anyone around leesburg that can help us tomorrow

[Huly]

We are trying to attach coral and things are nit going well. Please please please can someone come help us and show us what we are doing wrong.

[Steve175]

I'd love to help, but live pretty far. I found this very helpful:

 

http://www.vividaqua...om/fragging.asp "Check out mounting frags: using glue and putty"

 

I do this almost identically and it works very well.

Edited March 2, 2013 by Steve175

[Jan]

It's easy -

Mix a small ball size of marine epoxy

Add glue to one end of the epoxy after you mixed it well

Attach the coral to the end with the glue firmly

Add glue to the other end

Attach that bare end, the one with glue but no coral, to the rock by pressing gently but firmly and hold it place a few seconds.

[LCDRDATA]

Can you describe what it is that you are doing?

 

Depending on the size of the frag/plug/piece of rubble, here's a procedure that has worked well for me (and for a few others I know as well). You'll need an epoxy putty (two little fishies, D-D aquascape, Boston Aqua, etc. - I've been using JB WaterWeld from Home Depot), a gel cyanoacrylate glue (BRS thick/extra thick, BSI Cyanoacrylate IC-Gel, etc), a towel, and your frags.

1) Work up an appropriately sized ball of epoxy;

2) apply a generous blob of glue to one spot on the ball;

3) quickly dry off the frag plug, rubble, etc. where you want to attach it;

4) press that location into the glue and partially into the epoxy;

5) apply another good blob of glue to the opposite side of the epoxy; and

6) press that location into the location you want the frag to be. G.

7) You'll have about 15-20 seconds to make sure you have things where you want them; get enough deformation in the epoxy to make sure you have a good mechanical bond to go along with the glue.

8) The glue and epoxy will cure underwater, but try to make sure nothing bumps the frag hard for 24 hours or so.

 

Naturally, for some smaller frags and softies this won't be appropriate, but where it is it works quite well. Maybe this is old news to you, but I thought I'd write it out just to be sure.

[LCDRDATA]

It looks like you've gotten the same answer from three people - hopefully it helps

[Huly]

We add the Echtech coral glue and try to place it and we can't get anything to stick

[Coral Hind]

What type of corals are you trying to glue? I need to run to Tractor Supply so I could stop by if need be.

[Jan]

Do you have epoxy? You should use epoxy with the glue. BRK carries it and so does F&F's.

We add the Echtech coral glue and try to place it and we can't get anything to stick

[CaptainRon]

Do the epoxy and superglue gel trick that several others have already recommended. Works like a champ.

[Huly]

Coral we would love you buy you lunch your favorite beer whatever you want. All corals need to be glued down. Torch zoas montipora etc. We do have a stick of epoxy and last time we tried it we screwed that up too. Honestly I think it is user error. We are doing something wrong and can't figure out what. Tractor Supply is a mile from my house. I will PM you address and my cell.

[Coral Hind]

So you are doing to it under water in the tank and not onto frag plugs?

[Huly]

Most are on rocks or like the torch turn it upside down bring bottom out of water put glue on and try to stick.

[Jan]

Chris,

The green with white epoxy is horrible. It's best to use gray or even pink epoxy. I have trouble with the green and white too. It needs to be worked for a long time before you get the right consistancy. It should be like a well chewd bubble gum (LOL!!!), not playdough. then all you have to do is add the glue and coral.

[Jan]

Glue by itself is too hard to work with in water.

Most are on rocks or like the torch turn it upside down bring bottom out of water put glue on and try to stick.

[sachabballi reef]

also dont be alarmed if your skimmer goes nuts after you use the tube of epoxy (you have to use the pink or grey stuff...the other is crap)....

just make a little ball of the epoxy after you get it to ABC gum stage ...and then make that the filling in a glue sandwich...the glue will hold the epoxy to the rock and the frag...and hold it while the epoxy hardens....

Edited March 3, 2013 by sachabballi reef

[Jan]

LOL...ABC gum!!!

[sachabballi reef]

[Jan]

Im going to make a you tube video of this too.

[Huly]

I think our epoxy is brown???

[Origami]

Christie, If Coralhind makes it by, he'll get you set up. I'll use the superglue(gel)-epoxy-superglue(gel) sandwich approach when I have stubborn or oddly shaped frags. Most of the time, I break the coral off of the frag plug, rather than using it. However, I don't always do this. I sometimes will only use superglue gel alone. This is a little trickier. When taking this approach, I form a blob on the frag, dipping it in the water to form a skin over it. Then I'll add more gel and dip it again. I'll do this three or four times until I have a rather large blob on the frag. Then I'll place it firmly on the rock. The pressure often breaks open the bubble of gel and the frag adheres well enough to stay until it encrusts to the rock. It's not as secure, though, as the epoxy sandwich approach, but good enough for most work.

 

I'd come by, but I pulled my lower back today moving sections of a tree I took down a number of weeks ago. I'll keep an eye on this thread, though, and if needed, I'll pay a visit.

[sachabballi reef]

I think our epoxy is brown???

 

LOL so you didn't like the choice of rock grey or coraline red,....you went with skimmate brown?? interesting choice

[Huly]

It was the only color they had lol

 

TY Tom hope you feel better

[Jan]

So you have the green and white one?

It was the only color they had lol

 

TY Tom hope you feel better

[Huly]

It is in a long tube and has a brown tint. Wouldn't say green and white. It is all one color. Bought it at F&F

[zygote2k]

just get some super glue and follow the instructions that Jan posted. Not really difficult at all.