How to make frag plugs?
- Thread starter aaronlp
- Start date
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
If you use the correct materials it will be problem-free. 99% of the rock in my tank is manmade.
Search for "aragocrete" or "MMLR" on the forums and I'm sure you'll find plenty of reading material. The basic approach is to mix portland cement with various aggregates (sand, crushed coral, etc.) to get the texture you want. Then you just mold it into the shape you want and let it cure. The cement is mostly hard in a few days, but not fully cured - you need to cure it fully before putting it in a tank or it'll spike the pH.
Traditionally, manmade live rock is cured by soaking in water and changing the water every few days for 6 to 8 weeks. Smaller pieces, like frag plugs, can cure much faster. You can also leave it out in the air to dry for a few months.
If you want to get the "traditional" frag plug shape you can drop spoonfuls of the cement mixture into dixie cups, then tear the cup off once it is cured. Other people use egg cartons or other forms. Or you can just blob it into depressions made in a tupperware bin full of moist sand to get random shapes. If you want to get really tiny plugs suitable for a zoanthid or two each you can use eggcrate.
Search for "aragocrete" or "MMLR" on the forums and I'm sure you'll find plenty of reading material. The basic approach is to mix portland cement with various aggregates (sand, crushed coral, etc.) to get the texture you want. Then you just mold it into the shape you want and let it cure. The cement is mostly hard in a few days, but not fully cured - you need to cure it fully before putting it in a tank or it'll spike the pH.
Traditionally, manmade live rock is cured by soaking in water and changing the water every few days for 6 to 8 weeks. Smaller pieces, like frag plugs, can cure much faster. You can also leave it out in the air to dry for a few months.
If you want to get the "traditional" frag plug shape you can drop spoonfuls of the cement mixture into dixie cups, then tear the cup off once it is cured. Other people use egg cartons or other forms. Or you can just blob it into depressions made in a tupperware bin full of moist sand to get random shapes. If you want to get really tiny plugs suitable for a zoanthid or two each you can use eggcrate.
gary greguire
Premium Member
check out garf .org
Willistein
Active member
So, I was thinking about doing this a while back, but didn't have the kiln going. I'm now set up to make ceramic plugs and I'm going to give it a shot. I think I'm going to use slip (liquid clay) and make molds for them. If anyone wants to try them let me know.
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
You lucky dog. I wish I had a kiln. If you haven't seen it yet, search the DIY forum for kcress's build thread. He built an entire "rock" structure in his tank out of ceramic.
cardiffgiant
Active member
Do you think that you could make the real thin square frag plugs like filter guys sells? That's what ARC uses. They're awesome because they are so thin and brittle. You can pop the plugs off with your fingers, or chip the corners off to make new frags of zoas or SPS.
http://thefilterguys.biz/frag_supplies.htm
Willistein
Active member
anything you want to keep cold, son!
seriously though yeah. I was looking at their site today to get ideas. Are you talking about the discs or the thin discs with the column below?
seriously though yeah. I was looking at their site today to get ideas. Are you talking about the discs or the thin discs with the column below?
Willistein
Active member
It look like those are made by rolling clay out and cutting with a cookie cutter. I think the round base is attached afterwards. I think I'm going to make a few shapes right now...
cardiffgiant
Active member
They've got these bad boys about half way down:
oneradtek202
Pitcher Hill Reef Society
just buy some, itll be worth it in the end unless you are going to try to make some money
Willistein
Active member
those are probably molded, right?
Here's my attempt at hand building a few. They're not fired yet, obviously. I'm guessing molding them is faster...
Here's my attempt at hand building a few. They're not fired yet, obviously. I'm guessing molding them is faster...
Willistein
Active member
Aaron, hope you don't mind me hi-jacking your thread... I'll start my own if you want.
I don't think the type of clay matters much. I'll just bisque fire them and they'll be pretty inert and shouldn't leach anything organic. Next task is making molds and buying some slip.
I don't think the type of clay matters much. I'll just bisque fire them and they'll be pretty inert and shouldn't leach anything organic. Next task is making molds and buying some slip.
