How to adhere SPS to Live rock (pics coming)

[oscar.millan]

I am having some trouble adhering my SPS colonies to my rock and was wondering how others tackled the same problem.

I'm using Two Little Fishes Epoxy, but I'm not having much luck.

Any tips are welcomed - I'll be posting pics tonight in reference to my setup.

Thanks everyone!

0scar M.

 

[cshutchinson]

Make a frag -> super glue -> epoxy -> super glue -> live rock sandwich. Works every time.

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

Make a frag -> super glue -> epoxy -> super glue -> live rock sandwich. Works every time.

started doing this method recently, works great

 

[oscar.millan]

Any pics/examples?

My biggest issue right now is that I have a nice Acro that I grew from a 1 inch frag (now closer to 6 to 7 inches) and from the growth it's catching a lot more flow. The base rock that it's attacked to no longer heavy enough to hold it in place.

Poor thing keeps falling almost on a daily basis and it's getter irritated.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[oscar.millan]

By the way, if it sounds like I'm complaining - I'm sorry. It's actually a very nice problem to have. Growth has been great on this little guy.

 

[cindre2000]

Ditto to the above.

Remove the rock and dry the section you are glueing.
Apply superglue gel.
Apply 2-part epoxy.
Apply superglue gel onto the epoxy.
Place it the position you want the rock/coral to be and apply a twist and pressure to make sure the super glue gets good contact on the rock in the water.

So far I have had pieces last 3-6 months this way (long enough for the coral to encrust).

2-part is not sticky, super glue is.
Super glue does not fill gaps well, 2-part epoxy does.

 

[Reefobsession]

I just take the frag off the plug, Put some Loctite super glue control gel and place it on a rock and hold for 30 secconds or so. I used to pull the rock out. Glueing underwater is effective and much easier.

 

[James404]

Ditto to the above.

Remove the rock and dry the section you are glueing.
Apply superglue gel.
Apply 2-part epoxy.
Apply superglue gel onto the epoxy.
Place it the position you want the rock/coral to be and apply a twist and pressure to make sure the super glue gets good contact on the rock in the water.

So far I have had pieces last 3-6 months this way (long enough for the coral to encrust).

2-part is not sticky, super glue is.
Super glue does not fill gaps well, 2-part epoxy does.

This is what I do as well, I use JB water weld for the epoxy. Haven't had a frag fall yet with this method. When I was just super gluing to the rock by itself I was having frags fall all the time. Very annoying.

 

[fcmatt]

i prefer just super glue and a minimal amount at that. i find using the two part putty stuff
takes ages for the coral to grow over while a bit of super glue gel is quickly hidden by
new growth. Also the super glue is hard to see compared to the other stuff.

The only downfall is that super glue instantly gets a skin when placed in water and a lot
of twisting takes place while handling the coral. Naturally this irritates the crap out of the
frag and one has to wait weeks for it to recover any rough handling.

 

[oscar.millan]

Thanks everyone for all of your replies, it sounds like the failsafe way is to used both superglue and epoxy.

I actually used epoxy and it would work for a day or two, just to see the pieces of epoxy at the bottom of the tank along with the coral tips down on the sand.

I think both would work, I'll try it and let you guys know.

I'm in the process of posting pics as promised.

 

[thebanker]

Here's what I do. Take a snail shell off the bottom (unused snail / hermit shell). Use TLF Coraffix gel to attach the frag to the bottom of the shell. Then I dry fit the shell into a hole in LR, point-in. I'll put a little Coraffix on the shell's point first, and it's good to go!

 

[Reefobsession]

i prefer just super glue and a minimal amount at that. i find using the two part putty stuff
takes ages for the coral to grow over while a bit of super glue gel is quickly hidden by
new growth. Also the super glue is hard to see compared to the other stuff.

The only downfall is that super glue instantly gets a skin when placed in water and a lot
of twisting takes place while handling the coral. Naturally this irritates the crap out of the
frag and one has to wait weeks for it to recover any rough handling.

I really don't think that me touching my SPS hurts it all that much. I never have any issues. I really don't have to wist the frag that much to get ti to stick.

 

[ChicagoReefOne]

I would stick with the Loctite brand superglue, I've used the cheap $1 brands and they don't stick as well and grow cyano more readily.