Is duck tape reef safe

[Jake_the_reefer]

I have a hob refugium and I do a reverse day night cycle and to prevent light leak I put duck tape (the duct tape brand is duck tape) on the lid and also a flap over the return to dim the tank down a bit. Should I replace the duct tape with something else there isnt any spot where the tape is in direct contact with water besides the return where water will evaporate or splash onto it but the adhesive is not exposed to the water its folded in on its self. I'm thinking of cutting up some aquarium background and siliconeing it to make a flap.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Picture

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

This should be in diy forum sorry

 

[Flippers4pups]

Picture

Moisture will eventually cause the adhesive to release. I'm not sure what I would do. Possible black plastic/ polycarbonate sheet.....

Let's see what others think.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Moisture will eventually cause the adhesive to release. I'm not sure what I would do. Possible black plastic/ polycarbonate sheet.....

Let's see what others think.

This is more short term until I get to my lfs to get some aquarium wallpaper I'm more worried if anything can harm my fish or coral

 

[Reefer_Rob]

I dont think it is. Too many chemicals. Id stick with a medical grade tape if I absolutely had to use something. I would replace it just to be safe.

Just for future reference its duct tape not duck tape.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

I dont think it is. Too many chemicals. Id stick with a medical grade tape if I absolutely had to use something. I would replace it just to be safe.

Just for future reference its duct tape not duck tape.

Duck tape is the brand lol I do think I'll replace it tomorrow with silicone and aquarium background plastic

 

[JoshH]

Just for future reference its duct tape not duck tape.

Just for future reference it actually is Duck Tape. Duct tape is aluminum foil tape used to seal around HVAC duct work

But I agree, I don't see any tapes being safe for aquarium use aside from teflon tape but that won't help here as its non adhesive lol aquarium safe silicone and black acrylic is definitely the better route make sure you cut the acrylic slimmer than what you need as it will most likely expand in the water.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Just for future reference it actually is Duck Tape. Duct tape is aluminum foil tape used to seal around HVAC duct work

But I agree, I don't see any tapes being safe for aquarium use aside from teflon tape but that won't help here as its non adhesive lol aquarium safe silicone and black acrylic is definitely the better route make sure you cut the acrylic slimmer than what you need as it will most likely expand in the water.

Cut size isnt too much of a worry it's just a cap that sits on top it doesnt fit into place or anything it's a cover to sheild light. I just plan on siliconeing or super gluing some of this onto the actual aquaclear lid and make a lip to block the return light. The duck tape is a temp fix and my fear is if it can cause harm within 24 hrs. Should I just take the tape off now until i can actually do this.

 

[Pyrosteve]

This might help http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-duct-tape

The backing is a Polyethylene coating- The chemical formula of polyethylene is ( C2H4)

According to Dow Chemical - Ethylene is slightly toxic to aquatic organisms in the most sensitive species tested. The minute amounts of ethylene measured in water represent little, if any, environmental hazard to aquatic animals. Ethylene has a low bioconcentration potential. Because ethylene has low toxicity and low potential for exposure, it is not likely to have adverse effects on terrestrial wildlife.

http://msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_096d/0901b8038096dab0.pdf?filepath=productsafety/pdfs/noreg/233-00280.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

This might help http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-duct-tape

The backing is a Polyethylene coating- The chemical formula of polyethylene is ( C2H4)

According to Dow Chemical - Ethylene is slightly toxic to aquatic organisms in the most sensitive species tested. The minute amounts of ethylene measured in water represent little, if any, environmental hazard to aquatic animals. Ethylene has a low bioconcentration potential. Because ethylene has low toxicity and low potential for exposure, it is not likely to have adverse effects on terrestrial wildlife.

http://msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_096d/0901b8038096dab0.pdf?filepath=productsafety/pdfs/noreg/233-00280.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc

I'll take this as dont use it haha. Thank you!
Cool side note I live a few miles from dow headquarters. And before I moved I lived right across from one of the headquarter buildings in Midland michigan.. almost got arrested for accidentally shooting a firework over the fence.

 

[Pyrosteve]

Better safe then sorry I’d say. Probably better with the adhesive side. It’s all rubber compounds.

On a side note I know MI just got fireworks legal just like PA. Now you get the “good stuff” lol!

 

[Dkeller_nc]

This might help http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-duct-tape

The backing is a Polyethylene coating- The chemical formula of polyethylene is ( C2H4)

According to Dow Chemical - Ethylene is slightly toxic to aquatic organisms in the most sensitive species tested. The minute amounts of ethylene measured in water represent little, if any, environmental hazard to aquatic animals. Ethylene has a low bioconcentration potential. Because ethylene has low toxicity and low potential for exposure, it is not likely to have adverse effects on terrestrial wildlife.

http://msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_096d/0901b8038096dab0.pdf?filepath=productsafety/pdfs/noreg/233-00280.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc

FYI - there's a bit of misinterpretation here. Polyethylene is a polymer of made up of repeating units of ethylene (as well as some additional monomers with a slightly different structure). When one's discussing the toxicity of plastics, there's a great deal of distinction between the effects of the monomer that makes up the ultimate compound, and the compound itself. Ethylene is moderately toxic if inhaled/ingested in significant amounts. Polyethylene is quite different - it generally poses no risks whatsoever, which is one of the reasons that it's used for food and beverage packaging. Note that's not quite the same as evaluating the effects of actually ingesting micro-plastics made of polyethylene, but the risks in doing so would be attributable to the consumption of an inert material and the possible mechanical effects on our (or our fishes') biology.

From the standpoint of risks from using duck/duct tape around a tank, I would say that it's extremely minimal. The adhesive in duck tape is present in very small amounts and is typically composed of butyl rubber compounds that wouldn't have much solubility in seawater. Combine these two facts, and the risk to aquatic life is very small.

 

[Jay Z]

I put a black micro fiber cloth over mine. Not sure what kind of heat your light puts out. I just wash it every so often as it picks up salt creep.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

I put a black micro fiber cloth over mine. Not sure what kind of heat your light puts out. I just wash it every so often as it picks up salt creep.

My light runs for about 9 hours and when I wake up and touch the lamp its barley warm to the touch. Its powerful but puts out very little heat

 

[Jay Z]

My light runs for about 9 hours and when I wake up and touch the lamp its barley warm to the touch. Its powerful but puts out very little heat

Mines the same. That would be cloth safe.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This might help http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-duct-tape

The backing is a Polyethylene coating- The chemical formula of polyethylene is ( C2H4)

According to Dow Chemical - Ethylene is slightly toxic to aquatic organisms in the most sensitive species tested. The minute amounts of ethylene measured in water represent little, if any, environmental hazard to aquatic animals. Ethylene has a low bioconcentration potential. Because ethylene has low toxicity and low potential for exposure, it is not likely to have adverse effects on terrestrial wildlife.

http://msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_096d/0901b8038096dab0.pdf?filepath=productsafety/pdfs/noreg/233-00280.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc

This is wrong.

There is zero ethylene in polyethylene.

Polyethylene is perfectly reef safe.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree that the risk of most tapes is minimal.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Much conflicting information. I'm assuming it's safe buuuut I'll replace anything that has a chance of touching water and keep the spots that wont touch water

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Much conflicting information. I'm assuming it's safe buuuut I'll replace anything that has a chance of touching water and keep the spots that wont touch water

While there is possibly uncertainty on the risk of tape, there is no reliable conflicting info in this thread. Please don’t make it sound like there is a chemistry debate.