(updated) Large reef disks. How I make them!

Anyone know where to get them from? Like the 5 or 7" diameter ones.

Mixes are located in post 9.

 

i had a friend that always made his own, just with some reef friendly cement type sealant stuff. dont know all the details.

 

+1 I haven't seen them often. Usually easiest to just make them at that point.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/frags/what-type-cement-diy-frag-plugs-124219.html

 

My family owns a concrete company. If we can't find them anywhere I can make them for us for cheap.
Let me experiment with mix design first. Would you guys prefer solid and hard to break or real porous and easier to break?

 

porous would displace less water and i believe would be a little easier to work with.

 

For many corals, I'd probably prefer easy to break. They I can grow out zoantids or something and frag them by breaking the disk and gluing it to something else. Of course, if your getting into the business, how about options?

 

Yeah Dingo, give us OPTIONS! Gosh. In seriousness porous is mo' better.

 

The porous mix I would use would be something like pervious concrete except with smaller aggregates so that the holes aren't too large.
If you google pervious concrete does that look okay to you guys? Or too many holes?

 

Three batches in and I have a pretty decent mix now.
Things to note:
-I am pouring them at 1/2" thick, I really cant go thinner as it is because they are already weaker than I would like.
-In batches 2 and 3 I added crushed oyster shells. They give a real nice size and consistency.
-When mixing, wetness is our enemy! Keep very dry or you will loose porosity.
-now pics:
Mix one (way to wet, no oyster shells in this one. But very very hard)


Mix two (very porous, water literally flows through it. A bit to weak so I increased cement for next batch)



Mix three (added more cement. still curing but seems to be a winner so far!)

 

Reserved for final mix proportions.