New frag disc idea and execution......

[NanoNathan]

Ditto Nathan. But the discs always seem to be more expensive!

All the same price I think 2 or 3 bucks for 25

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[amppdx]

Some of my branch is really pourous and I just cut through it with a mini-hack saw. It goes pretty quick, but the blade will wander a bit and you dont get really even thickness.

 

[Pappy]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T cut tonga like that!!!!!! It is becoming almost impossible to get and in near future we won't be able to get at all.

 

[Dsdaley77]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T cut tonga like that!!!!!! It is becoming almost impossible to get and in near future we won't be able to get at all.

Maybe where your at, my LFS has it on a constant basis it seems. Isn't tonga just dead branching Acro?

 

[Dsdaley77]

Tile saw just got here and I'm filling the resevior with water, wish me luck

 

[Dsdaley77]

Ok........ Fun time I just had. Such satisfaction to execute an idea and like the results. So I took approx. 8 1/2in of branch tonga and began slicing. Started at 1/8in and quickly realized that to much smaller and it could crack. Over all I found it easy to slice up the branch til I got to about an inch left (didn't wanna lose any fingertips ). When I did get down to the end I turned the pieces sideways and held it with needle nose pliers to cut the remaining inch long cylinder into rectangle shaped pieces.

Couple pointers to anyone that's gonna do this also.....

If you use a tile saw, watch your water reservoir
Try your best to pick solid pieces, one of mine had a big cave in it so lost about a 1/4 inch additional to the rectangle cut.

 

[jgraz]

Looks like you did a good job. How is the weight of the disk compared to one that you would buy?

 

[Dsdaley77]

They actually feel pretty good, I have a scale so I'll weigh one of each and let ya know

 

[lawnman]

Harbor Freight sells cheap tile saws

if they even have that store in your area

I agree. You can get a tile saw at Menards for 20 dollars

 

[amppdx]

Any chance you can do a side by side comparison versus a manufactured disc? I would love to see discs side by side to see how they color up (coralline growth) and grow out some zoa or encrust a montipora.

 

[Pkunk35]

nice, i like them. very easy to mount and no plug to cut off

 

[Dsdaley77]

Alright, so here's the numbers.....
Approx. 8 1/2in yielded 55 total fragments
232.6 grams total uncut rock weight (Dry) @$4.49/lb = $2.30 total cost
183.9 grams total fragment weight (Dry)
48.7 grams of loss
2.3 cents per useable frag disk/rectangle

 

[Dsdaley77]

Thanks to all who took the time to check this out, it was kinda fun. I really tried to minimize loss as to not create some type of resource loss war and think I did pretty good. I am gonna look for some nice specimens to try out on my new frag media and will update as I go. So we don't have to wait forever, what's the fastest grower? Gimme a suggestion for some Zoas, encruster's lol, or any thing else you might like me to try, if I can fit it in my budget and find it I'll do it

 

[MattL22]

Great idea!!!! Might try myself down the road

 

[NanoNathan]

Pink and gold zoas grow like crazy, also my sunset.monti is a decent grower, couple ideas both pretty cheap Also

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[Dsdaley77]

Pink and gold zoas grow like crazy, also my sunset.monti is a decent grower, couple ideas both pretty cheap Also

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The hunt is on then

On a side note, went to local fish store just now to get some Catalina and found another great rock to slice up and it was .8lbs and only cost me $2.90ish. Update and more pics tomorrow

 

[Dsdaley77]

So here's a pic of the new rock. I really like the oval shape although it makes the rock look a liitle gross More pics/updates to come

 

[Steviereefs]

LOL that does look a little fimiliar.:tongue:

 

[Steviereefs]

Awesome thread BTW im going to try this!!!

 

[DerekFF]

Isn't tonga no longer being collected? You're cutting up a soon to be rarity


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