EZ-SNAP frag plugs

DeanB.reef

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Hello!

After I started ordering coral for my own tank, the biggest hassle and eyesore is always the frag plug. As a newbie, I don't have access to saws to safely cut coral from the plug without risking shattering the skeleton or harming the coral. After cutting the stem off the plug (and part of my hand:rolleyes:) with some snips, I figured there had to be a better method. Coral plugs don't really change that much from manufacturer to manufacturer with the exception of some which look more like rockwork - problem 1 ticked off the list!

Goals
  • Retain the farming/propagation utility
  • Make the stem snap off, no tools required
  • Blend into the rockwork
  • Be as environmentally friendly as possible

Initial Design
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Things Learned


I don't own a 3D printer just yet so I had to get a company to print out a couple test pieces but I learned a lot from the ones I got. The concept works well - I tried a couple different thicknesses of snapping point and found one I like which manages to not be too fragile but easy enough to snap with your fingers. I added a tapper to the bottom of the disc which helps it seat better into the rock.

Now onto the things that need improving;

  • I'll need to use 100% fill next time because the plugs float
  • The 3D printed mimic rocks are too high and look a bit out of place on the rock. They were only a place holder and proof of concept so they'll need to be re-designed.
  • The glue point on the plug could be larger to accept bigger frags

What's the Point?

The plug works exactly like a traditional plug would so there would be no change to the way it's held in a frag rack on the end of a hobbyist or farm. It would be ideal for newcomers like myself to pick up coral frags on plugs like this to snap off the stem without tools and glue into my tank for it to look more natural. I made the stem hollow so that it could be used as extra bio-media. There is a couple eco-friendly filaments out there which is safe for food contact and ideal for our aquariums.

All in all, it was a fun first Fusion360 project and I'd like to hear any feedback on if this is even something that's needed or if I'm trying to reinvent the wheel of no reason!
 

Evo R

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Great idea. Just out of curiosity, will the normal / standard glue used to mount frags on to conventional frag plugs work? Or will you need " plastic " specific glue that would adhere to the printed plugs? Because in my mind the printed plug is smooth and the normally used plugs are all porous to some extent.
 

elysics

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Great idea. Just out of curiosity, will the normal / standard glue used to mount frags on to conventional frag plugs work? Or will you need " plastic " specific glue that would adhere to the printed plugs? Because in my mind the printed plug is smooth and the normally used plugs are all porous to some extent.
3d printed stuff like that isn't smooth unless specially processed after the printing and cyanoacrylate (superglue) will work fine.

In general, if you ever come to a point where you are thinking about using another glue because cyanoacrylate or silicone or one of the reefsafe cements doesn't work, you are better off dropping your plans and figuring out something else. Not worth risking your tank to test specialist glues for their toxicity towards corals.
 

Evo R

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3d printed stuff like that isn't smooth unless specially processed after the printing and cyanoacrylate (superglue) will work fine.

In general, if you ever come to a point where you are thinking about using another glue because cyanoacrylate or silicone or one of the reefsafe cements doesn't work, you are better off dropping your plans and figuring out something else. Not worth risking your tank to test specialist glues for their toxicity towards corals.
I agree completely!! That's the main reason for my question, as I would be hesitant to experiment with glues that have not been tried and tested to be reef safe. Glad to know that the old trusty Superglue will still work.
 
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DeanB.reef

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Great idea. Just out of curiosity, will the normal / standard glue used to mount frags on to conventional frag plugs work? Or will you need " plastic " specific glue that would adhere to the printed plugs? Because in my mind the printed plug is smooth and the normally used plugs are all porous to some extent.

I’ll need to retake pictures of the plug because they’re currently a bit dark on the main thread.

The bottom of the plug is flat but far from smooth, it still has filament lines left in it and where the support structure was.

I’d see no reason why glue wouldn’t stick to it but I’ll give it a shot and see how I get on!
 

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