You can get 4x4" and 3"x6" at home depot. If you want 3"x3" you can cut one in half.

Soak in saltwater or boil it

Travertine comes in all sizes :)

I decided to experiment making my own. It should be an adventure.

I'm not real keen on travertine since it is a natural stone product, the possibility of metals in it is there. That's a risk I'm just not willing to take no matter how small it may be and no matter how many people "haven't had a problem".

It's a sedimentary rock, and almost nothing but calcium carbonate. But I suppose your concern is a valid point, so why risk it.

I bought half a box of 2x2 "unfiinish, unfilled, tumbled" travertine tiles in the past from Rona, and use a 2" diamond hole saw(cuts like butter!) to make round disks.

http://learn.builddirect.com/wp-cont...rtine-tile.jpg

ibve been using the stuff from homedepot for years and have quite a bitin my system with no adverse affects.

There a few of us that use these tiles as our tank bottom

Yes, I'm aware it is widely used. :)

I know frags grow faster on ceramic versus concrete/sand plugs. I wonder if there is a difference comparing ceramic versus travertine? Anyone try them side by side?

Is this true?? And why would this be?

No, I'm just blowing fluff. ;) It seems to be the consensus when discussing with friends. Why? Who knows. Maybe it's the leeching from uncured cement plugs? I don't know. I know my fastest growing frags are the ones I mount directly onto the live rock. :D

I'm going to be doing a side by side experiment. I'm interested in the results.

Yeah, I can see it, if the plugs aren't cured... I do know that some SPS are more sensitive to glue, and can be mad for a while. So have to be careful of that.

And sorry for the thread creep. But I also do wonder why people prefer flat tiles vs plugs? I would be concerned they would fly off my eggcrate with the current. I can see maybe an advantage if you mount them on the bottom of your tank, but not on rock higher up.