Securing Corals

[debincalif]

Ok... coral newbie question here!

I bought some epoxy stuff at the LFS that the recommended to attach my zoa frags to my LR. Well, this stuff was nasty! You had to knead it together like playdough, and it was messy and even after rinsing it (per the instructions), it made my tank water very cloudy. In fact, it's still not 100% cleared up after 2 days!

Is there any other type of glue or epoxy that's not so messy?

[Percula9]

You can use crazy glue gel. The epoxy stick should not have clouded your water. Do you have a protein skimmer? If you don't, then do water changes.

[Detroit_306]

Yep super glu GEL and/or jb water weld

[ChrisL1976]

Curious? How much epoxy did you use? I have used a grape size piece for all my corals and never had an issue with it clouding the water.

Super glue gel works nice as said above.

[goettner]

I got a tip the other day to use Alteco EPO Putty.You have to mix it 1 to 1.I have not tried it yet but am looking for it very soon.It is suppost to be reefsafe.

[debincalif]

Thanks for the responses.

So the superglue gel will work in the water? Do you just hold the frag in place for a minute or so until it sets?

With the epoxy I used like a dime-sized glob on the largest frag and down to a pea-sized glob on the smallest frag.

Just did a water change a couple days ago, but will do another to help clear the water.

[hackney]

Dry off your frag and the spot on the rock that you wish to attach it, apply super glue gel and you're good to go.

[debincalif]

So then I would have to pull the LR out of the tank? Ugh...

Is there something that you can apply to the frag and then secure it to the LR without taking the LR out of the tank?

[kriv4o]

I never get the LR out. Just put a good amount of super glue on it and stick it to the LR at the desired location.

[debincalif]

Thanks...

Any idea if gorilla glue would work? Just asking because I know I have some of that at home.

[Palting]

Here's the best way I've found to match a flat frag disk to an irregular rock surface.

First, take a toothbrush to the frag disk and to the rock you plan to stck the frag to clean them. Knead the same amount of epoxy putty you had. Put a drop or 2 of epoxy gel glue on the frag disc, then stick the epoxy putty on it. Now put another drop or two of the gel glue on the exposed side of the putty and stick two whole thing to the rock. Hold still for a count of 10. It will set underwater.

I'm surprised your tank water turned cloudy. Never happened to me, even when I used a large amount of putty to stick rocks together. You may have disturbed the rocks or substrate when you tried to mount the frag. Water changes, filter socks, and time should help.

[kriv4o]

I haven't used anything else besides superglue gel and the purple epoxy putty(only in my nano with no issues what-so-ever)