Mounting Corals under water

[jdeb101]

How does everyone do it? For example...I have a piece of cap that I want to mount to and edge of LR. I tried the 2 part epoxy that I've heard of ppl using (the green/white kind in a tube) but as soon as it hits water it just wont stick to anything.

I know this has prob been discussed a billion times but I appreciate anyones tips.

 

[Moe_K]

Yeah, I know your pain.
I use the putty, it will kinda stick if pressed into a hole or something.
Many days/weeks later if you bump the coral it still may break the putty's grip to the rock.
I've read on here recently that some folks are applying super glue under water. I've never seen this done. I'd like to hear more about it.

 

[biggyclops]

Use superglue GEL works great.. I use out of water to mount then I place it back in.. Never tried a cap.. But I have for zoo's and other softies

 

[jdeb101]

Use superglue GEL works great.. I use out of water to mount then I place it back in.. Never tried a cap.. But I have for zoo's and other softies

I'm trying to avoid taking LR out of water though because its a big piece that other LR is on top of. It has always been a question I've had for other reefers, how can you easily mount and frag corals under water without taking the LR out? What do you guys do for the LR thats at the bottom of it all?

Tried the superglue under water and didnt have so much luck with hard corals.

 

[bigdog]

i glue everything right in the water with gel super glue but u have 2 be fast been doing this four 2 years and iv been fine

 

[saltwaterB]

Have you tried the Deltec Epoxy??? I have had much better success with that, over the green holdfast epoxy. How about glueing the cap to a small rock then mounting the rock to the rockwork?

 

[delta]

Work the epoxy in to a crevice or hole then give the coral a hole or slot to press it tight around that coral. Timing is everything if you mix it and put it right in the tank you have to keep playing with it until it kicks and sets up.

The key is that once the epoxy is hard in a hole or around something it wont fall off, if you just stick it to a flat rock it can usually fall or be pulled off.

Smaller frags are best done with small dabs of super glue gel. put a dab on the dried area of the frag and put it in the tank. It will immediately skin so you will need to drag it a little to break the skin to it can stick to the rock.


Both techniques you will need to keep the coral stable until they set.

Be careful using the epoxy it will make your skimmer go nuts. Also too much can cause issues with your corals. One or two corals won't be a big deal but if your going to do a whole tank space it out over a few sessions.

 

[stingythingy45]

Work the epoxy in to a crevice or hole then give the coral a hole or slot to press it tight around that coral. Timing is everything if you mix it and put it right in the tank you have to keep playing with it until it kicks and sets up.

The key is that once the epoxy is hard in a hole or around something it wont fall off, if you just stick it to a flat rock it can usually fall or be pulled off.

Smaller frags are best done with small dabs of super glue gel. put a dab on the dried area of the frag and put it in the tank. It will immediately skin so you will need to drag it a little to break the skin to it can stick to the rock.


Both techniques you will need to keep the coral stable until they set.

Be careful using the epoxy it will make your skimmer go nuts. Also too much can cause issues with your corals. One or two corals won't be a big deal but if your going to do a whole tank space it out over a few sessions.

+1
On this.


I've mounted many frags of cap.First take a little time to clean off the debris on the rock with an old toothbrush or something.
I find that the epoxy works best if you use a lot and work it together fast.Then stick it around the cap end and then onto the rock.Look for a place with crevices or a hole would be ideal.The trick is to key it into something.The frag will begin to encrust and cover the epoxy in a couple weeks.So don't freak out if it looks like a marshmellow sandwich.I've even taken more epoxy and build up under the frag later.
Like mentioned before,beware of the skimmer foaming.

 

[willray]

There are many ways to get the same results.First look where you want to put it and either shape the cap or shape the rock so it fits like a puzzle piece.Use a good amount of super glue on the edge of the cap the moving swiftly put it in the tank where you want it smoosh and push for 1-3 sec ONLY and hold for 30-45 sec (be patient here).Or use the deltec epoxy that -B- is talking about (most other epoxys aren't that good)mix the epoxy,super glue edge of frag, press into epoxy glue,super glue egde of epoxy and put into location.The super glue will hold it to allow the epoxy to set.

 

[jdeb101]

Thanks for all the tips. For now I sorta wedged the cap between LR and another piece of cap. If it doesnt attach I think I'll try the gel super glue. The piece of LR I want it attached to isn't very pourous so I dont think epoxy will work.

 

[Frag Freaks]

How does everyone do it? For example...I have a piece of cap that I want to mount to and edge of LR. I tried the 2 part epoxy that I've heard of ppl using (the green/white kind in a tube) but as soon as it hits water it just wont stick to anything.

I know this has prob been discussed a billion times but I appreciate anyones tips.

I have always had trouble with that green/white epoxy that comes in the tube. It seems that once I get it in the water it just doesn't want to stick.

On the other had I have had very good results with The Aquarium Solution's AquaScape Construction Epoxy. Seem to stick very well under water.

 

[trajik ink]

i've been using the super glue gel also and it works great....i recently glued a cap to the edge of a rock in the tank and it hasn't moved at all. my bigger snails have gone over it without taking it out so i recommend trying it.

 

[jdeb101]

Thanks everyone. I will def give the gel super glue a try next time.

 

[jbishop]

I use the putty and gel depending on how I'm feeling.

 

[Psychographic]

If you want a really good bond, mix up some of the putty type epoxy, dry the bottom of the frag, apply your super glue gel to the frag, shove the glob of epoxy onto the gel, apply more gel (be generous) to the bottom of the epoxy and push it onto the rock twisting back and forth once or twice. The gel will glue the frag to the epoxy, the epoxy will fill the voids in the frag and rock, and the gel will glue the epoxy to the rock.

The gel will skin over almost immediately upon contact with the water, by twisting it onto the rock, you break the "skin" making for a good bond