Painted Clay Pots Reef Safe?

[JosephM]

So I am building a 29 gallon reef tank with a 20 gal sump below that is mainly a fuge. I’m going with some macro algae. I do have a grow light overhead. I have been doing research on mangroves and every now and then my LFS has a pod available. I was thinking of doing a cheap clay pot and fill it with some miracle mud and just growing a pod or two in the corner of my fuge. I’ve read clay pots are reef safe but could I paint the pot with krylon fusion. I’m not a big fan of the clay look and would like black a lot more. Any answers?

 

[AltitudeAquarium]

Some clay pots have metals that maybe toxic. Especially, if exposed to the saltwater environment. I don't think Krylon paint will withstand the environment. Marine epoxy paints have a proven reputation in saltwater.

 

[JosephM]

You could but the paint will fail eventually.

If it’s gonna fail it wouldn’t reef safe then? At least I’d assume cuz there’s no way paint chips can be good at all in the system

 

[JosephM]

The cured paint will not harm the sea life but the paint will fail and flake off.

Ahhhh okay. Thank you for the clarification

 

[JosephM]

Some clay pots have metals that maybe toxic. Especially, if exposed to the saltwater environment. I don't think Krylon paint will withstand the environment. Marine epoxy paints have a proven reputation in saltwater.

Is there any cheaper spray paint of that stuff. When I looked it up it was $50+ which would be a complete waste of money for a small pot.

 

[AltitudeAquarium]

Is there any cheaper spray paint of that stuff. When I looked it up it was $50+ which would be a complete waste of money for a small pot.

A boat/auto body shop might have some. It has been my experience that epoxy paint is very expensive. Could you try a plastic pot for your application?

 

[JosephM]

A boat/auto body shop might have some. It has been my experience that epoxy paint is very expensive. Could you try a plastic pot for your application?

Mmmm. Smart, I didn’t think of that one lol. Any plastics I should look out for for being good/bad?

 

[JosephM]

After searching forever for a small sized pot that looked decently made I found this one. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bloem-Te...MIv5qmp7mB7gIVmeyGCh0agg4YEAQYByABEgJS9PD_BwE
It says “constructed of a durable polypropylene material”... is that reef safe material?

 

[AltitudeAquarium]

After searching forever for a small sized pot that looked decently made I found this one. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bloem-Te...MIv5qmp7mB7gIVmeyGCh0agg4YEAQYByABEgJS9PD_BwE
It says “constructed of a durable polypropylene material”... is that reef safe material?

That should work. There are other colorful ones that might match your decor.

 

[JosephM]

That should work. There are other colorful ones that might match your decor.

My color scheme is mainly black and some white, white will get dirty super quick so black it is LOL

 

[Tcook]

You could consider a glazed pot. I'm not sure if there any metals in the glass they use.

 

[AltitudeAquarium]

You could consider a glazed pot. I'm not sure if there any metals in the glass they use.

There are metals thats what gives the glaze color when it is fired in the oven.

 

[Tcook]

That's what I thought I remembered. Blue or green has copper in it. Maybe plastic or glass pots/vase.