[Betta132]

Hmm... Can anyone recommend a good sealant? And I'll try to post a pic. @Elppan, if you could get the skeletons, that would be really cool!

 

[driftwoodhunter]

well, for sealing the bones you could just smear them with the GE1 silicone - I suppose the silicone would look clear underwater. (maybe it would look like gelatinous cartilage - lol)
I use Drylock to do my 3D backgrounds - it's a potable water sealer that is stark white straight out of the can - you can tint it with concrete colorants if you want. It's like a watered down concrete, the consistency of cream. You could buy a quart, pour it into a container, and simply dip the skeleton in it, I'd do multiple dips as it dries (it dries pretty fast). It has a small amount of sand grit to it, to, but not enough to take away from the texture of the bones. I get it at Lowes in the paint section.

 

[Betta132]

Do you think aquarium silicone would work instead of GE1? I have some of that on hand...

 

[Vincent Tran]

Wow, I can honestly say I have never heard of this.

 

[Rainer]

If you're going for the underwater roadkill look, don't forget to score the skeletons in a corkscrew manner to simulate propeller damage.

 

[driftwoodhunter]

oh sure, aquarium silicone is fine.

 

[Betta132]

@Rainer, no, that's not quite what I'm doing, lol. I'm actually not sure what I am doing, it's just a random idea.
Alright, I'll use aquarium silicone. I still have to finish assembling it, but I'll get some pics up when I can!

 

[Betta132]

Okay, that didn't work. I need suggestions for a different sealant, a clear one, because the silicone doesn't work. The bones just have so many little holes and crannies, it's impossible to get something this thick in all of them.

 

[Jeffww]

Krylon fusion white! This, with all krylon fusion spraypaints are fish safe. There are also several clear epoxy sealants out there. Which are reef safe I can't tell you

Honestly speaking though I would just put it in. Bone is totally safe for fish. Just make sure it's totally clean/bleached.

 

[TonyK]

I am watching this thread. My son found a whole deer body decomposed to the bone. We kept the head. It would be really cool to put in a tank.

 

[devilduck]

That's it, I'm adding it to my will that I want my bones to be interred in my tank!

 

[driftwoodhunter]

That's it, I'm adding it to my will that I want my bones to be interred in my tank!

:hihi::hihi::hihi:

 

[Rev2eight]

It would look pretty sweet if you could grow some moss on it.

 

[Betta132]

Alright, I'm going to use Krylon Fusion clear-coat on it, then finish assembling it. I'll definitely put some moss on it, and show you lot some pics when I get good ones!