DIY Frag Rack

Monchompa · 10/12/2014, 08:49 PM

Hi Guys, I am new to RC and this is my first post. Heres a quick and easy way to make a frag rack, i'm sure there are other ways of making one, but this is how I made mine. i had most of the supply lying around, but all of it can be found at your local hardware store. You will need the following items to complete this project..

Power drill w/ 5/8 drill bit
Sheet of 3/8 acrylic
Epoxy
4 strong magnets
propane blow torch

The materials and tools required.

First you will need to heat the acrylic with a blow torch. Apply heat in a straight line all the way across this is where you will make your bend. Do not touch the flame directly to the acrylic just kiss it a lil bit.

While hot use a counter or any hard surface with a 45 degree angle to make your bend. Leave in the same position until the acrylic has cooled, i sat ice on top of mine to cool it (while still resting it on my counter top).

Once it cools you are ready to drill, make sure you tilt the drill bit to make a circle etching before going all the way through, this will prevent the plastic from cracking. Also try not to apply too much pressure.

Glue on the magnets with Epoxy, I recommend gluing the on the side that will not touch your aquarium glass, this will prevent the magnets from scratching the inside glass.

After you let the Epoxy dry you are ready to rock chief! stick it in the tank attach the other 2 magnets on the outside of your tank and add as many frags as you like!

I hope you like my guide, feel free to hit me up with any questions.

alb_56 · 10/12/2014, 09:15 PM

Where did the magnets come from?

Raptor72 · 10/12/2014, 09:56 PM

While hot use a counter or any hard surface with a 45 degree angle

That's a 90 degree, just saying........

Good job

Monchompa · 10/12/2014, 10:08 PM

ichthyogeek, sorry im a newbie so i cant reply to PM's yet, lol

"I'm just wondering what the pros and cons of making the frag rack out of acrylic rather than just using plane egg crate"

Hey bud, I dont think you would have any issue either way but mine is inside of my display tank so i wanted it to look pretty. The egg rates work fine but in my opinion they dont look as good. they are usually white and you can see the algae on them.

I'd say if your frag rack will be on display use acrylic just cause its see through

Monchompa · 10/12/2014, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor72

While hot use a counter or any hard surface with a 45 degree angle

That's a 90 degree, just saying........

Good job

haha whoops **90 degree**

Monchompa · 10/12/2014, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alb_56

Where did the magnets come from?

I just had the magnets lying around the house, but you can get them at any hardware store such as Lowe's or home depot for like $2 they're really cheap. I also plan to put some cloth on the bottom side of the magnet so they don't scratch my glass.

Schplitter · 10/12/2014, 10:26 PM

Did you cover you magnets with the epoxy? If you just put them in without some kind of barrier they will leach metals, rust and cause all kinds of hassle for you in the tank.

xnetgeek · 10/13/2014, 08:28 AM

yes, please tell us you dipped them sealed them or something.

dattack · 10/13/2014, 03:38 PM

I always see these acrylic frag racks. Never used one myself but does the acrylic on glass slip too much although the magnet is strong.

alb_56 · 10/13/2014, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Did you cover you magnets with the epoxy? If you just put them in without some kind of barrier they will leach metals, rust and cause all kinds of hassle for you in the tank.

This is why I was asking where they came from.

mfinn · 10/14/2014, 12:20 PM

If they are ceramic magnets, they are reef safe.

Monchompa · 10/17/2014, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dattack

I always see these acrylic frag racks. Never used one myself but does the acrylic on glass slip too much although the magnet is strong.

They can slip at times, depends on how strong the mags are. As long as you have strong enough magnets they stay in place. the magnets I have have not slipped and they are ceramic, the epoxy used is non-toxic as well. I also keep my mag-float underneath it just for extra support, with the mag-float under it it wont budge even if you accidentally bump it.

Lavoisier · 10/25/2014, 05:07 PM

Nice project, well done. Thank you for sharing.

10/12/2014, 08:49 PM	#1
Monchompa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 100	DIY Frag Rack Hi Guys, I am new to RC and this is my first post. Heres a quick and easy way to make a frag rack, i'm sure there are other ways of making one, but this is how I made mine. i had most of the supply lying around, but all of it can be found at your local hardware store. You will need the following items to complete this project.. Power drill w/ 5/8 drill bit Sheet of 3/8 acrylic Epoxy 4 strong magnets propane blow torch The materials and tools required. First you will need to heat the acrylic with a blow torch. Apply heat in a straight line all the way across this is where you will make your bend. Do not touch the flame directly to the acrylic just kiss it a lil bit. While hot use a counter or any hard surface with a 45 degree angle to make your bend. Leave in the same position until the acrylic has cooled, i sat ice on top of mine to cool it (while still resting it on my counter top). Once it cools you are ready to drill, make sure you tilt the drill bit to make a circle etching before going all the way through, this will prevent the plastic from cracking. Also try not to apply too much pressure. Glue on the magnets with Epoxy, I recommend gluing the on the side that will not touch your aquarium glass, this will prevent the magnets from scratching the inside glass. After you let the Epoxy dry you are ready to rock chief! stick it in the tank attach the other 2 magnets on the outside of your tank and add as many frags as you like! I hope you like my guide, feel free to hit me up with any questions. __________________ 90 Gallon Reef \| LPS & Softies \| Hobby status: In over my head!

10/12/2014, 09:56 PM	#3
Raptor72 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wildomar, CA Posts: 1,112	While hot use a counter or any hard surface with a 45 degree angle That's a 90 degree, just saying........ Good job __________________ Ok,.... Now it's turning into an obsession Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL, Red Sea 170

10/12/2014, 10:08 PM	#4
Monchompa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 100	ichthyogeek, sorry im a newbie so i cant reply to PM's yet, lol "I'm just wondering what the pros and cons of making the frag rack out of acrylic rather than just using plane egg crate" Hey bud, I dont think you would have any issue either way but mine is inside of my display tank so i wanted it to look pretty. The egg rates work fine but in my opinion they dont look as good. they are usually white and you can see the algae on them. I'd say if your frag rack will be on display use acrylic just cause its see through __________________ 90 Gallon Reef \| LPS & Softies \| Hobby status: In over my head!

10/12/2014, 10:26 PM	#7
Schplitter Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Oakville, MO Posts: 3,767	Did you cover you magnets with the epoxy? If you just put them in without some kind of barrier they will leach metals, rust and cause all kinds of hassle for you in the tank. __________________ "The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 110 Gal Display, 125 Gal Custom Sump in basement fish room, 2- G3 XR30 Radion's + 2 48' Retrofit T5"s, Super Reef Octopus XP 2000 SSS Skimmer, 2 - Vortech MP-40, Panworld NH-200PS Return, 8x2' Frag tank, DIY refugium lighting, DIY frag tank lighting.

10/14/2014, 12:20 PM	#11
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	If they are ceramic magnets, they are reef safe. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

10/12/2014, 09:15 PM	#2
alb_56 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Nebraska Posts: 781	Where did the magnets come from?

10/13/2014, 08:28 AM	#8
xnetgeek Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 51	yes, please tell us you dipped them sealed them or something.

10/13/2014, 03:38 PM	#9
dattack Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 4,992	I always see these acrylic frag racks. Never used one myself but does the acrylic on glass slip too much although the magnet is strong.

10/25/2014, 05:07 PM	#13
Lavoisier Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 1,030	Nice project, well done. Thank you for sharing. __________________ "...for it is not necessary that these hypotheses should be true, or even probably; but it is enough if they provide a calculus which fits the observations..."--Introduction (attributed to Andrew Osiander) to On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Sphere by Nicolaus Copernicus. Current Tank Info: 600g DT, 140g sump, 200g Cryptic, 90g Refugium, 3-400w MH, 2 Reeflo Barracudas, and 3 MP60s