frag racks

[mfinn]

Everybody is making frag racks these days and here is mine.
I use black eggcrate from lifereef.com. You can buy as much or as little as you want. No minium. I use to use the white eggcrate and paint it, but that's a pita.
I use 1"x3/8" neodyium magnets from magnet4less.com.
I like to use the really strong ones, they will hold many frags though the 1/2" glass on my tank.
I coated the magnets with casting resin in molds I fould online doing a google search.

I mixed up a small amount of resin added a little color and poured it in the molds to make a base for the magnets to sit on. Let it cure for a hour or so, place the magnets in the molds, mix up some more resin, pour into the molds with the magnets. Support the eggcrate in a upright position and let it cure for a couple days.
Done

 

[coralfragger101]

Sweet.

Good Job!

 

[mfinn]

Thanks

There are a couple other threads that I saw that gave me the idea using the casting resin and molds.
Works nice when all the right pieces are there.

 

[troylee]

very nice looks clean........sure beats the barnacle i bought to set all my plugs in.......but it is starting to look nice now that its covered in coraline...lol good job man.......

 

[Bamm Bamm]

Those are pretty sweet. im in the process of making some out of scrap acrylic.. I saw some on Ebay the other day..Im still debating on using magnet though or just some strong suction cups currently Im using clear plastic soap dishes with suction cups direct from Walmart=)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Coral-Reef-Magn...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

 

[mfinn]

suction cups ALWAYS fail

 

[Bamm Bamm]

here's a thread that was started a few days ago in our club forum on the same subject and there are links to some pretty sweet looking ones..that use magnets=)
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1587124

 

[Henryreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14509938#post14509938 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mfinn
suction cups ALWAYS fail

so true...

Nice job, I need to get around to making one of these

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Can you please tell us exactly which casting resin you use? I can't read the details in the picture.

I have tons of neodymium magnets (sold them on ebay till to many others got on the bandwagon) but have not had luck sealing them.

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14511512#post14511512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamwhatiam52
Can you please tell us exactly which casting resin you use? I can't read the details in the picture.

I have tons of neodymium magnets (sold them on ebay till to many others got on the bandwagon) but have not had luck sealing them.

This is what I used.


http://www.dickblick.com/products/castincraft-clear-polyester-casting-resin/

 

[schristi69]

There was a thread around here where a person used the polyester resin and it started breaking down in his tank. Any issues? Where did you get the moulds?

 

[mfinn]

I haven't seen any problems.
I just did a google search for them. Found them at a online crafts store.

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14513941#post14513941 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schristi69
There was a thread around here where a person used the polyester resin and it started breaking down in his tank. Any issues?

I did a search before I used the polyester resin and I failed to find anything negative, but found a bunch of people using it with good success. I've found a couple people selling them using the resin.
So after your post I did another seach and did find the one person who didn't have a good experince with it. DonW said it fell apart in his tank. It didn't chemicaly break up, just physicaly fell apart.
DonW is local to me so I sent him a email asking for his thoughts and also on which resin he used. Michaels sells two different kinds. Haven't heard back yet.
I've got a couple in my tank that have been there for around 3 months and still holding.
So if anyone else has any experince with polyester casting resin, I'd be gratefull for any new info.

 

[mfinn]

I now am using a 2 part epoxy.

 

[perenes]

looks really nice

 

[mfinn]

There was a thread around here where a person used the polyester resin and it started breaking down in his tank. Any issues? Where did you get the moulds?

The first ones I made with the casting resin are still doing fine. No sign of breaking up.

 

[mike_dani]

Where did you get the molds I cant find any.....

 

[mfinn]

Where did you get the molds I cant find any.....

I used these molds. Most of everything I used except the magnets and eggcrate can be found here.

http://store.creative-wholesale.com...ortField/3/Level/2/ProductID/568/Default.aspx

 

[stewmiester]

wow thanks for the info!!

 

[luckydud13]

Good idea. Time to get some supplies together