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Cultivated Reef

Are Sharpies Reef Safe?


PwnMe

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Here's an interesting question. Google returns a lot of answers, but they all pertain to larger reef tanks which would be subject to much higher dilutions.

 

I want to mark the inside of my bucket with a regular black sharpie so I know exactly where to fill it to with water. If I do that, and the sharpie dries 100%, do I run a risk of anything leeching. The bucket will be used to store 5 gallons for 2-3 weeks of water changes.

 

I'm also open to better solutions. I get tired of making water and just measuring and slowly adding salt until its perfect. I want to get it near perfect before measuring salinity.

 

 

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I bet its fine, there are probably worse pollutants in the air than a little bit of sharpie.

 

but, won't it most likely wear off under such conditions, no? I know it says permanent but not so in my experience.

 

For my bucket, I just took a knife and carved a line.

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Here's an idea that I thought of...

 

I should superglue some sort of thing at 5 gallons. Like a tiny piece of live rock. Just answered my own question.

 

But that might not even be permanent. So I'll probably carve lines if I can see them. Its a white bucket.

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Ive seen alot of people make sharpie markings on frag plugs literally a mm away from where a coral is sitting. Im sure its okay, But I personally would prefer to keep any possible contaminants out of my water.

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squamptonbc

Sharpies are considered non-toxic to humans, but no idea about fish...

 

From the MSDS Sharpies contain Butanol (71-36-3), Propanol (71-23-8), Diacetone Alcohol (123-42-2), Ethanol (64-17-5)

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Personally, I can't see how a 1/2" mark would hurt anything. I have a few marks in my bucket, have had for 3 yrs and everything has always been fine.

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Ha keeping nano reefs sure does lead to weird questions like this.

 

Its just... we spent a fair amount of money on RO/DI systems and food safe buckets, it would be a shame if that was all undone because of a marker. 1ppm of sharpie.

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if youre really worried about the sharpie, coat it with some clear coat, like future floor polish or clear nail polish

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