Attaching corals/frags underwater?

[jnfallon]

Hi all,

I need to find a good way to epoxy/glue/cement underwater. I'm trying to attach corals to large rocks that cannot be removed. Many of the sites are vertical or nearly so.

I've tried superglue gel, and deltec epoxy stick, and neither maintains any "stickiness" underwater, so the adhesion is minimal - first bump by a turbo snail and they fall off.

Anyone have any suggestions/experience?

 

[AcroSteve]

Superglue gell/epoxy/superglue gell.

very popular.

 

[Chrisrush]

speedglue is supposed to work well when attaching frags to rocks.

 

[sfsuphysics]

IC Gel is one of my tools of choice, it won't give you Insta-stick ability but if you hold it against the spot for 20seconds it usually will hold, if not apply more and re-do. Be generous with the glue. Pretty much any cyanoacrylate will do though, some just are more viscious than others

 

[tom obrecht]

Here's a video you might want to look at. It probably isn't a viable option to take your rock out to drill, but an option perhaps down the road.

http://www.reefvideos.com/reefshowcase_04_content.html

 

[mmotown]

This is what works for me. The coral frag is already on a piece of rock/aragonite chip or whatever. Get some superglue gel and put some on the base of what the coral is attached to. Get some hold fast epoxy and press it into the glue. Get a pencil tip or something to make a hole in the epoxy that will be attached to the base of the rock. In that hole put some super glue gel. Stick the coal in the water and press the coral wherever yo want it. The glue in the hole will spread on the rock securing it. This was told to me by Rick at Reefstuff.com and it works well. Eventually coraline and the coral will eventually cover the epoxy.

 

[PelagicMagic]

Aquamend and krazy glue Gel. Take the aquamend and dab krazy glue gel on the coral base and where the aquamend will touch the Liverock. Aquamend is sold at homedepot. It works very well and is cheap.