DIY plpugs

[Rainer Feyer]

I know the subject has been beaten to death, and I have read until my eyes turned red, but I still have a question:

Most people use Portland cement II. But, PII is very dark gray, and the plugs I see are light colored. Is that because of the aragonite mixed with it? Or, is it different cement?

Also, i will need to buy some plugs for now unitl mine are made and cured (which could be next year .

I know Boston aquarium sells them, anybody else?

Thank you

 

[Krazy]

I dunno about making them Rainer..

But "Marine Flora" and also "The Filter Guys" sell Frag Plugs...

I've bought from both places and I like the ones Sam @ Marine Flora sells

I've got an extra bag here if your interested

 

[gary greguire]

the white cement is riverside white I beleive its made by portland but is hard to find

 

[Rainer Feyer]

Gary and Keith

thank you very much for the info - greatly appreciated!

I will do some research on the riverside - though not sure why I even care? it will change color eventually anyway!

Keith, do you have disks or plugs (I would need some disks)?

thanks both,

Rainer

 

[Krazy]

Rainer,

I've got the disks, just like a plug but larger, fits onto egg crate nicely

Dunno how soon you want/need them ?

Keith

 

[Krazy]

These are what they look like and a size comparison to a 9 volt battery...

Should give you an idea...

 

[jayreef1213]

Portland is dark in the bag and when wet but it will lighten up when fully dried. Also the higher the slump the whiter it gets. When I pour sidewalks it is a dark gray and when it fully cures the sidewalk is a much lighter gray.

 

[jayreef1213]

www.bostonaquafarms.com I have ordered from them good deal and very fast shipping. He does discounts for large orders. Fully cured.

 

[jayreef1213]

Hi,
Thanks for your interest.
Here is our current price list as well as shipping and payment info.

Pricing:


Mounts;
Plugs 100/Bag
1 - 5 bags $23.00/bag
6 - 12 bags $22.00/bag
13 - 20 bags $21.00/bag
21 - 30 bags $20.00/bag
31+ bags $19.00/bag

Discs 50/Bag
1 - 8 bags $13.00/bag
9 - 16 bags $12.50/bag
17 - 27 bags $12.00/bag
28 - 38 bags $11.50/bag
39 - 50 bags $11.00/bag

Adhesives;
Boston Aqua Thick Farms Reef Glue 2oz. Squeeze Bottle $12
Boston Aqua Farms Reef Glue Accelerator 2oz. Spray Bottle w/Pipette $10
- Kit of both above items $20
Boston Aqua Farms Coral Epoxy, 2oz tube. $8
Boston Aqua Farms Colored Reef Glue (Colored like Coralline Algae!) 2oz. Squeeze Bottle $14
Boston Aqua Farms Reef Glue Gel (Super thick and can be used underwater) 20gm. Tube $12

Boston Aqua Farms Reef Glue Debonder (No more sticky fingers!) 1oz. Bottle $6

Cutters;
Boston Aqua Farms Coral Cutters, Bone Cutters $13
Boston Aqua Farms Soft Coral Scalpel with 4 disposable blades $8.50
Replacement Blades for soft coral Scalpel 5 for $5


Starter Kits;
Soft Coral Propagation Starter Kit $40/kit
Includes: Soft Coral Scalpel w/ 4 disposable blades, 15 disks, 20 plugs, 2oz glue, 2oz accelerator, LED actinic flashlight keychain, plastic storage container for fragging, dipping, and acclimation.

Stony Coral Propagation Starter Kit $40/kit
Includes: 1 set Stony coral bone cutters, 15 disks, 20 plugs, 2oz glue, 2oz accelerator, LED actinic flashlight keychain, plastic storage container for fragging,
dipping, and acclimation.




Shipping/Handling:

We can ship with any shipping carrier but we like to ship US Postal 2nd Day Priority, anywhere in the US.
Our normal shipping box holds 4 bags. Shipping/Handling for the first two bags is $10 and each bag after
that (up to 4 total) is $2 additional. Add $1 for each additional item that is not a bag of plugs or disks.
We can ship more then one box.
Ex. 2 bags of disks, 1 bag of plugs, 1 bottle of glue and 1 set of bone cutters = $14 shipping/handling.

We are happy to work with you on shipping, if we use your UPS or FedEx account we may have to
charge a small handling fee which pays for packing materials and such.
International orders please specify amount and shipping address so that we may calculate a
proper estimate of shipping and handling.

Payment Method:
The best payment method at the moment is Paypal (sales@bostonaquafarms.com), credit card or you can send a check.

How to Order:
The best way is to send us an e-mail with what you need and then send payment via paypal, we can also take major credit cards.
Sorry we don't yet have online ordering.


Thanks
Jon

 

[Rainer Feyer]

Hi guys,

thank you again for the help - I did contact BostonMarine and am getting a couple of bags from them, but still want to do my own as I would like to change the design.

For what it's worth, the reading I have done last night suggests to use hydraulic cements such as Quikrete or Quickwall or Thorite. Not necessarily for it's quick drying abilities, but also as it's pH shift has a much shorter life (as it cures faster, the pH beomes stabe faster). Don't take my word for it though, I did not tests and am only a parrot repeating what I have read.

I will try our local ACE hardware and see if they have any of those brands and will start experimenting, including testing - keeping a few plugs in a small container and checking pH over time with and without water changes.

Keith,

would like to buy a few of the plogs from you if you don't mind? maybe 15 of them if you have that much to sell?

thanks

 

[Krazy]

Rainer,

I have a couple bags of 20 or 25, then a box of dry rubble rock

I have the extras so it isnt a problem..

How soon do you want/need them ?

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

I dont know about you guys, but i prefer not to receive frags on plugs, i would rather have them on rock rubble. When i frag i usually mount to some rubble, i use the smaller peices from my order from www.marcorocks.com i beleive they sell rubble sized peices as well.

 

[WinkeyWoneye]

Rainer I have seen other posts of people looking for and using thorite in the aquarium. I was reading about the cement/rock DIY overflow covers and thats where I saw thorite mentioned. I know its one of the better cements to use in the aquarium from what I gathered. The only thing is thorite can be hard to find. I havent tried looking myself, so I wouldn't know where to find it.

 

[Rainer Feyer]

Winkey, you are correct - it seems nobody knows where to find Thorite!

I went to the local ACE and found a hydraulic cement (ACE brand) which was $2+ for a little tub - I don't mind the expense but am not sure what is inside so I will have to research that too. Next I may try the local cement business, but somehow don't think they will carry Thorite (there are actually 3 brand names suggested).

Jay, I did get a response from Boston, and the plugs do sound inexpensive, but I will take 20 from Keith

Keith, if you don't mind brining 20 to the May 5th meet, i'd appreciate it tons! Paypal or pay then - either is OK with me

I made 9 plugs last night and have to say I like the way they look as they are not even - i.e.: look more like rock frabment, though have a little apex/ stem for attachment and a little hole (made with a toothpic while still soft) to attach frags with. I am curing them now.

 

[Krazy]

Rainer,

I'll bring a bag of them with me

You can just pay me then... It isnt a biggie

 

[Rainer Feyer]

Keith,

great - am looking forward to it! I will use the plugs for SPS anmd my home made discs for softies

the nine I made so far with the ACE hydraulic cement mixed 50/50 with ground Oyster shell from a local feed store, had an original hpH (whin in a bucket of water) of 9.4 I did not use RO/DI on purpose to see how long it would take to balance with normal water.

after the first day, pH went down to 9.1 today, it is down to 8.8.

I had it in a basket in my sump since yesterday and made absolutely no change in my sump pH (not enough plugs, I am sure). So, that will be my curing vessel after the first day - I'll just need less part 1 during those days (or no change needed at all ?)

Will let you know how long it takes to go below a pH of 8.4

 

[Rainer Feyer]

Interesting twist:

Made about 20 more plugs on Saturday morning, and, Saturdays being my water change day for the main tank, I thought: Why not put the plugs into the new saltwater? So I did, and, the pH went from 7.6 (which it is normally in the new salt water) to 8.2! So, the curing plugs actually serve a dual purpose in getting the pH of the new water up!

 

[Rainer Feyer]

Final outcome:

Took out the first batch of disks (made with hydraulic cement and crushed coral) which has been in the sump for a whole 4 days now!

I placed the disks into a small container with existing salt water (just enough water to cover the disks). Tank parameter 8.4 pH After 3 hours of the disks being in this confined space, the pH is still 8.4!

Placed a Kenya tree frag onto one of the disks with a toothpick and it is still alive this morning.

So, it seems like the hydraulic cement really does cure much faster with a much shorter 'high pH ' time