Are these magnets reef safe?

[JosephM]

This is kind of a multi prong question. So I’m planning a frag tank so I want to be able to make my own little single frag holders and frag racks for acclimation and placement. For the most part they’re pretty dang expensive and I wouldn’t trust the cheap ones so I was thinking of just making my own with some magnets and acrylic or egg crate. Doing some research it looks like my main options are buying sealed magnets (expensive) or dipping in 2-part or plasti dip (seems like people have a high failure rate). Then I stumbled across ceramic magnets and that they’re supposedly reef safe. The frag tank is 1/2” glass so Im thinking 3/8” magnets should be enough? Here’s a couple ceramic magnets I found

Can anyone confirm if these are truly reef safe?

 

[lapin]

I would coat them in plastic or latex of some kind.

 

[JosephM]

I would coat them in plastic or latex of some kind.

What kind would you recommend?

 

[ca1ore]

I looked into this a while back. Ferrite/ceramic magnets are ferric oxide, so they cannot be further oxidized as they are already rust LOL. There are plenty of folks that have used them and claimed no affect. I ultimately chose not to take the risk.

 

[JosephM]

I looked into this a while back. Ferrite/ceramic magnets are ferric oxide, so they cannot be further oxidized as they are already rust LOL. There are plenty of folks that have used them and claimed no affect. I ultimately chose not to rake the risk.

So probably safer then neodymium magnets but might not be 100% reef safe. Would say i can use them just dip them to be extra safe? Do you have any recommendations to seal them up?

 

[lapin]

What kind would you recommend?

Something you can dip the whole rack in would be nice.
Be sure it does not have mold inhibitors
Uniform look

 

[JosephM]

Something you can dip the whole rack in would be nice.
Uniform look

Could use plasti dip spray paint but I’d be scared of that because I’ve heard of it peeling off for some people. Maybe because they didn’t properly prep the surface.

 

[lapin]

Most sprays will peel in salt water over time

 

[JosephM]

Most sprays will peel in salt water over time

Would plasti dip flake off or peel off? Because Im normally pretty observant and if would peel as a bigger piece I could catch it early unlike if it flakes off

 

[LegendaryCG]

There’s places that sell sealed plastic covered magnets, I’d just get those.

 

[JosephM]

There’s places that sell sealed plastic covered magnets, I’d just get those.

The cheapest I could find those were $5 per magnet. At that rate I’m better off just buying pre-made frag racks. I know I’ll be better off with that but I’m trying to save money if that makes sense

 

[ca1ore]

So probably safer then neodymium magnets but might not be 100% reef safe. Would say i can use them just dip them to be extra safe? Do you have any recommendations to seal them up?

No chemistry expert, but perhaps dip them into something like this.

 

[JosephM]

No chemistry expert, but perhaps dip them into something like this.

Saw a lot about those 2-parts. I’ll probably go that route. Give me a good dip and sand them down to look a little prettier. Do you think 3/8” magnets on dry side and 3/8” with light epoxy coating on wet side will be strong enough for 1/2” glass?

 

[gentlefish]

CMS magnetics?

 

[JosephM]

CMS magnetics?

What’re those

 

[gentlefish]

They sell all different magnets, inclusive plastic coated neodymium.