Affixing Large Colony

[chaderic26]

I just came across a large green acro colony. I'm wanting to apoxy it to the rockwork but how can I get it to stay while it cures and not fall over? Or is there something else to use?

 

[pwoller]

You could drill a hole in the LR then super glue it. That works for me.

 

[chaderic26]

That doesn't seem like it would work for me because it's attached to a piece of odd shaped rock. Maybe I could peg it.

 

[GROWSZOAS]

I DUNNO IF ITS POSSIBLE TO PROP IT UP WITH A FEW SMALLER ROCKS WHERE YOU WANT IT UNTILL IT ENCRUSTS. I NEVER HAVE LUCK WITH GLUE OR EPOXY SO I JUST FIND THEM A GOOD PLACE TO SIT UNTILL THEY ENCRUST

 

[mr. pluto]

i would peg it & epoxy the gap to a secure rock.

 

[Scott M]

Use a hammer and small chisel to carve out a rock so that the new colony fits in snugly, expoxy it down and place the whole thing into the tank.

 

[mille239]

what I do: Place a chunk of epoxy in the tank, molding it to the rock so it dries secured to it, and make sure you leave a flat portion on the top. Do the same thing with epoxy on the bottom of the colony rock. Wait 5 minutes or so for them to begin to harden. then place super glue on the bottom of the epoxy attached to the frag and mate the two epoxy pieces together under water. works for me every time.

 

[landlord]

I have done a variant of mille239's idea. I made an epoxy donut or cylinder which I placed on the liverock. Once it hardened it became a sheath to recieve the larger fragment, which also had epoxy around its stalk. It was like plugging a male connector into a female one if you get my drift. I isn't the prettiest thing at first but the colony hopefully will start to encrust down the base while the coralline fills in the rest.

 

[SteveNMegz]

just wondering what epoxy you guys use and where to get it? since we're having tons of trouble getting colonies to stay put

 

[9501gle]

IME epoxy can sometimes cause tissue loss at the base. I just use alot of super glue.

 

[landlord]

Home Depot - Aquamend

Online retailers also offer variuos types in a couple colors.

 

[SunnyX]

Drill a hole through the live rock and affix the coral with a zip tie.

 

[chet_lau]

Ok this may sound dumb but how do you drill holes in your rock if they are submerged with other corals growing on them?

 

[landlord]

You would remove them from the water. If you can cleanly remove the liverock even if you have a colony growing on it you should still be OK for a quick drilling. The exposed colonies will probably just slime over and take it in stride. If you fear that you will damage your existing corals then it's probably not a good idea.

Just my opinion --landlord

 

[GSMguy]

i use deltec aquarium epoxy and super glue gell, i use the gel on the rocks before i put the putty on so it sticks double good.