glueing shell grit together

[[email protected]]

i am trying to propagate coral and i want to make some shell grit plugs

to glue the coral on to. i know of a shop on the Gold Coast, AUS that
makes them,
but i need to know what type of glue i can use to glue the shell grit
together. it looks like a plaster of paris but that would just break
apart under water wouldn't it? any help would be appreciated.

[Wayne Sallee]

Yes it would.

You need portland cement. Make it somewhat wet, and mix in
just enough into the shell to lightly coat it.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 3/30/2006 5:47 PM:
> i am trying to propagate coral and i want to make some shell grit plugs
>
> to glue the coral on to. i know of a shop on the Gold Coast, AUS that
> makes them,
> but i need to know what type of glue i can use to glue the shell grit
> together. it looks like a plaster of paris but that would just break
> apart under water wouldn't it? any help would be appreciated.
>

[Alan Gabriel]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
>i am trying to propagate coral and i want to make some shell grit plugs
>
> to glue the coral on to. i know of a shop on the Gold Coast, AUS that
> makes them,
> but i need to know what type of glue i can use to glue the shell grit
> together. it looks like a plaster of paris but that would just break
> apart under water wouldn't it? any help would be appreciated.
>

From the GARF website;

PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Building a reef plug mold for making aragacrete reef plugs.
MATERIALS:
1 piece 2" x 12" lumber 24" long.

TOOLS:

Drill press or hand drill
1/2" wood bit
1 1/4" step bit - this bit is shaped like a sander cone with 1/8" steps.


INSTRUCTIONS:

Lay out the 2" x 12" board with holes 1" apart.
Drill pilot holes on each center mark.
Finish the holes with step bit.
Be certain the holes go all the way thru the mold.
Sand the mold smooth with 220 grit sand paper.




These molds can be made any size that easy to work with. Use wood that can
be soaked such as fir or clear pine. A drill press is the best tool for the
job. A hand drill can be used, but a simple drill guide will help you make
the holes square with the mold.




MAKING REEF PLUGS:

MATERIALS:

Carib SeaTM aragonite sand.
#3 portland cement

INSTRUCTIONS:

Presoak the mold in water for 1 hour.
Mix 5 parts Carib SeaTM aragonite sand with 1 part portland cement.
Set the mold on a smooth surface and pour in 1/2 tablespoon dry aragonite
into each hole.
Pour the aragacrete into each hole in the mold.
Let the aragacrete set for 24 hours before you push the reef plugs out.
Soak the reef plugs in white vinagar for 12 hours and rinse them in fresh
water before you use them.


--
Regards,
Alan

Preserve wildlife - pickle a SQUIRREL to reply.

[[email protected]]

thanks guys, your help is appreciated. now i've got to find some
portland cement, hopefully it is available in Oz.
dj

[Wayne Sallee]

Unless you live in a place where there is no concrete
buildings, or concrete sidewalks, then you should have no
problems finding portland cement :-)

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



wrote on 3/31/2006 5:55 AM:
> thanks guys, your help is appreciated. now i've got to find some
> portland cement, hopefully it is available in Oz.
> dj
>

[George Patterson]

wrote:
> thanks guys, your help is appreciated. now i've got to find some
> portland cement, hopefully it is available in Oz.

It is a key component of concrete. Try a building supply store.

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.

[miskairal]

That may be so but what name might it go under here?



Wayne Sallee wrote:
> Unless you live in a place where there is no concrete buildings, or
> concrete sidewalks, then you should have no problems finding portland
> cement :-)
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
>
> wrote on 3/31/2006 5:55 AM:
>
>> thanks guys, your help is appreciated. now i've got to find some
>> portland cement, hopefully it is available in Oz. dj
>>

[miskairal]

Hi fellow Aussie,
There is a great Australian forum
http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB2/index.php?sid=ce560914721b51eacb7c7a4f5707aaf5
which makes research a whole lot easier. masa is the marine aquarium
society of australia and the forum is called rtaw, reefing the
australian way.

I spent months researching, before finding the Aussie forum, only to
find out that many things are different here to what the Amercians and
Europeans have access to. If you are in Qld you can join the MASQ
(marine aquarium society of queensland) for just $10 which will give you
5 and 10% discounts at many online and realworld stores. They also have
meetings but mostly in Brisbane and too far away for me. From what I can
gather the meetings involve frag swaps too.

Cheerio
miskairal


wrote:
> thanks guys, your help is appreciated. now i've got to find some
> portland cement, hopefully it is available in Oz.
> dj
>

[Wayne Sallee]

Portland Cement.

It will be on the same row as the mortar, and quickcrete.


Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



miskairal wrote on 3/31/2006 6:30 PM:
> That may be so but what name might it go under here?
>
>
>
> Wayne Sallee wrote:
>> Unless you live in a place where there is no concrete buildings, or
>> concrete sidewalks, then you should have no problems finding portland
>> cement :-)
>>
>> Wayne Sallee
>> Wayne's Pets
>>
>>
>>
>> wrote on 3/31/2006 5:55 AM:
>>
>>> thanks guys, your help is appreciated. now i've got to find some
>>> portland cement, hopefully it is available in Oz. dj
>>>

[[email protected]]

thanks again guys! i will definately check out the aussie forums.