Arghhhhh! Why aren’t they sticking!!

[Emma01]

Hi everyone.
I’m just delving into the coral world and now have frags.
I’m having a big problem trying to attach them to my rocks. They won’t stick!
I’ve tried putty (tunze 2part, Ecotech glue) neither of which work.
What am I doing wrong here!
I’ve not got any flat surfaces I can put the frags onto in the tank.
It’s driving me crazy. What can I do to get them to stick, as at the moment it’s putting me off having anymore corals because of it.


Thanks
Emma

 

[ScottR]

Hi everyone.
I’m just delving into the coral world and now have frags.
I’m having a big problem trying to attach them to my rocks. They won’t stick!
I’ve tried putty (tunze 2part, Ecotech glue) neither of which work.
What am I doing wrong here!
I’ve not got any flat surfaces I can put the frags onto in the tank.
It’s driving me crazy. What can I do to get them to stick, as at the moment it’s putting me off having anymore corals because of it.


Thanks
Emma

Are these the plugs that look like T’s, like they need a hole to be placed in? Or look like discs? If the T type, I always cut the tip off with bone cutters and then glue with cyanoacrylate.

 

[OnPointCorals]

Hey Emma,

A very effective way is to use 2 part epoxy and on each side apply a little super glue gel. You will have success with this method.

 

[Emma01]

Are these the plugs that look like T’s, like they need a hole to be placed in? Or look like discs? If the T type, I always cut the tip off with bone cutters and then glue with cyanoacrylate.

They’re the round ones.

 

[Emma01]

Hey Emma,

A very effective way is to use 2 part epoxy and on each side apply a little super glue gel. You will have success with this method.

Does that mean to roll a ball of epoxy. Glue one side of the epoxy and attach to the rock, then glue the underside of the plug and secure to the epoxy that I’ve put in place?

Thanks
Emma

 

[OnPointCorals]

Does that mean to roll a ball of epoxy. Glue one side of the epoxy and attach to the rock, then glue the underside of the plug and secure to the epoxy that I’ve put in place?

Thanks
Emma

Exactly.

 

[Emma01]

I’ve just tried this....... and it

Hey Emma,

A very effective way is to use 2 part epoxy and on each side apply a little super glue gel. You will have success with this method.

worked!!! Thank you so so much! Hopefully it’ll stay there!

Thanks everyone so much!

Emma

 

[Emma01]

Exactly.

How long does it take to set completely (the superglue) it’s still rather sticky on the rock. I’ve had to put a cover over the coral at the moment because my shrimp is trying to eat the glue.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

It can take up to 30 minutes for it to completely harden, in my experience it is normally done in around 5.

 

[Emma01]

It can take up to 30 minutes for it to completely harden, in my experience it is normally done in around 5.

It’s still sticky around the edges. Is there anything I can do to speed the process up for dry time?

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Is it still submerged in your tank? If so then not really. But if you are gluing corals to frag plugs you can use an accelerator that let's you use less glue and it dries faster.

 

[Emma01]

Is it still submerged in your tank? If so then not really. But if you are gluing corals to frag plugs you can use an accelerator that let's you use less glue and it dries faster.

Yes it’s submerged, guess I’ll just sit and wait.
Thanks for the tip for fragging.