Our Materials: Built for Your Reef, Made by Our Hands
At Reef Ahoy, we’re just a couple of mates with a big love for reefs, aquariums, and the little critters that live in them. Everything we make is designed to be safe, long-lasting, and a bit of fun too. That’s why we use reef-safe PETG for all our aquarium products, PLA for our toys and desk accessories, and a special clear epoxy process for our magnets.
We make these choices because they matter to us — and we know they matter to you too.
Why We Use PETG
When we started printing for our own tanks, we wanted materials that wouldn’t just look good, but that we could trust to sit safely in the water with our fish and corals. That led us to PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol).
Here’s why we stick with it:
- It’s reef-safe and doesn’t leach harmful chemicals.
- It’s tough enough to handle saltwater and daily use.
- It stays strong over time — no swelling, softening, or breaking down.
- Most importantly: it’s non-toxic for fish, corals, and all the little reef critters.
All our aquarium products — frag racks, feeders, sump organisers and more — are printed in PETG so you can be confident they’re safe for your reef.
Why PLA for Toys?
Our fun stuff — desk fidgets, shark toys, and other collectibles — are printed in PLA (Polylactic Acid). PLA is a plant-based, biodegradable plastic that gives us vibrant colours and fine detail. Since these products aren’t going in the water, PLA is the perfect choice for a great-looking, eco-friendlier material.
We Handle Magnets Differently
If you’ve been in the reef hobby a while, you’ll know magnets can be risky. Many products hide magnets in little plastic cases. Over time those cases can split, and once saltwater gets in, the magnets rust. That’s bad news for your reef.
We wanted a better way. So we set our magnets in clear reef-safe epoxy. That means:
- No plastic casing to crack or split.
- You can always see the magnet and check it yourself over time.
- The epoxy creates a full barrier, so the magnet stays dry and secure.
This way, you never have to guess what’s happening inside. You can look at it, trust it, and know it’s safe.
From Us to You
We’re not a big company. We’re just a couple of mates who started printing things we wanted for our own tanks — and now we get to share them with you. Every choice we make — from PETG filament to epoxy-sealed magnets — comes down to one thing: keeping your reef safe while adding a bit of fun.
If you ever have questions about how we make things, or ideas for something new, just reach out. We love hearing from fellow reefers.
Our Promise
- Every aquarium product is made from reef-safe PETG.
- Toys and desk accessories use eco-friendly PLA.
- Magnets are sealed in clear epoxy, never hidden in plastic.
- We test everything ourselves, because we use these products too.
- Safety comes first, but fun and creativity are always close behind.