DIY Frag disks

[Daddy-o]

My son and I use a ton of frag disks. I find that I am paying about 40 cents a piece for them. While thats not bad for your average hobbyist, when you use 40-50 a week, it starts to add up. I have been reading that if I use Quickrete Hydraulic cement, I dont need to cure it for 6 weeks?
We did a couple of test batches with cement we had laying around. I mixed 4 parts cement, 1 part ground Oyster shell, and 1 part coral sand. We poured a line of it onto an old black garbage bag and rolled it up like a 3 foot long burrito. After it set, I brought it to the tile saw and got 75 disks from it. I would say the cost is about a penny a piece.
So the regular cement needs to now cure for a long time. But the hydraulic doesnt?
Cheers! Mark
Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[Webslinger]

You can buy plastic ones for pennies. seems like a lot of time/work for frag disks?:oops:

 

[jeffrey750750]

sounds like you have more money for corals now! Good job

 

[Jonify]

That's an awesome idea! Me, I'm lazy. So I look for a pack of 100 plugs on Amazon for 14 bucks (about .14 a piece) and call it good.

 

[fishguy242]

i would run in bucket of saltwater for a few days w phead just in case any leaching of"i don't know" just to be on safe side ;)

 

[Daddy-o]

You can buy plastic ones for pennies. seems like a lot of time/work for frag disks?:oops:

The plastic ones blow around in the frag tank. And there is a pandemic, so I have a lot of time.

 

[Webslinger]

I've never had a coral blow around on a plastic frag....please explain?

 

[Daddy-o]

i would run in bucket of saltwater for a few days w phead just in case any leaching of"i don't know" just to be on safe side ;)

Yeah, I have a 50g barrel in my yard that the RODI pumps reject water into that I use for my garden. I was thinking I would just toss a basket (or 2) of them in there. I empty the barrel almost daily.
Cheers! Mark

 

[Daddy-o]

I've never had a coral blow around on a plastic frag....please explain?

I have a barebottom frag tank so I use disks and not plugs and if I use a light weight disk they tend to move around.

 

[FishDaddy]

Thanks for sharing! Where's all the frags for sale?? Always have room for something new.

 

[Webslinger]

I have a barebottom frag tank so I use disks and not plugs and if I use a light weight disk they tend to move around.

raised egg crate in your fragtank is your friend. better flow all around

 

[Daddy-o]

Thanks for sharing! Where's all the frags for sale?? Always have room for something new.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/assorted-corals-great-prices.742334/I am the farmer and my son has started doing the sales.

 

[Daddy-o]

raised egg crate in your fragtank is your friend. better flow all around

Yea, you are right! Would def make it easier to siphon the crap out.

 

[Daddy-o]

Does anybody know about the Quickrete Hydraulic?

 

[fishguy242]

@sfin52 @Scratch08 ,yep these two for sure,think @Mr_Knightley too :)

 

[neiltus]

I like this idea, I like larger than normal frag disks that don't look circular.

 

[sfin52]

Thanks @fishguy242 I cured my quikrete mortar for two weeks no issues

 

[Daddy-o]

Thanks @fishguy242 I cured my quikrete mortar for two weeks no issues

Mortar or Hydraulic cement?

 

[Scratch08]

Mortar or Hydraulic cement?

I used the hydraulic for my rock scape, granted I was still refinishing my stand when I built my scape, so had extra time (about 2 months) to cure my rock, however, 2 weeks would have been sufficient to cure. I cured mine in saltwater in a brute can with an extra gyre I had. At around 2 weeks it had changed from a dark gray to a light gray, never got any abnormal test readings on water either...was expecting higher po4, but never saw a spike.

 

[Daddy-o]

Ran out and picked up a 10 pound bucket for $8

Mixed up a quick batch with 3 parts cement and 1 part oyster shell/aragonite sand. Plopped it on an old garbage bag and rolled a bit. It is not perfectly round, but I prefer it a little asymmetrical. This will yield approx. 70 - 2 inch disks. Total time 10 minutes and about $1. Once it drys a bit, it will be off to the tile saw to slice it like a baguette.