DIY frag disc, reusing old sand.

[Mark2480]

Not to long ago I broke down my bio cube and figured well why throw away the sand. So I cleaned the sand up and decided to make some frag discs. I wanted a clean look to them so i went with just 2 parts fine sand and 1 part white portland cement. I found some silicone ice cube trays for $5 a pair and used different size Dixi cups as molds. After pouring in the mixture I added sand on top of the disc and let them set. Since I didn't need them I let them dry out and cured them for about three to 4 weeks. The ph was about 8 after 2 weeks but I was not in a rush so I let them sit. Anyway just wanted to share how they came out. Not bad for reusing something I was going to throw out and I guess I will not have to buy any for a long while.

 

[Dragonreef202]

Very nice What's the first coral are you going to break in your new product with?

 

[Mark2480]

Thanks. I just did this for fun really, but I have some encrusting corals that I like to put on the round disc. I will most likely give some away to the fellow reefers in my area.

 

[Maddlesrain]

Super cool!! I'm going to have about 100 lbs of old sand here soon, so maybe I'll give this a go. I like the idea of reusing, and these look great!

 

[Pola0502ds]

Can you share exactly what the curing process is? And do you literally just get portland cement and do a 1 part cement to 2 part sand mixture? I am going to have a ton of sand available soon and would like to do this.

 

[Mark2480]

Can you share exactly what the curing process is? And do you literally just get portland cement and do a 1 part cement to 2 part sand mixture? I am going to have a ton of sand available soon and would like to do this.

Yes I just used 1 part white portland cement and 2 parts sand. The sand I had was fine grain but I have done this before with larger grain sand. With the larger grain sand the plugs will look a bit more textured. As for the curing I put them in a bucket with water and just change the water when I remembered to. Its better to do it once a day but I really didn't need them so i just did it whenever I was by the bucket. Depending on the ph of the cement and how many you do at one time it usually takes about a month for the disc to be cured. After the first 24 hours the ph in the bucket was 14, once they sit for a day and the ph does not go over 8 then to me there done. There are other ways to cure them but that's how I do it.

 

[klesel]

Very cool

 

[Mark2480]

Very cool

Thank you.

 

[domination2580]

What about phosphate?

 

[Mark2480]

What about phosphate?

Being that the plugs are not that big I would think any phosphate in the cement would leach out during the curing process. I have never tested them for phosphate at the start of the cure but I did test the end product once and the water read 0.01 on the hanna checker after letting them sit in rodi for two days.

 

[domination2580]

Being that the plugs are not that big I would think any phosphate in the cement would leach out during the curing process. I have never tested them for phosphate at the start of the cure but I did test the end product once and the water read 0.01 on the hanna checker after letting them sit in rodi for two days.

Interesting

 

[domination2580]

Yes I just used 1 part white portland cement and 2 parts sand. The sand I had was fine grain but I have done this before with larger grain sand. With the larger grain sand the plugs will look a bit more textured. As for the curing I put them in a bucket with water and just change the water when I remembered to. Its better to do it once a day but I really didn't need them so i just did it whenever I was by the bucket. Depending on the ph of the cement and how many you do at one time it usually takes about a month for the disc to be cured. After the first 24 hours the ph in the bucket was 14, once they sit for a day and the ph does not go over 8 then to me there done. There are other ways to cure them but that's how I do it.

Now when you cured was it rodi or salt...

 

[domination2580]

How would you do black sand? I have quite a bit

 

[Mark2480]

Now when you cured was it rodi or salt...

I used Ro to cure.

 

[stevo01]

Really nice!

 

[Mark2480]

How would you do black sand? I have quite a bit

Never did black sand but if i can get some from a friend of mine i will test it out.

 

[Mark2480]

Really nice!

Thanks

 

[stevo01]

I love the way they came out! Im going to have to try this

The fine sand you mixed wasnt your left over sand right?

 

[Mark2480]

I love the way they came out! Im going to have to try this

The fine sand you mixed wasnt your left over sand right?

Yes it was sand it had in my bio cube, I rinsed it good a few times to clean it out then let it dry out completely.

 

[stevo01]

Awesome bud thanks for sharing!