coloring dead coral skeletons

[Texas]

I have some large pieces of dead coral skeletons that I have been thinking about using in a new FOWLR tank and was wondering if anyone has ever dyed them with success and if so what did you use?
Thanks for any suggestions,
Pam

 

[TenKreefer]

You could try boiling them in some rit dye?

 

[Texas]

You could try boiling them in some rit dye?

Thanks for your response. Since I know the rit dye fades away on clothing my guess is it will come out of the porous coral as well but it may be worth a try if I can find a pot large enough to fit them in. I don't think any of them would be totally submerged even in a turkey fryer.

Perhaps some cement dye... I will have to check and see if it is toxic.
Pam

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

There are at least some types of cement dye that are totally safe - some brands of commercially made frag plugs and/or man made live rock are dyed with it. Sorry though, I can't point you to a specific product.

 

[Texas]

There are at least some types of cement dye that are totally safe - some brands of commercially made frag plugs and/or man made live rock are dyed with it. Sorry though, I can't point you to a specific product.

Thanks, good to know.
Pam

 

[hebygb]

There are dyes for epoxy resin... you could mix up epoxy resin, with your choice of colors (infinite) and brush the expoxy on... you may even be able to add some polyps made of resin.

 

[Qwiv]

You could paint the skeleton and then coat with an epoxy resin. The surface of a coral skeleton is a magnet to algae growth. I would think coating it is an epoxy resin would help smooth out the surface and make it easier to keep clean.

 

[widmer]

What's the name of that spray paint that everyone paints their PVC tubing with, which is apparently reef safe? Maybe you could use that?

 

[hebygb]

Krylon... however after time it does flake off, which doesnt really matter since often its already got a layer of coraline on it.

 

[Texas]

Thanks everyone. I am sure coating it with some type of sealer/resin would be a good way to keep the paint from fading over time. I need to go to a hobby shop and get some epoxy paint for RC airplanes to paint some large sea fans I have so maybe I will get some ideas while I am there.
Pam

 

[moondog997]

i have used acrylic paint from the dollar store to do the same thing. it worked great and had no ill effects on my tank. the paint has never chipped off and i was able to make them look very natural

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

This thread is 7 years old.

 

[Dr. X]

This thread is 7 years old.

Still useful, though.

I don't get it. Why do people care how old threads are? It's what came up on a search for information.