hammer branch frag

[darkiss]

If someone gives you a branch of a hammer coral, can you just stick it into the sand? or do you need to glue it to a rock or something first?

[SaltyWenStirred]

I had my hammer near the bottom but raised it. In fact, I may have to move it back down a little. But I glued it to one of my rocks so that the arms can sway without hitting the sand or the rock. Mine doesn't open as big as it used to. I think it might be getting too much flow.

But for sure I'd start yours out low.

[sponger0]

Putting it on the sand on on the 1/4 bottom area of the tank is perfect.

[darkiss]

I think I was not clear in my question I will try again.

Okay, I know that it is the proper placement for my hammer, since I have another different colored hammer and frog spawn next to it. However, the other two have frag plugs and are not just directly cut off the mother and placed in the sand. Basically I have a new hammer frag that was directly cut off the mother and then I have just place this in the sand, without putting it on a frag plug. Will it be okay?

[customguy79]

def bottom 1/4 of tank. both my frogspawn and hammer are in the rock work but not glued. every month or so ill turn them 90 degrees so they grow in a dome shape since they tend grow in the direction of the light

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[sponger0]

Gluing it onto something is a better idea. Anything can come by and knock it down.

[DownwardDawg]

Yes. I have several pieces of a branching hammer that the branches are stuck in the sand. It'll be just fine.

[darkiss]

and if I have nothing that will knock it down... is it okay for it to just directly touch the sand? Will it grow new heads that come up from the sand?

[darkiss]

DownwardDawg thank you. I was not sure if it was like a plant or something that would absorb parts of the sand if it was directly on the bottom and cause it to become sick or something.

but I will keep it as it is, since it is a beautiful pink hammer and I just wanted to make sure that it would be okay to stick it in the sand without a frag plug.

[darkiss]

can you also stick sps directly in the sand?

[sponger0]

No you cant stick SPS on the sand unless just for acclimating. They need alot more light.

[DownwardDawg]

No you cant stick SPS on the sand unless just for acclimating. They need alot more light.

^^^This^^^^^. SPS is completely different. I'm a beginner at SPS, but the few I have are on frag "discs". I place them on the sandbed for a week or so and then move them up on the rocks and glue the frag.

[darkiss]

ya and that is how she has been, up high in the tank ( green slimer ) this coral I have seen growing in some dark tanks in other peoples houses as well...

But ya the only reason I ask is to make sure that it is not going to get some type of infection from being in the sand, since it fell off the frag plug that it was glued on, no idea how it happened i guess it was just not glued the best.

[Ngoodermuth]

But ya the only reason I ask is to make sure that it is not going to get some type of infection from being in the sand, since it fell off the frag plug that it was glued on, no idea how it happened i guess it was just not glued the best.

Just swish it off and glue it back on the plug... it will be fine :)

[darkiss]

Unfortunately I broke myself buying everything for this 120gallon that I am setting up, or I would just go ahead and buy some glue and put it back in place.

So if no infections can happen from being in the sand I think that is where she will have to stay until the other tank is ready

[sponger0]

Unfortunately I broke myself buying everything for this 120gallon that I am setting up, or I would just go ahead and buy some glue and put it back in place.

So if no infections can happen from being in the sand I think that is where she will have to stay until the other tank is ready

Cant afford $3 pack of superglue?

[darkiss]

well I have normal superglue laying around the house.... but I feel that would not be good for my aquarium and I believe the best glue to use is actually a gel and the best brand would be IC-GEL

[Ngoodermuth]

You can use regular old super glue, as long as it is the gel kind. Walmart stocks plenty. If you buy the liquid though, it won't work as it just runs when it hits the water.

I usually apply the glue, stick it on the plug (or right to the rock work where you want it to be permanently) and hold it underwater for a second or two until it bonds... and then you are good to go. Done this with many, many frags.

Leaving it in the sand is not a good idea, as the part pushed into the sand will die.

[Palting]

You are better off gluing and getting the SPS frag off the sand. SPS tissue will not take kindly to laying on sand and will die. Whatever is not touching the sand may also die from lack of adequate light.

[Spyderturbo007]

You can also grab a 2-pack of the SuperGlue Gel at the Dollar Store for....yep, $1. :)

[darkiss]

ya alright I will figure something out with it then tonight, I will just play around with it until I can get it in between some rocks or something.

glad I can leave the hammer alone, it finally opened up today after shipping. This hammer must have been really upset, it set out it's war tenticals the moment it was put into the tank for about 2days, then it stayed kind of closed, and now it is start to open up slowly. Wonderful purple and was worth the 20$

[Fizz71]

Nothing beats superglue gel for SPS, but I personally like using the reef safe putty on branching hammer. Find a piece of live rock with a hole, jam some putty in and CAREFULLY push your hammer in (and push some putty around it). Putty is far from permanent so if you F- with it enough it will break loose, but it's usually enough to keep it stable from them CUC bumping it around and makes it easier to place in the rock work or on the sand.

Bottom line...the structure below the heads is open season for glue, putty, sand or just stuck between rocks.

[JustinM]

Hammer coral is an LPS by the way. I always put my branches in a nook or something, some have been puttied and some not. Easier removal for the future too if you want to frag it:)

[Palting]

ya alright I will figure something out with it then tonight, I will just play around with it until I can get it in between some rocks or something.

glad I can leave the hammer alone, it finally opened up today after shipping. This hammer must have been really upset, it set out it's war tenticals the moment it was put into the tank for about 2days, then it stayed kind of closed, and now it is start to open up slowly. Wonderful purple and was worth the 20$

Sounds good :thumbsup: I have one large hammer sitting on the substrate. Putting this LPS in a lower flow area also helps keep those stinger tentacles from reaching too far. Try looking at it under actinic lights only, and see those hammer heads positively glow with flourescence.

As to the SPS frag, I don't understand why you won't spend $1-$3 to glue it up on the rocks or on a frag plug you can then place higher up close to the lights.