Mounting SPS

[dobly_1999]

What brand glue and method to mount sps to rock or base to rock?

 

[dominga]

Mount the frag first to a small piece of live rock or frag plug with super glue(GEL form), then wait couple minutes so there is a good contact betwen layers. Make a small ball of epox(aquamend sold at Home depot), then apply gel glue to the bottom of the plug or small rock after that make contact with the epoxy and put pressure so they glue together, after that put gel glue at the bottom of the epoxy where the live rock is going to make contact, and hold it in place for 30 seconds.
This technique works great and the crabs or any other cleaning crew member can not bulldoze your frag or colonies around.
Solid as a rock.

 

[bezlar]

What about the ora black plugs? Do You cut the bottom fo the plug off and if so how? Or do you pop the frag off the plug?

Thanks

 

[snorvich]

Totally agree with dominga; that is exactly what I do.

 

[dominga]

The plugs are use to allow the coral to spread and have a holding space (encrusting), but you can cut the bottom of plugs either plastic or concrete mixed and it will give you more surface for contact with the glue. If you find a small crevice where the plug fits with the bottom really snug just make a ring of epoxy and use the same technique then the bottom of the plug will be inside the little crevice or hole and the epoxy with the glue will contact the rock.

 

[dominga]

To cut plugs use bone cutters aka reef cutters or rust proof wire cutters.

 

[dobly_1999]

OK, let me see if I understand this method.
1. Use gel glue to glue coral to plug, hold 30 sec to set
2. Make a ball of eproxy
3. apply gel glue to bottom of plug, then apply eproxy to glue on bottom. wait 30 sec.
4. Apply gel glue to bottom of eproxy, then press on live rock for 30 sec.

Please correct. Thanks,

 

[DanInSD]

Why do you need the epoxy? Why not gel glue the frag to the plug, and then gel-glue the plug to the rock?

 

[sjfishguy]

I cut all my frags off the plugs they come with and epoxy them right to the rockwork with Marinland epoxy putty. I hate the way plugs look. The epoxy is also better than super glue gel in most cases because it can hold more weight initially and cures to a stronger hold. I only use super glue gel for the tiniest SPS frags and zoos.

 

[dominga]

the combination of glue gel and epoxy works great, using only gel glue will not give strong holding due to the porosity of the rock. I have lost frags using only gel or epoxy alone , the crabs or snails just pushed them out of place and then they end up at the bottom of the tank and get tissue damage. It will cost a little more but I rather spend 5 or 10 extra bucks and save my corals.

The layers

Frag bottom
Glue gel
Epoxy
Glue gel
Live rock
_________

Strong Hold


Good luck and keep your reef happy do it right the first time.

 

[trueblackpercula]

super glue gel got it from local supermarket $2 bucks

Michael

 

[Billy P]

super gel I like dur-o brand but they are all close