Mounting frags in a Display Tank

[rdlisby]

So, I bought some frags from a local individual about a month ago. I want to mount them in my display tank; I think I have figured out where I want them all to be considering their light and water flow requirements. I am going to use D-D Aquascape Epoxy, but if I mount an SPS in one spot and find it is not doing well will I be able to move it?

[dots]

First and foremost, QT them and/or dip them.

I prefer to cut any plastic or cement plug off of them, this gives the tank a more "natural" look, as well eliminate any places were pests could hide.

I then use superglue gel to mount frags on a piece of rubble rock. Mounting it upright is fine, if you lay it lengthwise, it provides a base for mutliple radial coralites to from axial coralites and as a result forms a better colony, but isn't that good looking for quite a while.

I then glue that piece of rubble rock with superglue onto the location of my choice. Given that it will take a long time for the piece to fully encrust over the rubble and to the parent material, I can move it where I need should flow, light, or other corals become a problem.

As the corals get bigger, and superglue just isnt enough I use some epoxy with a dab of glue on both sides as the epoxy isn't very sticky.

[jackblack559]

great advice..this is exactly how i do mines too..

[A.VOID]

They can be pried off the epoxy without too much effort. It keeps them in place, but it can come off.

[RockDocPro]

I agree with the other posters. You can get epoxied corals off the rock work with a gentle "rocking" motion, back and forth very gently. No need to force it, the wiggling will allow some water to get between the layers and the coral will pop off, but be patient. Also, as an aside, when I move a coral from the frag tank to the diplay, frequently I will cut off the coral near the base, while still leaving a bit of live coral on the plug. That way I return the plug as a new baby frag back into the frag tank.

[TomRep]

I personally mount the coral on the plug in the location I want it. i just use superglue to mount the plug. The I wait a couple weeks to be sure the coral is happy and everything is going smooth. if it is, i take the coral off the plug and mount it where the plug was. I use superglue for this as well, but you can use epoxy if thats what you prefer. If you mount the coral in a location with epoxy and the coral isn't happy, sure you can remove the coral but then you have the hardened epoxy on the rockwork. JMO.
tom

[EvMiBo]

What does everyone use to cut the frag off of the plug? I've mounted a couple plugs in the tank, they're holding fine but I can't stand seeing the plug itself..

[EvMiBo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15286850#post15286850 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvMiBo
What does everyone use to cut the frag off of the plug? I've mounted a couple plugs in the tank, they're holding fine but I can't stand seeing the plug itself..

anyone?

(other than snapping it off ;) )

[partsguy247]

I know the plug is ugly. You can cut it off and glue the frag to your rock. Or glue it all in plug and all and and wait for the coral to grow and cover the plug. After six months you will never know there was a plug to begin with.