Frags do better than most people think outside the water. Remember, many zoanthids and mushroom corals are intertidal animals that are often exposed to the tides. This is the reason they are able to close tight and retain water within the polyps. Have you ever walked the tide pools and see stuff squirt? Or even stepped on some round polyps and have them squirt all over the place? These are commonly button polyps and encrusting anemones. They are adapted for exposre to air. Therefore, having them outside the tank is not as detrimental as many people think.
However, there are ways to limit the out-of-water time to facilitate attaching frags to rock and such.
I use superglue to attach shrooms and zoos to small rocks. I use Deltec epoxy for mounting small rock with zoos or shrooms to the reef structure. I also use Deltec epoxy to mount hard corals right to the reef structure.
Here are the methods I use:
Collect 5-10 loose frags (shrooms, zoos) place then in a small container with tank water. Grab several small rocks and place them on a towel. Rough dry the rock. Remove the frags one at a time, dab dry then superglue as Mike says to the small rocks. Then dab into the small container of tank water, then place in sump or fuge overnight.
The following day, most frags will still be attached to the rocks. Those that came off need to be reattached. Now, epoxy the frags on rocks to the reef structure. I use the same methods as above for this.
Good luck and have fun.
