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Magnet + Plastidip = ?


dante411x

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So, I'm currently in process of trying to come up with a cheap solution to having a strong magnetic frag plug to hold up a large monti cap on the back wall of my tank. I figured, buy some magnets from Lowe's and spray them with Plastidip. I figure 3-4 heavy coats of it will be enough to ensure that no water can get through to the magnet and rust it. Is that safe though?

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You can also buy magnets that are already plastic Coated.

Yeah, but not anywhere that will make them appear at my house in the next 8 hours. And then I'd worry that the plastic coating has a pinhole somewhere and it'll eventually rust out the magnet.

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Talk to Haywood, I can't remember what he know, but he knows something about magnets and plastic dip........

 

No I have not started drinking yet. :happy:

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Yeah, but not anywhere that will make them appear at my house in the next 8 hours. And then I'd worry that the plastic coating has a pinhole somewhere and it'll eventually rust out the magnet.

Well either way plati dip needs longer then 8 hours to cure. With a few coats pin hole won't be a problem.
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I would let it cure for a few days before I put it in my tank. That being said, I spray painted the plumbing on my frag tank black with rustoleom. From what I read, after cured it will not effect a tank. But then I got to thinking, I probably wouldn't spray paint the inside of a coffee mug and still drink from it. Even after it cured.

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cant you just buy a cheap magfloat for small tanks and glue it to that?

1/2" thick glass. I have a cheap mag float and it wouldn't hold it up. And expensive mag floats are too big. A 1" square magnet is much easier to disguise.

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1/2" thick glass. I have a cheap mag float and it wouldn't hold it up. And expensive mag floats are too big. A 1" square magnet is much easier to disguise.

 

when you say plasti dip, are you talking about plastic/rubber paint or powder coating? 

 

powder coating lasts forever might be more expensive but you wont need to do multiple coats

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Rubber paint. Didn't think about powder coating... Hmm. That would certainly be easier.

I just had some headers ceramic coated which is about the same thing as powder coating, but works better @ higher temps......don't think your tank is going to get that hot.

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I'm sure you'll be fine either way, I have used regular spray paint in my aquarium so I dont think you'll have any issues with the pain itself, so as long as you can completely seal the magnet, you should be ok. 

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A problem that you will face is that if you move your frag plugs or rack (whatever you are trying to build), you might peel off the plasti dip paint and expose the magnets to saltwater.

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I found this place a while back https://www.kjmagnetics.com/products.asp?cat=164

Good god those are some crazy magnets there. I'm definitely ordering from them if this idea doesn't work well.

 

A problem that you will face is that if you move your frag plugs or rack (whatever you are trying to build), you might peel off the plasti dip paint and expose the magnets to saltwater.

Yeah, that's my main concern. But I'm not trying to build something I'll move often (if at all). Idea is to have a strong magnet that has a big monti cap attached to it. Once it's all done, I don't particularly want to mess with where it's placed. It's just too big to superglue to the back glass.

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I found a drywall screw a month or so ago in my sand bed

Not sure how long it was in there my guess is at least 6 months or however long it's been since I switched from T5 to led

 

Not suggesting that you intentionally put things in your tank that will rust but I don't think your going to crash your tank because of it either

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I've plastidipped cheap fleabay neodymium magnets in both fresh & marine tanks for years.  I use them for my disposable DIY protein skimmers.

 

I use a three part process.

 

First I use cheap epoxy ( like we use for our corals ) and cover the whole magnet up with a thin layer.  Then I take aquarium silicone and make a thin layer.  The silicone is really not necessary and I omit if there is enough epoxy.  Then I take plastidip to the outside.

Required cure times are used in between each stage.  

 

I know its overkill but I sleep very well at night :)

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Let me know if it works because I want to do the same thing with my montis.

It worked.. But the magnet isn't strong enough unfortunately. Half inch glass is too much.

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I need to check but I don't think my glass is that thick

I doubt you have 1/2" glass....Dude :cool:

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