Are rubber safe to use in the tank / sump ?

[MBruun]

I'm using a piece of 1mm black rubber to shield my skimmer from light, so that algae doesn't grow on and inside my skimmer.
But are rubber safe to use ? or will it leak anything to the water ?

I've made a simple test leaving a piece of the rubber in a glass of tank water for 12 hours, and the water does not look, smell or taste different than the control water (another glass), but I'm aware this not a sufficient test, but the best I could do.

 

[fishyjoes]

I think if it says "food safe" it would be okay, otherwise you'd have to research whatever specific material is used (if it even says what it is)

 

[MBruun]

It is SBR (Styrene-butadiene) rubber, but I cannot find any info about if it will leak anything to saltwater

Styrene-butadiene - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[CasperOe]

It is SBR (Styrene-butadiene) rubber, but I cannot find any info about if it will leak anything to saltwater

Styrene-butadiene - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

SBR is not typically used for food and beverage applications although you can find food grade SBR material. It is typically white for some reason and is certified accordingly. The certified SBR kind is non-toxic, and non-allergenic.

Fun fact (as per google!) - this is the base for chewing gum!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I've made a simple test leaving a piece of the rubber in a glass of tank water for 12 hours, and the water does not look, smell or taste different than the control water (another glass), but I'm aware this not a sufficient test, but the best I could do.

Wow, dedication. Willing to sacrifice yourself for your tank. lol

FWIW, I do not recommend ever tasting tank water. Too much chance of pathogenic bacteria.

the rubber is probably OK, but do you know anything about it composition?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It is SBR (Styrene-butadiene) rubber, but I cannot find any info about if it will leak anything to saltwater

Styrene-butadiene - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The rubber itself is fine. It's stuff someone might put in that you likely cannot know, but it is likely fine.

 

[CasperOe]

Wow, dedication. Willing to sacrifice yourself for your tank. lol

FWIW, I do not recommend ever tasting tank water. Too much chance of pathogenic bacteria.

the rubber is probably OK, but do you know anything about it composition?

SBR is typically a mixture of butadiene (approx. 75 percent) and styrene (approx. 25 percent).

I have transported butadiene more times that I can count on board tankers. I have seen the safety data sheets and it's not something that I would add to my tank

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

SBR is typically a mixture of butadiene (approx. 75 percent) and styrene (approx. 25 percent).

I have transported butadiene more times that I can count on board gas tankers. I have seen the safety data sheets and it's not something that I would add to my tank

Yes, except its no longer monomer butadiene. It's a polymer made from it.

An acrylic aquarium is polymethyl methacrylate.

The monomer methylmethacrylate is very smelly and toxic and burns. Acrylic aquariums do none of those things.

 

[MBruun]

I have seen the safety data sheets and it's not something that I would add to my tank

I read this as a "No don't use it i a tank" and from what Randy write, one cannot know what else from rubber it's made of - Do I understand you right ?

 

[CasperOe]

Yes, except its no longer monomer butadiene. It's a polymer made from it.

An acrylic aquarium is polymethyl methacrylate.

The monomer methylmethacrylate is very smelly and toxic and burns. Acrylic aquariums do none of those things.

True.. And chances are that @MBruun will likely be fine, on the other hand - who knows what the rubber feet underneath my Octo skimmer is made from!

 

[CasperOe]

I read this as a "No don't use it i a tank" and from what Randy write, one cannot know what else from rubber it's made of - Do I understand you right ?

Yeah, well... Although, as @Randy writes, you are likely to be just fine! He's somewhat of a wizard, so if it's me against him, i'd probably go with his advice!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I read this as a "No don't use it i a tank" and from what Randy write, one cannot know what else from rubber it's made of - Do I understand you right ?

There's little if any monomer butadiene left it. Butadiene monomer smells like gasoline.

 

[MBruun]

Thanks for the answers Appreciated
As it has no smell like gasoline i will leave my test piece in glass and see tomorrow if it smell or look any different, and if not I will go with "it is safe"

 

[Gumbies R Us]

SBR is not typically used for food and beverage applications although you can find food grade SBR material. It is typically white for some reason and is certified accordingly. The certified SBR kind is non-toxic, and non-allergenic.

Fun fact (as per google!) - this is the base for chewing gum!

Never would have guessed this was the base for gum

 

[rhitee93]

Not that Randy needs any back-up from me, but another example is you wouldn't want to be around vinyl chloride very much, but it doesn't keep us from using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) four our plumbing.

 

[Derrick0580]

I can’t get past the fact you said if the test piece doesn’t have a taste in the water….you plan on drinking it?

 

[CasperOe]

I can’t get past the fact you said if the test piece doesn’t have a taste in the water….you plan on drinking it?

The danish love a good cup of tea!

 

[MBruun]

I just tasted a drop to see if the water had any rubber like taste. …..

 

[rhitee93]

I just tasted a drop to see if the water had any rubber like taste. …..

I agree with Randy - I admire the dedication to your tank. Then again, I drank out of the garden hose as a kid.

 

[MBruun]

I still not gonna drink it don’t sorry, just see if I can use the rubber as light cover in my sump