Using Mosaic Tile as "frag Plugs"?

[billdogg]

As the title asks - I have several encrusting corals that I would like to frag in as gentle a manner as possible. I was going to place them on top of ceramic tile, allow them to encrust out, then cut/break them into smaller pieces, and then I saw 12x12 mosaic tile - otherwise untreated limestone based pieces attached together with nylon mesh and glue. Surely I'm not the first to think of this? What are the chances the glue will leech something bad into the tank, and how would I test for it if it did?

Any and all help is much appreciated!!!

I've also posted this in the Reef Chemistry forum

 

[JVJordan]

I use them. I soak them in fresh water for a few days to soften the glue then go to town with an old chisel and scrub brush to clean the glue off. They work fine and cost about $10 for 144 tiles.

 

[SPS911]

I use the same. The white marble ones look great and like JVJordan said, they are cheap

 

[miatawnt2b]

I tried this a few months back and had a really hard time getting the frag to stay on the tile until it encrusted. The glaze on the white mosaic tiles was to smooth to hold epoxy putty or superglue. How are you guys attaching your frags to the tiles?

-J

 

[Mark9]

This is a great idea, may have to try it.
Maybe scuffing the tile will help the glue adhere?

 

[bfree59]

What about gluing to the back side of the tile (more porous)

 

[billdogg]

The one I got is unglazed and appears to be porous, and made of 3/4" squares. I cut it in to 6x6 piece sections and glued encrusting frags to the center piece to get them to spread out. We'll see how it goes!

A drop of SG was all it took.

 

[JVJordan]

The mosaic material I used was travertine, not ceramic, so I had no problems with adhesion.

 

[reefwars]

You'd want to be using travertine and the glue will actually just come right off if you soak it in a bucket of saltwater for a few days instead of fresh

 

[jh2pizza]

I use 1" x 1" glass tile that come in a 12"x 12" sheet for awhile. The only thing I found was the need to run a sander across it to roughen it up a little. The coral fifnt like to grow over the smooth glass as well.

Very Cheap. 144 tile under $8