40 gallon Badger's Reef (Innovative Marine)

awcasper · Oct 10, 2015

Hi Guys,

I'm Bryan, (AKA Awcasper, Aquameo, B. Do) from east San Jose, California.

I started reefing in 2006, had multiple tanks, sold everything to move to Vietnam in 2012. Now I'm back in The States. I gave up my career as a teacher to do reefing and ceramics full time. My company's name is Honey Badger Ecosystems.

This tank was the grand prize in the raffle at the Neptune Aquatics grand opening (new location). I didn't know that when I hit up the guy on Craigslist. To me, it's a sign that I'm meant to reef, haha.

For me to build ceramic pieces that can hold coral, I need to know what kind of frag plugs people tend to use.

The Badger's Reef

Current FTS:

SIDE:

EQUIPMENT
Tank: 40 Gallon Innovative Marine (all in one), matching stand
Light: Kessil A360WE LED
Flow: Maxspect Gyre
Controller: Apex
Misc: Tunze Osmolator, Magnafuge sump light, GFO reactor, carbon

Rocks: self made ceramics

LIVESTOCK
Favia

jasonandsarah · Oct 12, 2015

If I'm remembering correctly, whenever I make a frag rack I always drill 1/2" holes and I don't think I've ever come across a plug that didn't fit.

awcasper · Oct 12, 2015

jasonandsarah said:
If I'm remembering correctly, whenever I make a frag rack I always drill 1/2" holes and I don't think I've ever come across a plug that didn't fit.

I've been making the holes while the clay is wet, so there is about 10-15% shrinkage from drying and cooking. Frag plugs from The Alternative Reef fit, but some corals I ordered came in plugs with larger stems.

jasonandsarah · Oct 12, 2015

So 5/8th should be perfect right? If your doing them by hand maybe even a smidgen bigger.
What are you using to make the holes? Wooden dowel was the first thing that popped into my head?

awcasper · Oct 13, 2015

I use a copper pipe.^^ I'll try a bigger size.

Today, I organized the frags a bit.

joshkirkland83 · Oct 13, 2015

Thats pretty cool. GL

awcasper · Oct 13, 2015

New favia came in.

Top down

kacrocorals581 · Oct 13, 2015

that favia and frag rack is cool

awcasper · Oct 15, 2015

cameronh · Oct 19, 2015

That is very interesting. Looks like some legend of zelda theme haha. I like it

awcasper · Oct 27, 2015

awcasper · Oct 29, 2015

Still organizing the 40.

Went to visit my brother's tattoo shop where i designed the tank. It's a 75 with a 40 breeder sump.

Got some fresh ink. 3-4 hours. By the hommie, Peter Tran at Salvation.

awcasper · Nov 5, 2015

Slowly getting there. I got some eye candy for y'all.

borgie · Nov 21, 2015

What did you use to make that super awesome frag rack tower and the jack on the back wall, don't know much about ceramic or what to buy and if I can even do it without an oven to bake it?

awcasper · Nov 21, 2015

borgie said:
What did you use to make that super awesome frag rack tower and the jack on the back wall, don't know much about ceramic or what to buy and if I can even do it without an oven to bake it?

Thanks!

The clay is medium fire clay body that you can buy at any ceramics hobby shop. Ceramic clay needs to be cooked to at least 800 *C, which is the temperature of a bonfire. I had the pieces cooked to 2,185 *F in a ceramic kiln/ oven, so they are rock hard. The hotter is the temperature, the more dense the piece.