Attaching Coral Colonies/Frags

SemperReef · 02/03/2008, 10:17 AM

I am looking for som advice on a epoxy or super glue that is best for use in attaching additions to rockscape.

I just don't want to use something that will cause tank to crash. I've heard receintly that there was a epoxy sold for aquarium use has been causing some peoples tanks to crash and they have lost everything.

Any help is greatly received!

SemperReef · 02/03/2008, 10:20 AM

Here is what I am talking about...............(happened to someone)

A Word of Warning
Each year there are about 30,000 sticks of Aquascape sold world wide and increasing year on year.
The product is generally inert within the aquarium however each year we get up to half a dozen people around the world who contact us and claim that use of the product has contributed to loss of livestock in their system.
Each time this happens it is a disaster for the customer and which would be understood by any fish keeper and we have great empathy for their situation.
At a ratio of 30,000 to 6 each year I am sure you will agree that this product is reef safe however there are still cases where losses occur and so we have written this to allow you to make sure that you read all of the instructions carefully so as not to become one of the six.

This is ROWA epoxy made for aquariums, made by the same company that makes deltec skimmers.

I got one of the bad tubes. My fish died. Flame wrasse supermale. 5" Labouti Wrasse who was king of the tank got to be eaten by bristleworms. I pulled my lineatus out in time to watch him die in my frag tank (he is still alive but as close to dead as can be).

This was in a 112 gallon tank in a nano you have to be even more careful. I'd seriously think about only using this stuff when you do water changes to be safe. Its a 6 in 30000 chance but once it happens no turning back.

The real sad thing other then losing my favorite fish in the world that i simply cannot replace is that I was trying to epoxy in the final pieces to my tank. It was basically full, now its being torn down.

phenom5 · 02/03/2008, 10:34 AM

Super glue gel works just fine, and I've never had a problem. It can be tricky though, if your trying to attach frags underwater.

One thing that jumps out at me about the epoxy, how do those people know that it was the epoxy that caused the death?

SemperReef · 02/03/2008, 10:44 AM

My guess is that in the case of the author, he had no problems until after her receintly used the epoxy.

It sounds like most is ok, but every now and then a bad batch comes around.

Anyone ever heard or used Aquamend putty?

Logzor · 02/03/2008, 10:47 AM

That aqua putty from home-depot is garbage unless you are working with at least one dry part (rock or coral). Otherwise you have to superglue each side to get it to stick to the rock and the frag. No amount of superglue will mount my frogspawn up higher so I tried this putty to no avail.

Huge PITA.

I could imagine it working very well when setting up dry rock for a tank build. Its only like 2.50 a stick.

SemperReef · 02/03/2008, 10:47 AM

Also when dealing with nano's and small reefs it's even more important to get it right.

How do you use the super glue gel?

Pull the rock out and attach the frag then replace?

I just want to limit air exposure to the new addition, and not have to tear up the rock scape every time I want to add something new.

SemperReef · 02/03/2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Logzor
That aqua putty from home-depot is garbage unless you are working with at least one dry part (rock or coral). Otherwise you have to superglue each side to get it to stick to the rock and the frag. No amount of superglue will mount my frogspawn up higher so I tried this putty to no avail.

Huge PITA.

I could imagine it working very well when setting up dry rock for a tank build. Its only like 2.50 a stick.

Are you sure that is the same thing "Aquamend putty", The only place I've been able to find it is at Marine supply stores.

phenom5 · 02/03/2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

How do you use the super glue gel?

Pull the rock out and attach the frag then replace?

I just want to limit air exposure to the new addition, and not have to tear up the rock scape every time I want to add something new.

Super glue gel (it's important to get the gel) works very well if you can pull the frag & the piece of rock from the water. Just dry off the rock & the rock/ base of the frag, glue, hold for ~ 30 seconds, and your good to go. I've done this with plenty of corals, of all different types. They'll be fine if their exposed to the air for a few minutes. Not wanting to tear up your aquascape eveytime, well, that's where the problems come in. What I do, is I remove the frag that I'm glueing, and dry the base. Then I put a big glob of glue on it, and then hold the glue in the water for a couple of seconds. This forms a thin skin on the glue glob. In theory, you can then quickly move the coral into place, wiggle it a bit, and break the skin. This method works ~ 50% of the time (for me at least). But IMO, if your looking to attach something underwater, I'd go with some sort of epoxy.

Quote:

re you sure that is the same thing "Aquamend putty", The only place I've been able to find it is at Marine supply stores.

The HD near me sells Aquamend.

SemperReef · 02/03/2008, 11:04 AM

I'll check my local HD, I just don't want to crash the 24g nano I want to use it in.

Macimage · 02/03/2008, 04:01 PM

Our HD carries the AquaMend in their Paint department.

Joyce

02/03/2008, 10:17 AM	#1
SemperReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 53	Attaching Coral Colonies/Frags I am looking for som advice on a epoxy or super glue that is best for use in attaching additions to rockscape. I just don't want to use something that will cause tank to crash. I've heard receintly that there was a epoxy sold for aquarium use has been causing some peoples tanks to crash and they have lost everything. Any help is greatly received!

02/03/2008, 10:34 AM	#3
phenom5 Unregistered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,096	Super glue gel works just fine, and I've never had a problem. It can be tricky though, if your trying to attach frags underwater. One thing that jumps out at me about the epoxy, how do those people know that it was the epoxy that caused the death? __________________ Rob Current Tank Info: DSA 155 Pro \| ATI Sunpower \| ATB 840 v2 \| Apex \| Wav

02/03/2008, 10:20 AM	#2
SemperReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 53	Here is what I am talking about...............(happened to someone) A Word of Warning Each year there are about 30,000 sticks of Aquascape sold world wide and increasing year on year. The product is generally inert within the aquarium however each year we get up to half a dozen people around the world who contact us and claim that use of the product has contributed to loss of livestock in their system. Each time this happens it is a disaster for the customer and which would be understood by any fish keeper and we have great empathy for their situation. At a ratio of 30,000 to 6 each year I am sure you will agree that this product is reef safe however there are still cases where losses occur and so we have written this to allow you to make sure that you read all of the instructions carefully so as not to become one of the six. This is ROWA epoxy made for aquariums, made by the same company that makes deltec skimmers. I got one of the bad tubes. My fish died. Flame wrasse supermale. 5" Labouti Wrasse who was king of the tank got to be eaten by bristleworms. I pulled my lineatus out in time to watch him die in my frag tank (he is still alive but as close to dead as can be). This was in a 112 gallon tank in a nano you have to be even more careful. I'd seriously think about only using this stuff when you do water changes to be safe. Its a 6 in 30000 chance but once it happens no turning back. The real sad thing other then losing my favorite fish in the world that i simply cannot replace is that I was trying to epoxy in the final pieces to my tank. It was basically full, now its being torn down.

02/03/2008, 10:44 AM	#4
SemperReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 53	My guess is that in the case of the author, he had no problems until after her receintly used the epoxy. It sounds like most is ok, but every now and then a bad batch comes around. Anyone ever heard or used Aquamend putty?

02/03/2008, 10:47 AM	#5
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	That aqua putty from home-depot is garbage unless you are working with at least one dry part (rock or coral). Otherwise you have to superglue each side to get it to stick to the rock and the frag. No amount of superglue will mount my frogspawn up higher so I tried this putty to no avail. Huge PITA. I could imagine it working very well when setting up dry rock for a tank build. Its only like 2.50 a stick.

02/03/2008, 11:04 AM	#9
SemperReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 53	I'll check my local HD, I just don't want to crash the 24g nano I want to use it in.

02/03/2008, 04:01 PM	#10
Macimage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Quartz Hill Posts: 4,078	Our HD carries the AquaMend in their Paint department. Joyce