Reef plugs

[bawater]

I am out of space on the LR,

i have resorted to mounting them on egg crates and hanging them- but i only have space for abt 5 more of these eggcrate hangers.

so looking into some plugs...only problem is the material used for them? not only to mount sps, but also sea whips and alveopora.

Considering Plaster of Paris as the medium (since it is food safe and used in soyabean curd and other soya products).Its also common and easy to get.

i found the composition of it- 1st question: is calcium sulfate/calcium sulfate dihydrate reef safe?

Normal cement has too much heavy metals and other stuff in it for me to consider for long term usage.

>I learned that Plaster of Paris is partially hydrated calcium sulfate,

I found a link where an online enclyclopedia refers to Plaster of Paris as gypsum. Gypsum is the fully hydrated form of calcium sulfate, which has a chemical formula of Ca2SO4*2H2O. Plaster of Paris is partially hydrated calcium sulfate, with a chemical formula of Ca2SO4*1/2H2O.

When water is added to calcium sulfate, the calcium sulfate reacts with it to form calcium sulfate dihydrate. The dihydrate molecule is larger and chemically more stable than the calcium hydrate without the water of hydration (*nH2o). Because it is more stable, it gives off heat (the reaction is exothermic). Larger crystals form which grow into each other. It is the interlocking of these crystals together which causes the slurry to harden into solid plaster. Manufacturers of Plaster of Paris use gypsum mined from the ground as a starting material, then heat it to drive off some of the hydrated water. The chemistry of gypsum is not that much different from the chemistry of cement.

Gypsum is a sedimentary rock, which settled through the evaporation of sea water trapped in lagoons. According to the nature of its impurities, gypsum can show various colors, ranging from white to brown, yellow, gray and pink.

assuming that it is safe (since its good enough for me to eat....should be safe enough for my tank)

2nd question:

i think those FW weekend food blocks are made from plaster but they disintegrate ...so will my plugs degrade into powder within weeks?

[Achilles Tang]

Why don't you get some cheap epoxy and fashion them into plugs? You can shape it to the hole while still hardening.

[bawater]

i already use the wessbond at $3.80 per roll.

pretty ex$ to make plugs out of it (i can get 1 big plug or abt 3 small plugs out of it)to make Plugs abt the size of small coffee cup base.

using it to stick frags already uses up a lot.

my main concern is that if they degrade or crumble then plaster is of no use to mount anything. and on to the next alternative.

i also used up all my available small pieces of dead rock and any coral skeletons(branching type) i could scrounge.

[Tanzy]

Calcium sulphate can't be used without a binder as it will imbibe water into it's matrix and fall apart. Just like calcium carbonate, it is insoluble but the crystals formed are not large enough.

[Cookiemunster]

BRo I dun understand. I think using small rocks with putty is the cheapest solution (safest too).

Just look for rocks and break them up to the right sizes you need.

The plaster of paris looks risky. As I think its biodegradable.

[bawater]

Calcium sulphate can't be used without a binder as it will imbibe water into it's matrix and fall apart. Just like calcium carbonate, it is insoluble but the crystals formed are not large enough.

thanks ,that's what i needed. had a feeling it would crumble.

[bawater]

BRo I dun understand. I think using small rocks with putty is the cheapest solution (safest too).

Just look for rocks and break them up to the right sizes you need.

The plaster of paris looks risky. As I think its biodegradable.

don't really like the rocks,hard to shape. most probably have to carry on using them.

cheers

[Cookiemunster]

Wah biangz, you want to mold the statue of Michaelangelo or the statue of liberty?

[Tanzy]

Maybe you can try pure calcium oxide and #3 sand with water and air, a la cement style. Add salt and pepper to taste.

[lyz77]

Plaster of Paris is not that strong in terms of bonding as compared to expoxy! My company use the plaster of paris to secure our monitoring equipment on floor or asphalt but it will come off easily.

Btw where you bought the epoxy which is marine safe? I saw the epoxy at aquarama 2003 selling at over $20!

[bawater]

Wah biangz, you want to mold the statue of Michaelangelo or the statue of liberty?

nope,bro i want to mould a dildo shape and stick an encrusting frag on it would be interesting.

seriously, i'm just looking for a mounting alternative to agrocrete.

Tanzy ,calcium oxide aka quicklime?

hmmm...mixing your recipe gives me motar but it may still erode being submerged long term. i'll see if i can get hold of a small amount to try. cheers

Lyz, i never mention bonding using plaster - more for making molds.

AT did a review on wessbond ages ago and the most expensive i've seen it sold is $5.

Aquapatch

or u can use superglue for small cuttings which is only $2 ...but i always end up sticking my fingers together.

[BarraCudaTM]

you can use white cement mixed with coralsand .. small amount of cement wont do any harm.

[Achilles Tang]

hmmm.... would plastic plugs do? Like those golf ball plugs? Or gardening ones for small plants?

[bawater]

yep, for sticking frags between rocks & still be able to move them later.

plastic wall plugs,golf tees,rose holders like this:

plastic reef plugs

this is what it looks like with frags:

frags on egg crate

which is ok on little acros but for anything 1 inch thick- its a problem in balancing. e.g top heavy... for bigger maybe a small 13mm pvc pipe section would be better but uglier.

[Joe_P]

which is ok on little acros but for anything 1 inch thick- its a problem in balancing. e.g top heavy... for bigger maybe a small 13mm pvc pipe section would be better but uglier.

Thought of using those 13 mm PVCs but how you gonna balance them??? unless you are referring to endcaps....??

Have you consider those small ceramic tiles..... think they come in 1 square inch sizings... and should have substantial weight to hold the frags down....

another alternative would be nylon/pvc screws .....