Need help mounting a Taro Tree Coral

Hitch08 · 03/02/2018, 03:49 PM

I bought a pack of corals from LA. This particular one was not connected to it's mount when I received it (actually, two were no longer mounted).

https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...=597+2790+2360

It's tiny. I've tried to glue it down three different times now. At first, it seems to be well connected. However, it expands a lot and breaks lose.

Any suggestions?

AlSimmons · 03/02/2018, 03:54 PM

You could try placing it in a small glass bowl full of rubble. Put this in an area of low flow and within a few days or so it should attach to one of the rocks. After that you can place it wherever you want in the tank. GL.

mcgyvr · 03/02/2018, 05:31 PM

^^ yep.. or loosely rubberband it to a rock/plug and it will take hold in a few days..

ReefkeeperZ · 03/02/2018, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

You could try placing it in a small glass bowl full of rubble. Put this in an area of low flow and within a few days or so it should attach to one of the rocks. After that you can place it wherever you want in the tank. GL.

usually the easiest solution right there, I use plastic dishes with a layer of sand or crushed coral on the bottom and some rubble, then rubber band a bit of bridal veil over the top to keep it from drifting loose.

Hitch08 · 03/02/2018, 11:51 PM

Thanks!

wrott · 03/03/2018, 01:16 PM

You can use a needle and thread to gently secure it to small piece of rock.
With a small frag, I may not actually puncture the coral.

billdogg · 03/04/2018, 08:31 AM

IME, soft corals don't glue very well due to their, well, softness. Do as the others have suggested.

Be forewarned, however, that once established it will grow like a weed and then start shedding branches that will find a place to attach all on their own. It can quickly become a problem coral, especially if the tank has less than pristine nutrient levels.

D-Nak · 03/05/2018, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrott

You can use a needle and thread to gently secure it to small piece of rock.
With a small frag, I may not actually puncture the coral.

This is my go-to method as well, but I simply pierce the widest part of the stalk and go through several times to get a secure bond to the rock. Once it's attached you can even remove the string (it pulls through the tissue cleanly). The last thing you want to have happen is for the frag to become dislodged and end up in the back of the tank.

As billdogg mentioned, unless you really like this coral, pick something else that's less invasive.

jayball · 03/05/2018, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Nak

This is my go-to method as well, but I simply pierce the widest part of the stalk and go through several times to get a secure bond to the rock. Once it's attached you can even remove the string (it pulls through the tissue cleanly). The last thing you want to have happen is for the frag to become dislodged and end up in the back of the tank.

X3, and I super glue the string to the edge of the rubble or plug so I do not have to worry about tieing it too tight. I do not like the rubber band because I either get it too tight and cut through it or too loose and it floats away.

jayball · 03/05/2018, 11:29 AM

... double post

Hitch08 · 03/05/2018, 03:04 PM

Thanks all!

Well, it sounds like I screwed up. I bought this as a pack and although I did a search for "Taro tree," I didn't pick up that it was also called Kenyan tree. Seems pretty obvious now. I'm generally optimistic that I can manage some of these more aggressively growing things, but not something that breaks off branches so that they can float around and "set up shop" elsewhere.

Here is that pack that I bought:
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...2341+2605+2614

Is there anything else that spreads like that?

Thanks again!

billdogg · 03/05/2018, 03:11 PM

All of them! Especially the clove polyps. IMHO, they are the PLAGUE. Unless you keep them isolated on a rock surrounded by rubble they will take over the entire tank. Isolated, as they start to spread you can just harvest the rubble rock to keep them in check.

D-Nak · 03/05/2018, 03:27 PM

Oh wow... ALL of those spread like weeds.

I suggest looking for your local reef club and ask around for beginner corals. Members who have things like Kenya tree, Xenia, etc. will oftentimes give them away for free.

Others to avoid*: GSP (green star polyps), clove polyps, and many zoas and palys (especially the ugly ones!).

*These can be kept under control but it oftentimes requires a lot of care. For example, some people use GSP to cover the back wall of their tanks, and if barebottom, they use it to cover the bottom as well.

Hitch08 · 03/05/2018, 03:36 PM

Uh oh! Do they spread horizontally - from the main trunk or do they break-off branches like the taro/kenyan?

I think they must have switched up the pack, as the invoice that I received lists the following as actually being sent:

Blue Cespitularia

Heteroxenia Polyp:

This one (below) was the other one that came off of the mount. I tried to glue it down, but it floated away the first day. I can't find it anywhere. Something tells me that I will someday...

Since the top two were still connected to their mounts, I just have them sitting in/on the crushed coral on the bottom of the tank. I actually like the top two and hope to leave them there. If I can't manage them, or, if they break off branches to float around the tank, I'll take them to the LFS.

I hope they don't break off branches too. Does anyone know?

earwicker7 · 03/05/2018, 05:33 PM

Use a plastic toothpick and spear it into your live rock. It comes out easily once the coral has attached.

03/02/2018, 03:49 PM	#1
Hitch08 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Philly Suburbs Posts: 665	Need help mounting a Taro Tree Coral I bought a pack of corals from LA. This particular one was not connected to it's mount when I received it (actually, two were no longer mounted). https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...=597+2790+2360 It's tiny. I've tried to glue it down three different times now. At first, it seems to be well connected. However, it expands a lot and breaks lose. Any suggestions? __________________ 120g tank with 40g breeder sump. SVS-30 LifeReef Skimmer. EcoTech Radion Pros.

03/02/2018, 05:31 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	^^ yep.. or loosely rubberband it to a rock/plug and it will take hold in a few days.. __________________ Who me?

03/02/2018, 11:51 PM	#5
Hitch08 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Philly Suburbs Posts: 665	Thanks! __________________ 120g tank with 40g breeder sump. SVS-30 LifeReef Skimmer. EcoTech Radion Pros.

03/03/2018, 01:16 PM	#6
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	You can use a needle and thread to gently secure it to small piece of rock. With a small frag, I may not actually puncture the coral. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

03/04/2018, 08:31 AM	#7
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	IME, soft corals don't glue very well due to their, well, softness. Do as the others have suggested. Be forewarned, however, that once established it will grow like a weed and then start shedding branches that will find a place to attach all on their own. It can quickly become a problem coral, especially if the tank has less than pristine nutrient levels. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/02/2018, 03:54 PM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	You could try placing it in a small glass bowl full of rubble. Put this in an area of low flow and within a few days or so it should attach to one of the rocks. After that you can place it wherever you want in the tank. GL.

03/05/2018, 11:29 AM	#10
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	... double post

03/05/2018, 03:04 PM	#11
Hitch08 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Philly Suburbs Posts: 665	Thanks all! Well, it sounds like I screwed up. I bought this as a pack and although I did a search for "Taro tree," I didn't pick up that it was also called Kenyan tree. Seems pretty obvious now. I'm generally optimistic that I can manage some of these more aggressively growing things, but not something that breaks off branches so that they can float around and "set up shop" elsewhere. Here is that pack that I bought: https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...2341+2605+2614 Is there anything else that spreads like that? Thanks again! __________________ 120g tank with 40g breeder sump. SVS-30 LifeReef Skimmer. EcoTech Radion Pros.

03/05/2018, 03:11 PM	#12
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	All of them! Especially the clove polyps. IMHO, they are the PLAGUE. Unless you keep them isolated on a rock surrounded by rubble they will take over the entire tank. Isolated, as they start to spread you can just harvest the rubble rock to keep them in check. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/05/2018, 03:27 PM	#13
D-Nak Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 5,797	Oh wow... ALL of those spread like weeds. I suggest looking for your local reef club and ask around for beginner corals. Members who have things like Kenya tree, Xenia, etc. will oftentimes give them away for free. Others to avoid: GSP (green star polyps), clove polyps, and many zoas and palys (especially the ugly ones!). These can be kept under control but it oftentimes requires a lot of care. For example, some people use GSP to cover the back wall of their tanks, and if barebottom, they use it to cover the bottom as well. __________________ Tank info: 120 gallon 48x30x20 high DT. Clownfish breeding rack in full swing: C-Quest Onyx, Bali Aquarich P1 Picasso + Rod's Onyx, wild percula + Rod's Onyx.

03/05/2018, 03:36 PM	#14
Hitch08 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Philly Suburbs Posts: 665	Uh oh! Do they spread horizontally - from the main trunk or do they break-off branches like the taro/kenyan? I think they must have switched up the pack, as the invoice that I received lists the following as actually being sent: Blue Cespitularia Heteroxenia Polyp: This one (below) was the other one that came off of the mount. I tried to glue it down, but it floated away the first day. I can't find it anywhere. Something tells me that I will someday... Since the top two were still connected to their mounts, I just have them sitting in/on the crushed coral on the bottom of the tank. I actually like the top two and hope to leave them there. If I can't manage them, or, if they break off branches to float around the tank, I'll take them to the LFS. I hope they don't break off branches too. Does anyone know? __________________ 120g tank with 40g breeder sump. SVS-30 LifeReef Skimmer. EcoTech Radion Pros.

03/05/2018, 05:33 PM	#15
earwicker7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 150	Use a plastic toothpick and spear it into your live rock. It comes out easily once the coral has attached.