Natural Frag Disks For Zoos

[Dastank]

Okay, I tried to post this under Coral Propagation and couldn't get much feed back and since I'm crazy about zoos, this is the forum where I spend the majority of my time and that's all I'm going to frag anyway I thought I would post it here.

I have an idea and I'm looking for some confirmation or negation.

I'm new to the fraging and pretty much do it just as a hobby right now. I've made frag disks of all shapes and sizes, cured them, glued coral to them etc... The problem I'm running into is I don't like the look of the disks in my tank and I don't like the plastic ones either.

I was pondering this dilemma today as I walked on the beach, helps to live some where tropical, and realized I was walking on tons of these...

There are literally thousands of them on the beach by my house and I'm thinking they would work great for frag disks. You don’t have to cure them and they’re not going to shock your system if you add a bunch of them to you tank. I'm also thinking they're going to color up better than concrete & crushed coral disks. What do you think?

There's so many I might even send some to you guys!

 

[JGoslee]

They would work well. I would use them. I would probably boil them in hot water to make sure they are pest free.

 

[msman825]

I use dead sand dollars sometimes i find on the beach here by my house. But i do boil them first. there are all kinds of little critters in them

 

[blackheart]

some of those coral skeletons and such are very porous and can harbor nitrates in them

 

[THEPHISHGUY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8945921#post8945921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blackheart
some of those coral skeletons and such are very porous and can harbor nitrates in them

Doesnt that thoery kind of go againt the whole concensous of the nirtogen cyclen in our aquariums? Wouldnt they harbor benefical bacteria the same way that live rock does, espeially since the general opionion is to find the lightest most pourous rock possible? I guess I might be missing something cause that seems exactly opposite of the reefkeeping world as we know it

 

[JeffReef]

I would use these instead of the disks. These would look more natural in your tank. Disks don't blend in your aquascape as well and you're eyes can spot them right away.

 

[fraggin]

i get tile squares at home depot that are i think calcium based come in many shapes and sizes, coraline loves em and so far everything attachs to them easily

 

[geoxman]

You are very lucky to have such a large free supply of these! Good luck with your frags and happy reefing

 

[JGoslee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8947066#post8947066 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fraggin
i get tile squares at home depot that are i think calcium based come in many shapes and sizes, coraline loves em and so far everything attachs to them easily

I went to home depot looking for those a few weeks ago but I couldnt find them. Do you know what they are called?

 

[fraggin]

really not sure
but they come in a mat
like 12x12 of 1" squares or 2"
they are in the marble or ceramic section, i think they are used for like the trim or something
i really like them, they are heavy enough the snails knock them off but they land tile side down

 

[MinibowMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8946970#post8946970 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by THEPHISHGUY
Doesnt that thoery kind of go againt the whole concensous of the nirtogen cyclen in our aquariums? Wouldnt they harbor benefical bacteria the same way that live rock does, espeially since the general opionion is to find the lightest most pourous rock possible? I guess I might be missing something cause that seems exactly opposite of the reefkeeping world as we know it

yes, in theory it should hold beneficial bacteria. The problem is that over time, in an old reef, the LR actually starts to become a nitrate sponge. Most people feel that you should replace a little bit of your LR every couple years, to help prevent this. Its like "old tank syndrome" in FW. Most people havent been able to keep reefs up (in their homes) long enough to see these effects, but it is documented.

I would use those, but I would boil them, or at least cook them in the oven.

 

[Dastank]

Thanks for all the input! Looks like I've got some baking to do!