Tile Plugs

[redfishbluefish]

My son stopped in over the Christmas break and decided to take a bunch of frags back to Rhode Island. Since we could not find my frag plugs, I told him I had two cases of ceramic tile left over from a job. He simply took a hammer and tile and, with the swing of the hammer, made scraggly pieces of tile to mount the frags. Being the anal-retentive OCD kind of person, I thought of other ways to make pretty plugs. Using one of the glass-holes bits I have, and setting the tile in one of my wife’s casserole dishes filled with water (If only she knew), and backed with a small piece of plywood, I made round plugs.

Using the 1 5/8 bit, I was able to get nine plugs from one 6 x 6 tile. If you do try this, seconds into making the first hole the water goes red and you are then drilling blind. The remaining holes are made by lifting the tile to position the bit and then carefully returning the tile into the red water to drill the hole. The other thing is that this tile is thick….actual dimension is 7/16 inches…..so my destructive Mexican Turbo snails will have a tougher time flipping these.

Now I’m struggling with what side to mount the frags; the finished white ceramic side or the unglazed clay side. My son went “white” while I went “clay” for the few frags I’ve already mounted. I should also mention that the only reason I fragged is that he snapped off the top of an almost-new tube of glue. Didn’t want it going to waste.

 

[Nickjr000]

Never seen tile plugs before. Good idea. But i have seen a tank on rc where the guy put i think travertine or limestone tile all over the inside of his tank. It looked different but nice. I think id go clay side up just for a natural look and maybe for better glue adhesion

 

[DeathMagnetic]

They have small 1inch square tile at home depot

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[Hawkeye]

hmmmmmmmmm casserole.

 

[shipwrecked]

Thats a great idea Paul,and I knew in the past that Greg usued the lil "chicklet" tiles(maybe he got them off his bathroom floor..lol jk Greg) Keep us posted how the frags/plugs do

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

I think id go clay side up just for a natural look and maybe for better glue adhesion

+1

I did read somewhere about using the 1" tile squares. There is nothing wrong with it...pretty cool that you made round ones

 

[TanksNStuff]

Well, if you have 2 cases of those tiles left over, I say you get to work and make a bunch of plugs. I'd buy some from ya Paul. I think they look great!

And +1 to clay side up. The ceramic side might be too slick for glue to stick too and even more importantly, harder for frags to encrust onto.

 

[howze01]

I bought some frags on tile and they were terrible. The person had mounted them to the clay side so that when I glued it down the glazed side wouldn't stay glued. It was also impossible to cut the plug. I tried the bone cutters and the dremel and neither one could get through them.They may even be worse then Feng's horrible plastic plugs.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I bought some frags on tile and they were terrible. The person had mounted them to the clay side so that when I glued it down the glazed side wouldn't stay glued. It was also impossible to cut the plug. I tried the bone cutters and the dremel and neither one could get through them.They may even be worse then Feng's horrible plastic plugs.

 

[fatoldsun]

Use an angle- grinder w/ a tile cutting blade to take the glazing off the finished side before you drill out the plugs. I did this to the entire floor of the room w/ my tank before I poured the SLU. Obviously easier with tiles secured down (DUSTY as all get-up) but nothing a bench vise couldn't handle and less mess than an enclosed 10'x20' room . Then you'd have plenty of raw ceramic on both sides for both glue and coral to adhere.

 

[onefish2fish]

def. go with the clay side.

a purple death frag is missing this morning. it was glued to the white side.