How do you attach frags?

jimrawr · 01/21/2007, 09:04 PM

I know you can glue them, but does that need to be done out of water? How do you go about getting them on rocks that are at the base without having to redo your whole aquascaping?

Is there a safe way of doing it IN the water? Will some frags like SPS attach themselves or do they need to be glued down?

Pink birds nest for example...

drummereef · 01/21/2007, 09:16 PM

You might want to post this in the SPS forum, but a lot of SPS frags are mounted with reef-safe epoxy. Aquamend is a good one and can cure underwater. I've glued other frags with Loctite Super Glue Gel with success.

Dubbin1 · 01/21/2007, 09:34 PM

Just put some super glue GEL on the frag and then stick it where you want it. You will have to hold it in place for a minute or two.

ChickenCannoneer · 01/21/2007, 09:38 PM

I also use the method that dubbin decribed. HTH, Tim

jimrawr · 01/21/2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dubbin1
Just put some super glue GEL on the frag and then stick it where you want it. You will have to hold it in place for a minute or two.

Superglue under water before having dried is safe? I would think that can be harmful..

So basically what you do is put some super glue on the bottom of the frag, and then stick it to a rock already in the water and hold it there? How long does it take to dry and hold properly?

vr697getta · 01/21/2007, 11:25 PM

like Dubbin1 said like a minute or 2 and make sure the current isn't super strong so i won't blow off

ricanboy57 · 01/21/2007, 11:36 PM

are you guys talking about a gel based superglue?? because i'm with jimrawr how does the liquid say on while going under the water? maybe a video would be nice, lol.

vr697getta · 01/21/2007, 11:39 PM

i just bought regular super glue its not gel based
but i know what you are thinking i couldn't belive it works without killing anything but it does

ricanboy57 · 01/21/2007, 11:50 PM

yeah the killing things would be a problem but my concern would be it coming off the place it was applied before it made contact.

aquarius77 · 01/21/2007, 11:52 PM

I glue the same way. Gel and jam i call it, glue on the frag and then jam it where you want it placed and hold it there for a second.

aquarius77 · 01/21/2007, 11:53 PM

It wont come off and disperse into the water like you are thinking, it forms a skin as soon as it hits water and basically seals itself.

ricanboy57 · 01/21/2007, 11:56 PM

Even if the gel is exposed it still only takes a couple of seconds? (sorry i know this isn't my thread but this is new to me as well)

edit to include: ok the skin idea makes sense. but I'm guessing the gel is the better way to go then regular super glue

aquarius77 · 01/22/2007, 12:06 AM

Regular superglue is a mess, it ends up running everywhere and you end up with a frag glued to you instead of a rock. It skins over the same as the gel tho.
I have also had regular glue run down the frag i was trying to attach, wich in some cases can kill that part of the coral. Gel is much easier to work with, cleaner for you and your frags.

earlnewt · 01/22/2007, 12:19 AM

Some people will also use what is called "ca" glue. The thicker one. You can get it at a hobby shop. I glued my mass of star polyps, 3' x8", to the back of my glass from when I switched tanks. They were growing for years in the old tank and covered the whole back of the glass. I just gently scrapped it off in in a whole mass wich was very thick and heavy not to mention kind of gross looking, and glued it to the back of the new glass tank. I've also seen people glue monti's to the glass.

Dubbin1 · 01/22/2007, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ricanboy57
are you guys talking about a gel based superglue??

Read my first post again...

trojank · 01/22/2007, 04:50 AM

Use super glue gel. It will not harm your aquarium because most super glue is silicone base. you could also try sticking a tooth pick through the base and then use a ruber band to secure it to a rock

billr · 01/22/2007, 05:03 AM

Thats what I did and it worked great.

01/21/2007, 09:04 PM	#1
jimrawr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palm Beach County, FL Posts: 1,887	How do you attach frags? I know you can glue them, but does that need to be done out of water? How do you go about getting them on rocks that are at the base without having to redo your whole aquascaping? Is there a safe way of doing it IN the water? Will some frags like SPS attach themselves or do they need to be glued down? Pink birds nest for example...

01/21/2007, 09:16 PM	#2
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	You might want to post this in the SPS forum, but a lot of SPS frags are mounted with reef-safe epoxy. Aquamend is a good one and can cure underwater. I've glued other frags with Loctite Super Glue Gel with success. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/21/2007, 11:36 PM	#7
ricanboy57 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: UCF. Orlando Posts: 404	are you guys talking about a gel based superglue?? because i'm with jimrawr how does the liquid say on while going under the water? maybe a video would be nice, lol. __________________ I was the classic newb. I went out and bought the smallest tank and a fish at the same time. Now I'm kicking myself wondering how could I have been so stupid. But I'm hooked now.

01/21/2007, 11:50 PM	#9
ricanboy57 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: UCF. Orlando Posts: 404	yeah the killing things would be a problem but my concern would be it coming off the place it was applied before it made contact. __________________ I was the classic newb. I went out and bought the smallest tank and a fish at the same time. Now I'm kicking myself wondering how could I have been so stupid. But I'm hooked now.

01/21/2007, 11:56 PM	#12
ricanboy57 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: UCF. Orlando Posts: 404	Even if the gel is exposed it still only takes a couple of seconds? (sorry i know this isn't my thread but this is new to me as well) edit to include: ok the skin idea makes sense. but I'm guessing the gel is the better way to go then regular super glue __________________ I was the classic newb. I went out and bought the smallest tank and a fish at the same time. Now I'm kicking myself wondering how could I have been so stupid. But I'm hooked now.

01/21/2007, 09:34 PM	#3
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	Just put some super glue GEL on the frag and then stick it where you want it. You will have to hold it in place for a minute or two.

01/21/2007, 09:38 PM	#4
ChickenCannoneer Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hudson, OH Posts: 1,268	I also use the method that dubbin decribed. HTH, Tim

01/21/2007, 11:25 PM	#6
vr697getta Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: white oak Posts: 1,974	like Dubbin1 said like a minute or 2 and make sure the current isn't super strong so i won't blow off

01/21/2007, 11:39 PM	#8
vr697getta Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: white oak Posts: 1,974	i just bought regular super glue its not gel based but i know what you are thinking i couldn't belive it works without killing anything but it does

01/21/2007, 11:52 PM	#10
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	I glue the same way. Gel and jam i call it, glue on the frag and then jam it where you want it placed and hold it there for a second.

01/21/2007, 11:53 PM	#11
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	It wont come off and disperse into the water like you are thinking, it forms a skin as soon as it hits water and basically seals itself.

01/22/2007, 12:06 AM	#13
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	Regular superglue is a mess, it ends up running everywhere and you end up with a frag glued to you instead of a rock. It skins over the same as the gel tho. I have also had regular glue run down the frag i was trying to attach, wich in some cases can kill that part of the coral. Gel is much easier to work with, cleaner for you and your frags.

01/22/2007, 12:19 AM	#14
earlnewt Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Western Mass. Posts: 180	Some people will also use what is called "ca" glue. The thicker one. You can get it at a hobby shop. I glued my mass of star polyps, 3' x8", to the back of my glass from when I switched tanks. They were growing for years in the old tank and covered the whole back of the glass. I just gently scrapped it off in in a whole mass wich was very thick and heavy not to mention kind of gross looking, and glued it to the back of the new glass tank. I've also seen people glue monti's to the glass.

01/22/2007, 04:50 AM	#16
trojank Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 84	Use super glue gel. It will not harm your aquarium because most super glue is silicone base. you could also try sticking a tooth pick through the base and then use a ruber band to secure it to a rock

01/22/2007, 05:03 AM	#17
billr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Texarkana, TX Posts: 269	Thats what I did and it worked great.