VintageReefer
2500 Club Member
Common situation For many I’m sure - I have a coral on a standard plug that I wanted to grow out. Currently it’s on a standard magnetic shelf for holding frag plugs. I have it about 50% high on the glass, in a area of good flow.
I want to transfer to a grow out tile but then I need to put it on the sand, and the par is reduced, flow is different, and I risk damaging it if I attempt to remove it from the plug, etc
Started looking for magnetic shelves that hold grow out tiles - couldn’t find any anywhere
I designed a system and worked with a 3d printer to bring my idea to life. There are a few parts to this system
1) a magnetic shelf that is designed to hold a standard 2x2 ceramic tile.
2) 3d printed 2x2 tiles with a hole in the middle that can be bought cheap. Surface side is roughed up so coral can encrust and grab on securely
Concept -
you buy a plug that has a sps, zoanthids, whatever. It’s on the stupid frag plug. Hard to get few random zoas off a frag plug, or a sps that’s started to encrust.
You put the plug - stem and all, into the 3d printed tile, which has a hole for the stem to go in. You can glue it in place to keep it secure
You put the tile in the shelf where your coral is already used to growing, or in a spot more ideal than the sand bed. Or if you are already using your own 2x2 tile and need to free up sandbed room or find better conditions, you can use the magnetic shelf for that also
Coral will naturally grow over the stupid plug, and onto the larger grow out tile. SPS will grow out and form a very nice sized base before encrusting upwards. Zoas and acan and other things will have a nice flat surface making it easier and faster for them to grow also
When it’s filled you can move the tile and you’ll have a decent colony instead of a plug and take a replacement tile and do it all over again with the shelf and another coral plug. If you want to frag the tile, it’s plastic and easier and cleaner to cut compared to ceramic tile
Anyone like this idea? This kit will be in production soon, I get mine on Monday. My 3d guy has a store and three 3d printers running round the clock. If you want to get a set I can provide his contact info. He makes other cool reefing gear also. I make no money from this, just wanted to fill a void in the hobby.
Pics show it securely holding the weight of a ceramic tile, and showing a 3d printed tile with a standard frag plug in the hole
Let me know what you think!
I want to transfer to a grow out tile but then I need to put it on the sand, and the par is reduced, flow is different, and I risk damaging it if I attempt to remove it from the plug, etc
Started looking for magnetic shelves that hold grow out tiles - couldn’t find any anywhere
I designed a system and worked with a 3d printer to bring my idea to life. There are a few parts to this system
1) a magnetic shelf that is designed to hold a standard 2x2 ceramic tile.
2) 3d printed 2x2 tiles with a hole in the middle that can be bought cheap. Surface side is roughed up so coral can encrust and grab on securely
Concept -
you buy a plug that has a sps, zoanthids, whatever. It’s on the stupid frag plug. Hard to get few random zoas off a frag plug, or a sps that’s started to encrust.
You put the plug - stem and all, into the 3d printed tile, which has a hole for the stem to go in. You can glue it in place to keep it secure
You put the tile in the shelf where your coral is already used to growing, or in a spot more ideal than the sand bed. Or if you are already using your own 2x2 tile and need to free up sandbed room or find better conditions, you can use the magnetic shelf for that also
Coral will naturally grow over the stupid plug, and onto the larger grow out tile. SPS will grow out and form a very nice sized base before encrusting upwards. Zoas and acan and other things will have a nice flat surface making it easier and faster for them to grow also
When it’s filled you can move the tile and you’ll have a decent colony instead of a plug and take a replacement tile and do it all over again with the shelf and another coral plug. If you want to frag the tile, it’s plastic and easier and cleaner to cut compared to ceramic tile
Anyone like this idea? This kit will be in production soon, I get mine on Monday. My 3d guy has a store and three 3d printers running round the clock. If you want to get a set I can provide his contact info. He makes other cool reefing gear also. I make no money from this, just wanted to fill a void in the hobby.
Pics show it securely holding the weight of a ceramic tile, and showing a 3d printed tile with a standard frag plug in the hole
Let me know what you think!
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