Attaching frags underwater

[Coralsdaily]

Hi,
What do you guys use to attach frags underwater when it is impossible to remove the rock out lf water to attach?

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I glue my frags to rubble and then u can place and glue onto structure

 

[JakeAndAmanda]

Gel superglue

 

[T-J]

Make a sandwich of glue/epoxy/glue. Works like a charm!

 

[EricR]

Are we talking about on frag plugs?
If so, I just used original Super Glue Gel on a couple about a week ago and it worked fine. (Urchin was carrying them off almost daily and now they've stayed put since)

Plug stems were already cut off (...just used dikes from the garage).
Pulled each frag out, dried the button of plug with towel (kind of), blobbed a ball of Super Glue Gel to the bottom of the plug (out of water), then held in place on rock in tank for maybe 30-60 seconds. (((seemed to work out fine so far)))

 

[JumboShrimp]

Super-cheap at Harbor Freight. Make sure it says “Gel” on the package. Once you open and use a tube it will pretty much be shot (clog up), so these mini sizes are perfect for just a few frags at a time.

 

[vsolovyev]

Gel superglue, it works underwater well but my experience with it is after a while it will unattach if the frag doesn’t grow over the plug fast enough, works best if you glue it out of water and let it settle for a minute before putting back in water

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi,
What do you guys use to attach frags underwater when it is impossible to remove the rock out lf water to attach?

Gel super glue.

If the surfaces are very uneven with few contact points (super glue is a pressure adhesive so needs firm contact), I use Aquaforest Afix which is a two part reef safe epoxy, press it onto the frag and then onto the rock so it creates a mould, and then let it set in the tank on a frag rack. Next day use some super glue to bond the sandwich together onto the rock.

 

[boeingn747]

Hi,
What do you guys use to attach frags underwater when it is impossible to remove the rock out lf water to attach?

Super glue. Once the glue hits the water it gets a film on the surface so scrape it against the rock to break open the skin and it will stick great. For big coral or rocks I use the "hybird" system. Epoxy puddy and superglue.

 

[Coralsdaily]

Thank you everyone! Looks like gel superglue is the universal response! Will do that!

 

[scottj6]

Make a sandwich of glue/epoxy/glue. Works like a charm!

+1

 

[bnord]

after lots of re-attraches and various epoxies has settled on the Tunze - a little pricey but easy, quick, firm and works well with CA gel
just learn to mix only what you need and it lasts a good long while

 

[jfoahs04]

Thank you everyone! Looks like gel superglue is the universal response! Will do that!

I use superglue gel alone for sticks (and other smaller corals) that I'm gluing without frag plugs. Make sure you apply pressure (press/hold in place) for 30 seconds or so before taking your hand out, otherwise the glue may be too soft and the frag will fall over.

Coral putty/epoxy is better for bigger frags/colonies/plugs on an uneven surface as it molds to the surface. I double down by making the "sandwich" - putting glue on the frag, sticking the putty to the glued part of the frag, and then adding more glue to the side of the putty that will contact the rock. Press/hold for 30 seconds or so, then done.

 

[Coralsdaily]

I use superglue gel alone for sticks (and other smaller corals) that I'm gluing without frag plugs. Make sure you apply pressure (press/hold in place) for 30 seconds or so before taking your hand out, otherwise the glue may be too soft and the frag will fall over.

Coral putty/epoxy is better for bigger frags/colonies/plugs on an uneven surface as it molds to the surface. I double down by making the "sandwich" - putting glue on the frag, sticking the putty to the glued part of the frag, and then adding more glue to the side of the putty that will contact the rock. Press/hold for 30 seconds or so, then done.

Thanks, my corals have encrusted the frag plugs pretty well so I chose to leave them on the plug and glued the whole thing in. I tried to find spaces that are relatively snug to the plug and apply the glue along the rim of the plug, didn’t hold them for 30 seconds like you suggested (this this before your post) but fingers crossed they will encrust over soon

 

[JasperDog]

Great info, thanks all! Was about to post about this... will try out the suggestions here.