View Full Version : what to use to glue sps to LR?
briantson
02/01/2006, 03:39 PM
Can you guys tell me what do you use to glue down coral to LR? I have used epoxy putty from drsfostersmith.com : http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3962&Ntt=epoxy&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1
but it's just a piece of crap!! It claimed to work underwater and cure in 24 hours. Believe me! I have waited for more than 48 hours and that ****! is nothing but a waste of money.
Additionally, when I purchased the sps coral, they come attached to a circular disc about 1 1/2 diamter. Am I supposed to remove it from the disc or not? I have tried to remove it, but it seemed to be glued in pretty good and are unable to remove it from the disc unless I use a bone cutter.
Please advise.
cj_basser
02/01/2006, 06:36 PM
cut the frag form the disc using bone cutters. Then, using this sequence of expoxy/ super glue gel, attatch it to the rock.
Frag> Gel> epoxy> Gel> Rock
This creates a good resting place for the frag, and a sturdy base. The left over skelaton/ tissue on the disc will regrow, and you will have a nice little frag that will grow.
Or you could just use the same sequence of epoxy/ gel, and put the frag disc and frag on the rock. I would personally cut the frag from the rock, once you have determined the correct place for it to flourish in your tank.
clnreef
02/02/2006, 12:01 AM
Super Glue Gel.......specifically I use Duro brand "Quik Gel" from Wally World.
jdieck
02/02/2006, 01:00 AM
Why to risk damaging the frag? Just set it with disk and all on the live rock (A crevice will work well and if you like you can hide the base it with some rubble. The coral will soon grow covering the area around and the disk will not be seen. Alternatively you can use the bone cutters to reduce the size of the disk by nipping it around but without actually cutting the frag. Use a good epoxy or cyanoacrylate gel to glue the remining of the disk to a small to medium sized rock.
Actually I have never had problems with Aquastick from Two Little Fishies not curing but note that any epoxi putty will not actually glue the piece but rather trap it and as such it has to be pushed to crevices in the rock and around the base of the coral, do not expect it to actually stick to either the coral or the rock.
For Cyano gel (Which I always used outside the aquarium and then submerge once cured) is the Zap Gel, you can get a 2 ounce tube for about $6.50 to $7.00
Keep it in the fridge (Not freezer) for longer life but let it warm to room temperature before using.
http://www.modeltool.com/zap/glue4.html
MiddletonMark
02/03/2006, 06:34 AM
jdieck has excellent advice.
I'm a fan of cyanoacrylate [only cyano in my tank ;)] super glue gel. It bonds quickly, so is a nice companion to the overnight-hardening epoxy, which IMO does better against Turbo snail bulldozing.
With a combination of the two like mentioned above, I've mounted a few frags on my overflow [always seem to come off glass within a week ...] where they've encrusted.
As for the cement discs - you can cut them down with the clippers mentioned above, I also cut mine down sometimes out of tank with my dremel. No reason to worry, though - as eventually it will encrust over that and you'll forget there was a plug there.
Though to make things fit in the rockwork securely - always consider cutting excess plug.
Personally, I like having my frags mounted on rock, a plug ... if I need to move it, much easier than glued to the rockwork [as once encrusted in a few months, you've got to frag it to get it off]. At least on plugs, discs, LR rubble - you've got half a year to be sure you want it attached right there.
rustybucket145
02/08/2006, 03:33 PM
I have had great success with Ross Super Glue Gell purchased at the Dollar Store for (you guessed it) $1 for two tubes. I found this to be much cheaper than the gel sold at Wally world, often $2-$3 per pack. Doesn't seem like much money, but why pay double? The quality of the Ross is the same, if not better than High End Name Brands.
RevHtree
02/26/2006, 01:39 AM
I found a 10 pack of the durso superglue gel at Lowes for $5.88
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