How frustrating is mounting corals for you?

[jackintheboxfish]

Getting into reefing, I expected there will be difficulties with a lot of things. But I really didn’t expect the worst part for me being the frustration around mounting corals.

I tried quite a few methods: just super glue gel, just epoxy putty, super glue gel + epoxy putty, etc. I tried different brands of coral glue and epoxy. But nothing is really working for me that’s satisfying. The success rate of the frag staying on the rock for more than a month is less than 50%…

Currently I’m trying out Serious Reef’s sandwich method with the Maxspect putty.

While I’m still trying to figure this out, I just want to know: is this a common experience among everyone? Do experienced reefers have issues as well?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

YES always a big pain in the butt but it's easier or harder depending on where and what you're trying to mount. If it's a frag to a plug it's not that bad. If it's a plug to the rock then it's harder. If it's a frag straight to the rockwork then even harder. And so forth!

 

[jackintheboxfish]

Thanks Rev I’m glad I’m not alone… for me all of them are hard

 

[Gsponi]

I did made a new Reef Tank with new Rock, and because i love Euphyllias i did 3D printet some Mounts and did pre- glue them on the Rock. Now i can easely remove them for dipping and can glue them on the Plugs in dry. But normal with glue and Epoxy is a pain .

 

[Waters]

I guess I am the exception but I never really had any issues other than the occasional frag that a large snail knocks over before it has a chance to "cure". I just use superglue and coral epoxy. Also helps that I mainly glue acros which encrust rather quickly and form a more permanent bond eventually. I also try to glue on more level surfaces or utilize existing holes in the rockwork.

 

[Biff0rz]

I grow a lot of sps so my issue has been keeping them from warefare. I recently started epoxying mounts and plates on top of the rocks. So far so good. I can also move them around, makes it super easy.

example:

 

[Biff0rz]

also, tangs tend to knock my frags off more than anyone, not really a mounting issue, more of a tang issue lol

 

[Schlafrig]

I've had pretty good luck doing the sandwich method with gorilla gel glue and two little fishes putty. I was using jb water weld but was having mixed results. Regardless its still annoying and time consuming mixing the putty and fighting the super glue container.

 

[jackintheboxfish]

I did made a new Reef Tank with new Rock, and because i love Euphyllias i did 3D printet some Mounts and did pre- glue them on the Rock. Now i can easely remove them for dipping and can glue them on the Plugs in dry. But normal with glue and Epoxy is a pain .

it’d be great if you can share the STL or where you found the model!

 

[slingfox]

I use Polylab brand super glue and it seems to work better for in-tank glueing than other brands. It also comes in small tubes so I don’t have to deal with the applicator clogging up due to reuse.

One key step is to hold the coral or frag plug in place in the aquarium for at least one minute (better if longer) so that the bond has a chance to set. Even then the bond fails occasionally but most things stay in place. I don’t believe there is any way to avoid this since the rock has a thin layer of biofilm which weakens the glue bond.

 

[jackintheboxfish]

I guess I am the exception but I never really had any issues other than the occasional frag that a large snail knocks over before it has a chance to "cure". I just use superglue and coral epoxy. Also helps that I mainly glue acros which encrust rather quickly and form a more permanent bond eventually. I also try to glue on more level surfaces or utilize existing holes in the rockwork.

Yeah my acros that had a chance to encrust before falling over were solid. I guess the pre req is that I have to either take them off the plug or cut off the plug “leg” before mounting. Unless I can fit the leg into a hole

 

[jackintheboxfish]

I grow a lot of sps so my issue has been keeping them from warefare. I recently started epoxying mounts and plates on top of the rocks. So far so good. I can also move them around, makes it super easy.

example:

I grow a lot of sps so my issue has been keeping them from warefare. I recently started epoxying mounts and plates on top of the rocks. So far so good. I can also move them around, makes it super easy.

example:

Sorry not sure if I follow. Do you glue the plate onto the rocks? If so how do you move it?

 

[jackintheboxfish]

I use Polylab brand super glue and it seems to work better for in-tank glueing than other brands. It also comes in small tubes so I don’t have to deal with the applicator clogging up due to reuse.

One key step is to hold the coral or frag plug in place in the aquarium for at least one minute (better if longer) so that the bond has a chance to set. Even then the bond fails occasionally but most things stay in place. I don’t believe there is any way to avoid this since the rock has a thin layer of biofilm which weakens the glue bond.

Maybe I should try brushing the spot I’m about to glue?

 

[exnisstech]

What I've found to work well for gluing to rocks is to clean the area on the rock with a brush and put super glue on my finger while wearing a glove of course. Then I rub a layer of super glue on the rock in the area i am going to place the coral. Then I do the glue putty glue sandwich and stick them down. I've had terrible luck if I skip the first two steps. I don't think it matters on the glue used but I use gorilla superglue gel and JB water weld. It depends on how encrusted the piece is in the plug whether I remove the plug or not. I have ended if with a few nice frags from little pieces remaining on a plug after removing the frag. If it heavily encrusted In mount the plug but cut the stem off.

 

[jackintheboxfish]

What I've found to work well for gluing to rocks is to clean the area on the rock with a brush and put super glue on my finger while wearing a glove of course. Then I rub a layer of super glue on the rock in the area i am going to place the coral. Then I do the glue putty glue sandwich and stick them down. I've had terrible luck if I skip the first two steps. I don't think it matters on the glue used but I use gorilla superglue gel amd JB water weld. It depends on how encrusted the piece is in the plug whether I remove the plug or not. I have ended if with a few nice frags from little pieces remaining on a plug after removing the frag. If it heavily encrusted In mount the plug but cut the stem off.

Okay I’m def gonna try the brush and rub glue at the spot before sandwich method

 

[Biff0rz]

Sorry not sure if I follow. Do you glue the plate onto the rocks? If so how do you move it?

There is a plug seat that I glue / epoxy to the rocks. I can then place the frag plug directly in there or place a plate (has a hole in it) between with the plug going through it into the plug seat.

 

[slingfox]

What I've found to work well for gluing to rocks is to clean the area on the rock with a brush and put super glue on my finger while wearing a glove of course. Then I rub a layer of super glue on the rock in the area i am going to place the coral. Then I do the glue putty glue sandwich and stick them down. I've had terrible luck if I skip the first two steps. I don't think it matters on the glue used but I use gorilla superglue gel and JB water weld. It depends on how encrusted the piece is in the plug whether I remove the plug or not. I have ended if with a few nice frags from little pieces remaining on a plug after removing the frag. If it heavily encrusted In mount the plug but cut the stem off.

This is a great idea. I will do this going forward. Maybe I can save some frags that way!

 

[slingfox]

There is a plug seat that I glue / epoxy to the rocks. I can then place the frag plug directly in there or place a plate (has a hole in it) between with the plug going through it into the plug seat.

Great setup! Do you make the plug seats? Someone should 3D print these and sell. I would love to be able to move my SPS around more easily.

 

[exnisstech]

This is a great idea. I will do this going forward. Maybe I can save some frags that way!

I hope it works for you. i can't take credit tho. It's just another tip I picked up while spending too much time reading posts on R2R lol

 

[Waters]

Yeah my acros that had a chance to encrust before falling over were solid. I guess the pre req is that I have to either take them off the plug or cut off the plug “leg” before mounting. Unless I can fit the leg into a hole

Yeah defiantly don't try to glue the leg to the rockwork unless it is in a hole like you said. You want as much contact between the plug and rock as possible. I just snip the end off whenever possible.