DragonRage
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I wanted to use some sort of aquarium putty so I can have my torch coral standing upright. Are they ok to use with coral? What are the good brands? Thanks!
using putty?
- Thread starter DragonRage
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Big_D
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It should be fine to use a putty on it as long as you don't put any around the tissue areas of any of the heads, only on the lower hard skelatal areas. Keep in mind that a healthy torch will have tissue as far as an inch or two down the branch, so be careful. As far as what brand, it's best to pick up something from the LFS so you know it's safe for the tank, but any brand they carry should suffice.
Big D
Big D
DragonRage
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Until I can get it around 11 when my lfs opens will it be ok on its side?
DragonRage
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Yeah, it's really nice I got it for a good price too I think, $30 its pretty nice sized. I'm supposed to feed them I'm pretty sure.
Aquamend is a very popular brand that many people use without any problems. You can usually pick it up at Home Depot and sometimes Lowes. I use the store brand from Ace hardware, and it's been both my favorite and the cheapest I've found. Of course, if you're unsure, what they sell at the LFS is always safe. It's just usually a little more expensive (though not too much moreso).
And yes, you can feed your torch coral, but you don't have to. I was never very successful feeding my hammer corals. They'd occasionally grab live brine shrimp and very infrequently, mysis. Eventually, I just stopped trying to feed them directly, and they did just fine.
And yes, you can feed your torch coral, but you don't have to. I was never very successful feeding my hammer corals. They'd occasionally grab live brine shrimp and very infrequently, mysis. Eventually, I just stopped trying to feed them directly, and they did just fine.
DragonRage
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I just came back from one of my LFS and it was $20, I think it should be fine on its side for awhile longer hahah.
Big_D
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11869401#post11869401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SurfnFish
I bought this stuff from my LFS for around $8. It's easy to use, and reef safe. It's just called Holdfast.
This is what the Aquamend at Home Depot and Lowes looks like. It's the same exact putty, just much cheaper. I think it's arouond $3 for a tube, but the tubes are half this size. It's green on the outside with a white center core. You just wack off the amount you need with a knife and then mix it together with yoour hands (I use gloves).
As far as gel super glue... it will work, but only temporarily. Every coral that I've glued with it has poped back off in a matter of time unless the coral managed to encrust it's mount point before the glue gave way.
The trick to using the epoxy is cutting off about twice as much as you think you'll need and use it. You should load the back side if the coral or plug up that you are gluing and then jam it into the crevises on the rock. This allows it form anchor points.
Big D
westhaven reef
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Use epoxy. I bought the Deltec stuff and the color is purple so it blends a lot better then the white stuff.
Logzor
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Aquamend is the same stuff at the LFS only it costs $3.
It does not work well for connecting a large base of wet stony coral to a wet rock. To accomplish this you must also use superglue on each end. It is quite tricky to pull off successfully.
I tried this stuff since superglue was not an option. I needed to mount a large frogspawn to an awkward place on the rock. It just did not stick because everything was so wet.
Also, this stuff will make your skimmer go insane. I have also heard that 4/10,000 batches can pollute you tank.
It does not work well for connecting a large base of wet stony coral to a wet rock. To accomplish this you must also use superglue on each end. It is quite tricky to pull off successfully.
I tried this stuff since superglue was not an option. I needed to mount a large frogspawn to an awkward place on the rock. It just did not stick because everything was so wet.
Also, this stuff will make your skimmer go insane. I have also heard that 4/10,000 batches can pollute you tank.
Super glue gel and epoxy both work well, but they have different plusses and minuses. First, epoxy doesn't actually stick to your corals or rocks, although it hardens very nicely. You really need to work it in and around the crevices in the rock for it to be effective. If you just press it against the rock and expect it to stick, it's not going to work. Superglue, on the other hand, does stick. Use a lot of it, though, because it's not going to give you as strong a bond for this application as you're probably used to with superglue. With a moderate amount of pressure, the frag will break off from where it's glued. This isn't always a bad thing if you think you may want to relocate the frag later on. Superglue is also find to use on the flesh of most corals, whereas epoxy usually is not.
Now, if you want the best of both worlds, you can always use both. Put a nice glob of superglue on the base of the coral, and stick it where you need it. You'll need to work it around a little, because the superglue will form a skin as soon as it touches the water. Next, take some epoxy and work it around the base and into the surrounding rock. That frag's not going anywhere without a good bit of effort.
Now, if you want the best of both worlds, you can always use both. Put a nice glob of superglue on the base of the coral, and stick it where you need it. You'll need to work it around a little, because the superglue will form a skin as soon as it touches the water. Next, take some epoxy and work it around the base and into the surrounding rock. That frag's not going anywhere without a good bit of effort.
DragonRage
New member
I assume that it's in the garden section?
Actually, it's usually in the paint section by the other glues and epoxies.
DragonRage
New member
Oh, thanks!
