Best Frag Adhesive

[TwoPair]

I am finally at the point where I am going to make some frags of my corals, wondering what kind of adhesive I should be using?

I am aware I can use superglue (gel)? Any thoughts on that? Will that work will all frag types?

[Alysiak00]

thats what i've always used and it works wonders

[cardiffgiant]

I've tried super glue gel, ic gel, and the glue from bulk reef supply.

I find that superglue gel works well for frags being mounted to plugs outside of the tank, but that the glue doesn't apply well for larger frags being mounted in the tank. The tubes that are 3 for $1 at the dollars store are also half air. The glue from BRS was ok, but the nozzle seized up before I was half way done with it and I could only use the rest to apply to plugs out of the tank with a toothpick.

IC gel seems to be the easiest for me to use and applies well under water. It costs more, but it seems to go farther than any amount of alternatives that I can get with the same money.

If you're just getting started fragging, I'd give both the ic gel and the superglue a try and see what works best for you.

[thegrun]

+1 on above, but the glue will not work on many of the soft corals like mushrooms because they slime up too much for the glue to attach itself to them.

[greech]

Sorry for the hijack but what is "ic gel"?

[jflick345]

I'm a fan of the super glue gel. For softies I just cut a 2-3" portion off the bottom of a 20oz. pop bottle and put sand in the bottom to sink it. Just put the softie frag in there for a week or 2 and it'll attach to some sand making it easier to glue to a frag plug or rubble.

[RokleM]

For the most part it's all the same thing, cyanoacrylate. You can buy it at fish stores, remote control and hobby stores, arts and craft stores, etc. As long as it's cyanoacrylate without a bunch of additional ingredients, more than likely it's safe. The thicker GEL type seems to work the best.

[chumm]

superglue rocks!!!

[Frick-n-Frags]

SG+kneadable epoxy +rubberbands will cover everything.

for instance, ever prop gorgonians? they are like a hotdog on a stick, except the hotdog dies where it is put into a hole to mount. so, the epoxy base followed by SG if the gorg comes loose before it encrusts and grabs on. things like soft sinularias and xenia defy any attempts to be glued, so you need physical means of restraint.

those types of cases being stated, SG works for about 90% of everything i ever fragged. zoos, of course all stonies, anything with a mat like GSP or Anthelia even.

also, i found that if you can prep the rock/plug dried with a drop of SG, then hold the coral upside-down(attachment point up) and dab it dry-ish with a kleenex.
THEN put the rock to the coral while holding the coral inverted still, to keep water from running onto the glue, and do the 1/2 twist and submerge it in some tank water you pulled to kill the glue.

uses a tiny amount of glue and when done dry, holds very well.