Okinawa FRAG Disks - Stage One
- Thread starter Dastank
- Start date
Dastank
Premium Member
Everything depends on how much it's going to support. My frag disks are less than 3/8 inch thick and you couldn't break them if you tried. If your just going to use it for a backdrop with small structure, I would think 3/8 to a 1/2 inch would be more than enough. You probably could have it tank ready in a month or so too.
If you use Jeff's method, I would reinforce it with rebar, put stainless bolts in it, drill holes in your tank and bolt it to your tank wall.
OR… You could just make a concrete tank!
Just food for thought!
If you use Jeff's method, I would reinforce it with rebar, put stainless bolts in it, drill holes in your tank and bolt it to your tank wall.
OR… You could just make a concrete tank!
Just food for thought!
jasalmanza
New member
Actually what I was thinking of doing was sloping it. I would start at around 1" at top and finish around 4" at the bottom. Like I said, I'll also be incoorporating small pieces of base rock to act as ledges. I'll put in the slabs prior to putting down the substarte to kind of "anchor" it in place. I spent all afternoon at the wood shop today working on my sump. I sectioned it off into three areas: Fuge area, return area, baffles, skimmer area. I was able to get my hands on some 1/4" acrylic sheets, and I think it came out real nice. I'll water test it tomorrow afternoon. I'll post pics when I start my thread. I have a decent size sheet of acrylic left over if anyone wants it.
jasalmanza
New member
Water test went great, no leaks between the sections. Back at the wood shop totoday, wall frame is complete. I'll start the wall tomorrow. I was out so I picked up a bag fo the portland, 400yen, what the hell...
Mike - whats the mixing ratio? and how should I go about it? sand & cement then water? And how did you mix it, spoon? When it comes to masonry I'm a rookie so I'll take all the advice I can get! How long should I allow it to set in the mold before trying to remove it? I decided to go with really thin plastic sheets to devide the slab. Got them at the 100yen store. I think they should work well, they are super thin, yet really rigid (Kind of like a placemat). The deviders I was going to use would have left too much space inbetween, and I dont think I would have liked it as much.
Like jeff said, I'm not real worried about curing time, Should be about a month and a half before the tank gets up again. I want to get the closed loop squared away.
Life is lonley without a tank, I find my self really fine tuning all the projects I wanted to get accomplished to try and pass the time. Patients is a virtue....
BTW - sump came out better than I could have imagined, seams look like hell, but it's functional. And all the minor errors I made along the way wound up positive in the end!
One last thing - At naval kadena they have the bulkheads I was looking for (like the ones they sell on marine depot), only problem is they are metal. Getting closer.......
Mike - whats the mixing ratio? and how should I go about it? sand & cement then water? And how did you mix it, spoon? When it comes to masonry I'm a rookie so I'll take all the advice I can get! How long should I allow it to set in the mold before trying to remove it? I decided to go with really thin plastic sheets to devide the slab. Got them at the 100yen store. I think they should work well, they are super thin, yet really rigid (Kind of like a placemat). The deviders I was going to use would have left too much space inbetween, and I dont think I would have liked it as much.
Like jeff said, I'm not real worried about curing time, Should be about a month and a half before the tank gets up again. I want to get the closed loop squared away.
Life is lonley without a tank, I find my self really fine tuning all the projects I wanted to get accomplished to try and pass the time. Patients is a virtue....
BTW - sump came out better than I could have imagined, seams look like hell, but it's functional. And all the minor errors I made along the way wound up positive in the end!
One last thing - At naval kadena they have the bulkheads I was looking for (like the ones they sell on marine depot), only problem is they are metal. Getting closer.......
Dastank
Premium Member
I used about a 6 sand to 1 concrete mix. I mixed it together with a small garden shovel and then added water. Play with the sand concrete mix and the water to get a good consistency. You might try putting some sand on the surface before it dries. I like that look on my disks, I only wish I had put the sand on when it was a little wetter.
Let me know how it all works out!
Let me know how it all works out!
hot4teacher
New member
Well Miguel,
I guess my next project will be to make some frag disks. As we talked yesterday, I think I'll go for the white cement. If I have time, I hope to do some tests on the water to see if it really changes pH, alk, etc.
I guess my goal is slightly larger than half dollar size and 3/8" thick disks.
Matt and Sangogo (does anyone know her real name???) will be knocking on my door for some goodies.
Dana
I guess my next project will be to make some frag disks. As we talked yesterday, I think I'll go for the white cement. If I have time, I hope to do some tests on the water to see if it really changes pH, alk, etc.
I guess my goal is slightly larger than half dollar size and 3/8" thick disks.
Matt and Sangogo (does anyone know her real name???) will be knocking on my door for some goodies.
Dana
jasalmanza
New member
Well, the wall was a failure...
I built the frame from 1/2" plywood, and as I was putting on the finishing touches, the bottom of the frame fell out. I guess I should have thought out the "physics" a little more (thanks jeff!). I dont know if I'll try again, but it was really easy, and was looking amazing. The consistancy (6 sand to 1 cement) was perfect, and easily moldable. If I do try it again, It'll be for my 55gal.
BTW - Cleaning up 100+lbs of concrete sucks!
I built the frame from 1/2" plywood, and as I was putting on the finishing touches, the bottom of the frame fell out. I guess I should have thought out the "physics" a little more (thanks jeff!). I dont know if I'll try again, but it was really easy, and was looking amazing. The consistancy (6 sand to 1 cement) was perfect, and easily moldable. If I do try it again, It'll be for my 55gal.
BTW - Cleaning up 100+lbs of concrete sucks!
hot4teacher
New member
I like your complete disregard and went "Freddy Crouger" on that colony!
Let me guess, you were a butcher in your previous life!
Just kidding, is this the frag you're sending me? I love it!
(For the record, I thought those were tentacles at first, but I see they are in fact zoas.)
Nice job Freddy!
Dana
Let me guess, you were a butcher in your previous life!
Just kidding, is this the frag you're sending me? I love it!
(For the record, I thought those were tentacles at first, but I see they are in fact zoas.)
Nice job Freddy!
Dana
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hot4teacher
New member
:lol:
jasalmanza
New member
great pic!!!
Donstuprich
New member
nice. it's also motivation for me. Heading to ppm shortly to get water. will be looking to get acrylic today as well.
Donstuprich
New member
Depends, if it is one of those compact fluros than you should be fine. It will also do better closer to the light. do you have fish in your 5?
