Whats the best way to attach coral to tonga LR

ZoeReef · 03/25/2006, 09:51 PM

I tried the gel superglue (loctite), I brushed off the coral where I was going to put the coral with a toothbrush, put about a pencil eraser glob of glue on the coral and quickly mushed it onto the rock, rotating it back and forth and it didn't stick.

What's the trick?

thanks..Andy

dugg · 03/25/2006, 10:00 PM

What are you trying to glue?

ZoeReef · 03/25/2006, 10:55 PM

Hard corals as well as small pieces of LR that had soft corals attached to them.

dugg · 03/25/2006, 11:46 PM

Either you got a bad tube of glue, or you are doing something wrong, or trying to glue too big of a piece. You need to dry both surfaces with a towel or something, and when you put the peices together, don't twist it around at all. Just apply light pressure, and hold it still for about 30 seconds to a minute. I use super glue gel all the time and it does work. I have bought cheap off brand super glue before that wouldn't glue anything but your fingers.

ZoeReef · 03/26/2006, 12:19 AM

I have been able to glue them out of the tank, but once they are glued, how do you attach the glued frag to the reef? Using Loctite gel superglue. Thanks

Fred_J · 03/26/2006, 02:22 AM

For larger frags I use two part epoxy and prop the coral up with something until it dries.

ZoeReef · 03/26/2006, 11:25 AM

Fred..is that the stuff that is like clay?

Fred_J · 03/26/2006, 03:18 PM

Yes, you can get it as a clay form or in two tubes that mix it as it comes out. Make sure it is for underwater use. The clay cost a little more but I think it's easier to use.

richfavinger · 03/26/2006, 04:14 PM

AquaStick from HD works.

Rich

mecold · 03/27/2006, 12:00 AM

I must be different.. I use superglue gel and aquamend epoxy from hd..
Step 1. take a glob of well mixed epoxy and add a little superglue gel.

Step 2. stick frag or whatever on top of the superglue.

Step 3. Add superglue gel to the other side of epoxy glob

Step 4. Stick to the spot of your choice. Press epoxy gently but firmly onto the rock. It will not take long to stick.

The whole thing with this method is that the superglue gel holds the frag to the epoxy, and the epoxy to the rock, while the epoxy hardens. Once the aquamend hardens, the frag wont be moving unless you really try to break the epoxys bond.

richfavinger · 03/27/2006, 12:22 AM

I did try that, it didn't stick for me, I guess I didn't use enough gel

I am really having one hell of a time gluing my coral to my rock work...

My other thread...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=810308

Rich

ZoeReef · 03/27/2006, 04:49 PM

thanks me and rich. Too many people have been successful at this. I had to quit cause I was getting frustrated. I used a toothbrush to clean off the underwater LR, and it still wouldn't stick with the glue. I've been totally successful at gluing frags out of the tank, and very hit an miss underwater. Thanks for the ideas.

ZoeReef · 03/27/2006, 07:55 PM

mecold.. You are my new hero. Your advanced science has just made my life tremendously easier. I just used your two part solution and everything is sticking. THANKS!

mecold · 03/28/2006, 12:34 AM

You are very welcome! I tried superglue, but it would not hold very well for me. My turbo snails would knock it loose every time. So far, I have not had a single problem with any frags mounted this way. I have mounted a ton in my tank over the last year

03/25/2006, 09:51 PM	#1
ZoeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,066	Whats the best way to attach coral to tonga LR I tried the gel superglue (loctite), I brushed off the coral where I was going to put the coral with a toothbrush, put about a pencil eraser glob of glue on the coral and quickly mushed it onto the rock, rotating it back and forth and it didn't stick. What's the trick? thanks..Andy

03/25/2006, 10:00 PM	#2
dugg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,807	What are you trying to glue? __________________ What happens if you get scared half to death, twice? Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef with tek-T5 lights, sealife systems skimmer in 30 gal. sump. 70g Oceanic Tech, 30 gallon sump/refugium,1 250 watt 14k metal halide, 2 65watt PC actinic, Octopus NW-150 Protien Skimmer

03/25/2006, 11:46 PM	#4
dugg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,807	Either you got a bad tube of glue, or you are doing something wrong, or trying to glue too big of a piece. You need to dry both surfaces with a towel or something, and when you put the peices together, don't twist it around at all. Just apply light pressure, and hold it still for about 30 seconds to a minute. I use super glue gel all the time and it does work. I have bought cheap off brand super glue before that wouldn't glue anything but your fingers. __________________ What happens if you get scared half to death, twice? Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef with tek-T5 lights, sealife systems skimmer in 30 gal. sump. 70g Oceanic Tech, 30 gallon sump/refugium,1 250 watt 14k metal halide, 2 65watt PC actinic, Octopus NW-150 Protien Skimmer

03/26/2006, 02:22 AM	#6
Fred_J Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Goldsboro, NC Posts: 514	For larger frags I use two part epoxy and prop the coral up with something until it dries. __________________ Fred Current Tank Info: 75g reef 20g sump, 55g reef 10g sump

03/26/2006, 03:18 PM	#8
Fred_J Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Goldsboro, NC Posts: 514	Yes, you can get it as a clay form or in two tubes that mix it as it comes out. Make sure it is for underwater use. The clay cost a little more but I think it's easier to use. __________________ Fred Current Tank Info: 75g reef 20g sump, 55g reef 10g sump

03/25/2006, 10:55 PM	#3
ZoeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,066	Hard corals as well as small pieces of LR that had soft corals attached to them.

03/26/2006, 12:19 AM	#5
ZoeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,066	I have been able to glue them out of the tank, but once they are glued, how do you attach the glued frag to the reef? Using Loctite gel superglue. Thanks

03/26/2006, 11:25 AM	#7
ZoeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,066	Fred..is that the stuff that is like clay?

03/26/2006, 04:14 PM	#9
richfavinger Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pottstown, PA Posts: 866	AquaStick from HD works. Rich __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: DSA 135g (48x24x27) Starphire, Elite Aquatics M2 Sump, Reef Octopus Diablo DCS200-INT, GEO 612 Calcium Reactor + AP Carbon Doser, 2x Radion Pro Gen2, 2x VorTech MP40

03/27/2006, 12:00 AM	#10
mecold Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast Georgia Posts: 1,087	I must be different.. I use superglue gel and aquamend epoxy from hd.. Step 1. take a glob of well mixed epoxy and add a little superglue gel. Step 2. stick frag or whatever on top of the superglue. Step 3. Add superglue gel to the other side of epoxy glob Step 4. Stick to the spot of your choice. Press epoxy gently but firmly onto the rock. It will not take long to stick. The whole thing with this method is that the superglue gel holds the frag to the epoxy, and the epoxy to the rock, while the epoxy hardens. Once the aquamend hardens, the frag wont be moving unless you really try to break the epoxys bond.

03/27/2006, 12:22 AM	#11
richfavinger Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pottstown, PA Posts: 866	I did try that, it didn't stick for me, I guess I didn't use enough gel I am really having one hell of a time gluing my coral to my rock work... My other thread... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=810308 Rich __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: DSA 135g (48x24x27) Starphire, Elite Aquatics M2 Sump, Reef Octopus Diablo DCS200-INT, GEO 612 Calcium Reactor + AP Carbon Doser, 2x Radion Pro Gen2, 2x VorTech MP40

03/27/2006, 04:49 PM	#12
ZoeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,066	thanks me and rich. Too many people have been successful at this. I had to quit cause I was getting frustrated. I used a toothbrush to clean off the underwater LR, and it still wouldn't stick with the glue. I've been totally successful at gluing frags out of the tank, and very hit an miss underwater. Thanks for the ideas.

03/27/2006, 07:55 PM	#13
ZoeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 1,066	mecold.. You are my new hero. Your advanced science has just made my life tremendously easier. I just used your two part solution and everything is sticking. THANKS!

03/28/2006, 12:34 AM	#14
mecold Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast Georgia Posts: 1,087	You are very welcome! I tried superglue, but it would not hold very well for me. My turbo snails would knock it loose every time. So far, I have not had a single problem with any frags mounted this way. I have mounted a ton in my tank over the last year