Reef safe?

Cory · Mar 16, 2016

Are marbles reef safe? Thinking to use them on a project. Someone said something about lead in colored marbles. Glass marbles.

redfishbluefish · Mar 16, 2016

I can't see how marbles would be a problem in your tank......modern marbles are glass!. I must also state that you caused for a dé·jà vu moment for me....having been a marble player back in the 60's with my aggies and alleys.

fragit · Mar 16, 2016

Don't know about lead, but the colors in glass are different metals, and it would make sense to me that there is a potential of "leaching" into the water. However, I have made many hand blown glass pieces in the past and in every piece the colored glass is encased in at least a thin layer of glass that has no color. Having said that I have no idea what my instructor used for the clear glass stock. Try to contact the manufacturing company to be safe.

Cory · Mar 16, 2016

Thanks guys, i found some clear marbles, look all glass. Hopefully they are safe.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 17, 2016

I agree that marbles are most likely fine.

Soak them in strong acid first if you are concerned, to remove metals that might be exposed at the surface. If the interior colors change at all, don't use them.

Cory · Mar 17, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I agree that marbles are most likely fine.

Soak them in strong acid first if you are concerned, to remove metals that might be exposed at the surface. If the interior colors change at all, don't use them.

Good to know. Should i take 1 marble, then put it in full strength muriatic acid and let it sit for a day?