Coated magnets for frag shelf

[Mr. Ugly]

This is the stuff I got:

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=386&

Here are the MSDS's which apply to the uncured starting materials.

http://www.tapplastics.com/uploads/pdf/MSDS%20Easy%20Cast%20Hardener.pdf

http://www.tapplastics.com/uploads/pdf/MSDS%20Easy%20Cast%20Resin.pdf

Haven't looked into tank compatibility issues. Figured it should be pretty inert and nonporous once cured.

 

[Qwiv]

I used the same stuff, works fine. You can use the clear lite too.

 

[LeviT]

Thanks! I'll try and pick some up tonight. I'll see if they have something the batteries fit in or make my own mold. If that doesn't work out I'm going with the bottle cap idea.

 

[Dyngoe]

What strength magnets is everyone using for frag shelves?

BTW, anyone using these same magnets for ph mounts?

 

[LeviT]

This is what I'm currently using. They are strong little buggers.

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DE1

 

[Qwiv]

They sell molds at tap plastics too!

 

[LeviT]

I got there 3 minutes after they closed last night so I had to talk the guy into letting me get the epoxy so I couldn't look around. I have 1 magnet in a water bottle cap right now and it'll be soft cured this evening and hard cured in 72 hours.

Since black acrylic egg crate isn't available anyone want to go in on a case of white? Not sure that I want t risk my lovely balanced tank on styrene

 

[Raddogz]

I wonder if you can spray paint it black though?

 

[Gomer]

it would flake off and leach chemicals into the water.

 

[LeviT]

I read that a lot of people used to use krylon (sp) spray paint and claimed it was reef safe. I'm not sure how well it would stick to acrylic so I can't comment on the flaking but if it's fine on pvc why would it be a problem?

 

[Raddogz]

Yup Krylon Fusion is supposed to work with plastics i.e. pvc plumbing etc.

The only thing I hear it doesn't play well with is with spa flex - the finish doesn't dry properly so the surface remains tacky to the touchy

 

[LeviT]

Yeah that's what I've read too. I don't know where you can get it anymore, or if it's even made for that fact. I've only looked at HD and OSH but I didn't see it at either. There are equivalent products but I don't want to be a test tank.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

You might try asking your local ACE hardware to order it for you.

I see it on Amazon, but you have to pay shipping on top.

 

[Qwiv]

They have it at my OSH and ACE. A few other companies are making it now. Just look for Paint for plastic and words about binding etc. I had it in my old tank, it seamed totally safe but did scratch off. You need to let it dry for a day or two before you put it in water. I'd rather have styrene then paint in my tank myself especially since I still haven't seen any info on styrene leeching PO4 etc into our tanks.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

Interesting:

Organic phosphates as flame retardant in styrene.

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6815476-description.html

"The prior art has disclosed the use of phosphates as flame retardants for polymers or thermoplastic molding resins particularly such monophosphates as triphenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, diphenylcresyl phosphate and the like. Such monophosphate esters tend to migrate to the surface when the thermoplastic composition is molded such as injection molding causing so called "juicing." Juicing is where the additive migrates to the surface of the molded article during molding."

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-30,GGLG:en&q=styrene+phosphate+fire+retardant

Would be interesting to look for references to the phosphate being available from the plastic.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?IA=WO2006011784&DISPLAY=DESC

Apparently, some types of phosphate fire retardant leaches.

"Comparative Experiment A Testing of the flame retardant according to the prior art in a PP composition The same procedure was followed as described above under Experiment I1 however instead of the polyester I, 3.38 g pentaerythritol was used and 10.13 g of melamine phosphate was used instead of 8.58 g. Test bars of this composition were prepared in the same manner as above. The test bars gave before leaching VO classification. However, after leaching none of the test bars classified. Therefore it can be concluded that the prior art flame retardant composition displayed leaching which resulted in loss of flame retardancy."

 

[LeviT]

So if I'm following you, styrene or plastics that use phosphate retardants could leach phosphates into our tanks?

 

[Gomer]

The tank that I am using egg crate that has zero algae on it, has some Seagel (phosguard + carbon) and a chaeto fuge. Eileen, do you have any of those running?

 

[Raddogz]

I have Elos carbon running.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

[quote author=LeviTillie link=topic=2854.msg38557#msg38557 date=1206130234]
So if I'm following you, styrene or plastics that use phosphate retardants could leach phosphates into our tanks?[/quote]

Possible. Probably more likely with older style retardants. Maybe would be in eggcrate made in China or something.