How Do I Make Frag Plugs

[danman]

Can anyone tell me how to easily make frag plugs that will not harm my tank.

[JAHGYDI]

just buy them

[danman]

thats to easy.... ;)

[afitzwater]

http://http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/diy/9245-how-do-i-make-frag-plugs.html


http://http://www.coszam.net/plugs.htm

http://http://www.coszam.net/plugsnipple.htm

http://http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=61070

http://http://www.marineaquariumsa.com/showthread.php?t=2762

http://http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=92110

[Bio-Nut]

I make mine out of rapid set cement and black grout die. you can make mold for them in fine sand. I can explain more when I get home tonight if you like. here is a pic of one of the frag mounts.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd295/chian0076/DSC01895.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd295/chian0076/DSC01901.jpg
The watermelon frag is mounted to a rubble mount that I made with same mix and you can't even tell where it ends and the rock begins. If you need Rapids set cement I have a ton, and a little goes a long ways.

[afitzwater]

bio can you please explain more.. whats the ratio?

[Bio-Nut]

After many practice batches I have found the best results with my latest creations.

I use this mixture for plugs only when I make larger pieces I mix in large course rock salt at (1:1) cement to rock salt.

Back to the frag mounts!

To make an actual plug I simply follow this thread as a guide but I add in black grout mix till it is the desired color. WEAR GLOVES; the big yellow cleaning ones or you will hate yourself for three weeks!
http://www.coszam.net/plugs.htm
I don't make the stems as long since I am usually mounting chalice!

For more natural mounts:
mix the batch a little dryer and then just drop small amounts on a disposeable surface. Be artistic if you really want to increase the surface are of the mounts mix in some course rock salt. When you soak it the rock salt will dissolve!

Most of all remember you are working with rapid set cement so mix small batchs or it will set on you!

Another trick i due to insure that I use all that I mix is to start by mixing the batch thin put it in a grou bag shoot it into the molds for the plugs. Then when those are full I make little disks by squirting it on to a flat surface and then when it starts to set I start making the rough mounts/ rubble!

Give it a shot and tell me what you think!

Ian

[danman]

wow thats sweet. thanxs man.

[danman]

would black sand work in place of white?

[danman]

the links are not working

[benzeeno]

Bio nut that looks good. I'm going to give it a shot.

[Bio-Nut]

If you just use the Rapid set mix and the dye it will be all good. Be carefull adding the black sand some times it is artificial and can cause problems. I will take some pictures of each of the three mount type and post them tonight!

[danman]

good deal

[suver569]

I used to make these for a little side business. Depending on how many you want to make, there are several ways to go about it.

My method was finding chunks of styrofoam, taking a forstener bit about the size of the mount you want, by hand, twist the bit into the foam as deep as you want your mounting pad. I used to go about 3/8" deep. Take a drill bit around 3/8-1/2" in size, drill down the middle of your hole about 3/4" deep. It takes a little tweaking, but you can get a good system down.

The mixture I used was quikset concrete with crushed shells. You can find a bag of the shell mixture at East county feed and supply for about $12 for a 50lb bag. It's used for chicken coops, and it's 100% crushed shells, they are just dusty and dirty. I took them in a 5 g bucket and washed them several times until there was no more debris coming out. I used to use this for making my own rocks also, which is the same process, just mix a larger batch and shape using a plastic bin as a form, and sand to make crevases and caves.

Anyway, there is no exact mixture between concrete and shells, but more shells, the better IMO. They disolve into pure calcium over time. Mix up a small amount of concrete in a wet fashion, and add crushed shells to a cottage cheese texture. Put the mixture in the foam molds and tap on a table to make sure all the air voids are out and the mold is full. This should make the top nice and smooth, which you can fix later, giving your corals nice little foot holes to use.

Let them setup for a day and break the foam away from the concrete. I found it easiest to break the large pieces by hand, and use a pressure washer to bust off the little residue. I put them in a 5 gallon bucket, and just blasted away.

DO NOT USE THEM RIGHT AWAY. Mix up a batch of muriatic acid and water in about a 1/4 acid to 3/4 water ratio. fill the 5g bucket with the mixture and put the plugs in there. They will bubble and foam. This is the calcium breaking down. Do not leave them in there for to long, just long enough to get the major residue off. This should pit the pieces nicely. Again, clean them well. Pressure washer works great for this.

I liked to cure them in a tank just like you would live rock. I had some LR curing more often than not, and I'd just throw some in the bucket with the LR and let them sit for a while. You don't have to, but I did.

Any questions, lemme know. In all honesty, I was thinking of making some again soon and putting them up for sale on the boards. I might gather all my stuff from my mom's garage and give it shot again.

Dan

[suver569]

Oh, you can get concrete coloring at home depot too. Red was my choice of color. Just makes it look like corraline is already growing on them. Up to you. I liked it.

[benzeeno]

I am about to make some right now and just wanted to bring this thread back. TTT

[Acefspds]

So how many do you think you can make with lets say 20.00? You can buy 100 off alot of sites for that. Can probabley find a place that fires pottery and get them to make you some ceramic ones.

[Techknowledgy]

You can use baby bottle nipples for molds.