Milk crate

[Sage23]

Does anyone have experience using this in a pond? The one I have says HDPE #2. Will that be safe for the fish? I want to turn it on its side to provide a hiding spot and place a plant on top.

 

[JRS]

Not sure what plastic the ones I have are but I have used them for years in my ponds.

 

[jgrandmont]

In my pond, I have a couple of plants in plastic pots and I haven't had any issues. I don't know exactly what type of plastic they are but I'm pretty confident that plastic is safe for fish.

 

[Mmathis]

Considering the fact that “plastic milk crates” have been a pond staple since the beginning of time…..(just joking).

If the ones you are talking about are like the ones sold at Tractor Supply ( and these are listed as HDPE on their web site), or similar, you should be OK. But avoid the ones sold at craft stores, etc. I don’t know what kind of plastic they are made from, but they aren’t UV stable and will become brittle and shatter.

Here are pics of what I did with mine. Rather than turn them on their side, I cut out the side panels (and smoothed the edges so there was nothing sharp), and turned them upside down to use as a plant stand. Now the fish can swim in and out without having to think about it. I did it this way after I found a goldfish that had gotten stuck inside one of the smaller holes. To keep the plants from sliding off, I made a little frame-thingy with PVC pipe and zip-tied it to the top. I did end up having to zip-tie a clay pot to the top (inside) to keep them from floating (but that was just my experience — I usually overthink things).

 

[j.w]

Considering the fact that “plastic milk crates” have been a pond staple since the beginning of time…..(just joking).

If the ones you are talking about are like the ones sold at Tractor Supply ( and these are listed as HDPE on their web site), or similar, you should be OK. But avoid the ones sold at craft stores, etc. I don’t know what kind of plastic they are made from, but they aren’t UV stable and will become brittle and shatter.

Here are pics of what I did with mine. Rather than turn them on their side, I cut out the side panels (and smoothed the edges so there was nothing sharp), and turned them upside down to use as a plant stand. Now the fish can swim in and out without having to think about it. I did it this way after I found a goldfish that had gotten stuck inside one of the smaller holes. To keep the plants from sliding off, I made a little frame-thingy with PVC pipe and zip-tied it to the top. I did end up having to zip-tie a clay pot to the top (inside) to keep them from floating (but that was just my experience — I usually overthink things).

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Great idea's!

 

[Hound Heaven]

Considering the fact that “plastic milk crates” have been a pond staple since the beginning of time…..(just joking).

If the ones you are talking about are like the ones sold at Tractor Supply ( and these are listed as HDPE on their web site), or similar, you should be OK. But avoid the ones sold at craft stores, etc. I don’t know what kind of plastic they are made from, but they aren’t UV stable and will become brittle and shatter.

Here are pics of what I did with mine. Rather than turn them on their side, I cut out the side panels (and smoothed the edges so there was nothing sharp), and turned them upside down to use as a plant stand. Now the fish can swim in and out without having to think about it. I did it this way after I found a goldfish that had gotten stuck inside one of the smaller holes. To keep the plants from sliding off, I made a little frame-thingy with PVC pipe and zip-tied it to the top. I did end up having to zip-tie a clay pot to the top (inside) to keep them from floating (but that was just my experience — I usually overthink things).

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I'm gonna have to steal your pvc plant stabilizer thing idea! My lily's life literally hangs in the balance!

 

[Mmathis]

I'm gonna have to steal your pvc plant stabilizer thing idea! My lily's life literally hangs in the balance!

Hey, it works! It definitely keeps the pots from sliding off!