DIY Frag Plugs v1.0

[MikeB]

Alright the wife and I wanted to try and make our own frag plugs so that we did tonight.

Tools and equipment
- Play Sand
- Concrete
- Hole maker
- Disk Maker
- RODI Water (I used RODI because by RODI storage tank was next to me)
- Baking Pan

Ratio of sand to concrete: 4:1

You want it to be not to runny and not to thick. The mixture needs to be able to fill the stem of each plug. We made it to thick the last time we tried this and all our plugs stems were deformed. Seriously.

Play sand we got from Lowes

Type I Concrete

Sand mixed with some RODI water. You want the sand to be moist. You should be able to ball it in to a ball and it stay together. This will be put in to the baking pan, leveled out, and is what we are going to use to make the mold

We used an API test tube from test kits to make the stems. You can see how deep we went.

The baking pan we used

Pouring the sand in to the baking pan.

All the sand in and before the wife leveled it out.

The wife making the molds

Need I say more?

All the mold holes done, Thanks JennB

After a few plugs are poured

All the holes (almost) poured

Since I put the wife's picture up and had a good laugh, she is making me put this silly picture up. This is what I was originally going to use to mix the Sand and Concrete but it did not work out to good. Anyways enjoy.

20 minutes later, plugs are drying. I will give an update on how these turn out tomorrow

 

[Reef Pets]

The last photo is the best.... Looks like a fun project.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Somebody needs a shave...........:confident:

HAHA! Nice pictorial bro!

 

[george_n_jo]

Mike,

I can't believe you made Jen sit on that cold hard @#% garage floor and form out your frag plugs at like 9 months pregers. Not cool. BTW Nice shirt.

P.S. No shaving while on vacation!

 

[MikeB]

Mike,

I can't believe you made Jen sit on that cold hard @#% garage floor and form out your frag plugs at like 9 months pregers. Not cool. BTW Nice shirt.

P.S. No shaving while on vacation!

George. What's up buddy. She volunteered to help. She used a skateboard to sit on thus no cold hard @#% garage floor. ;)

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Funny this is the picture that I originally found you had in your PB account.

 

[650-IS350]

LOL Mike.

 

[Dylan]

This is great! Is it much cheaper than buying your own?

 

[Cuda]

Great idea thanks for sharing.

 

[MikeB]

This is great! Is it much cheaper than buying your own?

Yes much cheaper. About 2 cents a plug.... ;)

We did all of those using a 1/4 cup of cement and a cup of sand. So one bag of sand and cement will last a LONG time

 

[Dylan]

That's awesome! Can you reuse the mold?

 

[MikeB]

That's awesome! Can you reuse the mold?

Yes, you just have to moisten the sand again like I did in the 5 gallon bucket. Then remake the mold holes. Takes about 15 minutes

 

[Elan]

so the concrete doesnt leach anything into the tank? Also im confused, the 4:1 mixture is for the conrete filling or sand/ro?

 

[MikeB]

4 sand : 1 Concrete.

Type I cement is reef safe. All you want to do is after they are dried, put them in White vinegar for 24 hours in a sealed container, then put them in fresh water for 1 week. You will need to change the water daily. Then the plugs will be cured.

 

[Harry_Y]

What did you use to make the larger part of the plug (the top)?

 

[MikeB]

We used another plug we had, you can also use a 2 liter cap

 

[Harry_Y]

We used another plug we had, you can also use a 2 liter cap

Thank you


Now I just need to sucker I mean ask my wife to help me

 

[BigRed]

As for curing, my LFS has told me about placing them in a container and putting it in the toilet tank... everytime it is flushed its a new change of water... works well and you will never forget to change the water ;)

 

[george_n_jo]

Type 1, does not really require too much curing. It does not hurt but is very safe for the tank as is in small quantities. However if you were going to make your own live rock from it I would cure it in a repetitive wash to precipitate out the Silicon oxide and Aluminum oxide. Neither will hurt the reef but in large quantities can be an eyesore.
Type 1:
55% (C3S), 19% (C2S), 10% (C3A), 7% (C4AF),
2.8% (MgO), 2.9% (SO3), and 1.0% free CaO

While Mike decided on 4:1 (Sand:Cement), I have gone 14:1 (Sand:Cement) and had excellent results. But bear in mind as the ratio shifts to more and more sand the mixture’s flow is dramatically decreased and can make pouring into small forms with sprus difficult if not impossible. But the 14:1 works very well for free standing mounts which do not incorporate a spru.

 

[Harry_Y]

As for curing, my LFS has told me about placing them in a container and putting it in the toilet tank... everytime it is flushed its a new change of water... works well and you will never forget to change the water ;)

I would be concerned about the junk in the fresh water