Once you have your container ready, it’s time to add the Orbeez. Simply pour them into the container, taking care not to spill them. The amount you pour into the container depends on how many beads you want to grow. You might want to try skipping water beads entirely and just use the glow in the dark water as a fun bath time for your kids. As this will allow your children the opportunity to drink it we’ll have to stay away from using tonic water and highlighter fluid for the fluorescence.

Orbeez Challenge, The One and Only, 2000 Non-Toxic Water Orbeez Challenge, The One and Only, 2000 Non-Toxic Water

Once you have your highlighter ready, you’ll need to carefully break it open to retrieve the sponge from the inside (this is what contains the ink). Strontium aluminate is a newer and less common compound. It’s more expensive but it glows up to ten times brighter and longer than zinc sulfide. Then cut the sponge open and mix the ink in a container of water. You don’t need much ink but you can’t go wrong by using more than you need. So, make sure to squeeze all the ink out. You can use a second highlighter if you plan on making a lot of glow in the dark water beads.Now you can grow your orbeez in the water until they have expanded to their full size. As with tonic water, they wont grow as large as they would in pure water, so make sure to leave them for at least 4 hours to get as large as possible. Then drain the excess fluid (or keep it for now just in case you need more water beads later on). Zinc sulfide is the most common phosphorescent compound used in glow in the dark toys. You have probably seen it used before in glow in the dark stars. I also discovered that stirring the beads every thirty minutes while they soak can help speed up the absorption process. But my biggest breakthrough was when I started using a larger container to grow them in. With more surface area, the Orbeez had more access to water and were able to grow faster than ever before. It’s important to not overdo it as the Orbeez will expand to several times their original size once you add water. It’s always better to start with a smaller amount, and add more if needed.

Orbeez Water Beads, The One and Only, Glow in The Dark

The next thing you’ll need is water. It’s best to use slightly warm water, as cold water can slow down the expansion process. You should add enough water to cover the top level of the balls completely. Finally, you’ll need the Orbeez themselves. A fluorescent material glows when exposed to UV light, but this glow ceases as soon as the light is removed. What Fluorescent Material Should I Use? Tonic Water As The Fluorescent Material: Now that you’ve added water to the container, it’s time to let them soak. The dry beads will absorb the water and gradually start to expand and become fully grown. It’s important to let them soak for at least 3-4 hours to give them enough time to grow to several times their original size.Just make sure you get it in a form that is easily dispersible in water. You don’t want to have to spend time breaking tablets apart with a hammer!