How to move corals and attach them?

[dym]

Hello everyone, I want to start moving all my corals into proper rock work. I have 5 corals: GSP, zoanthids, duncan, chalice, and blasto coral. They've all been in the sand since I got them, they were all doing good but now things have slowed, the tentacles on my GSP got shorter and my blasto seems smaller, the par is too low pretty sure they are like 20-18 inches deep, where should I attach them and how can I do that? I tried it with a extra plug they don't go into anywhere. It's my first aquarium btw. this is the rating for my light

fluval marine 3.0
370 par at 3 inches, 181 at 6 inches, and 65 at 12 inches

 

[Science/G]

With a couple of those corals I think you might be able to pop them off the frag plug, which would be a good start. Then I recommend using gorilla super glue gel, non-toxic reef safe, to attach those corals to your aquascape. Easy peasy.

 

[Science/G]

All of those corals will do well anywhere between about 75 to 150 par. So about 9 in from your water surface. The Chalice Coral looks great, I might even think about putting it on a pile or kind of a flat rock right where it is, just to keep sand from getting on it.

 

[Science/G]

Give the green star polyp the most flow, but remember once it gets settled it's going to spread and take over whatever rock it's on.

 

[sgdnycct]

One thing I’d suggest is the gsp- keep that in an island. They grow very fast.

 

[Red_Beard]

The gel super glue brand super glue you can get from the dollar store in 2 packs, way more economical. The tips always get all gloopy once they touch any water anyhow and you wont feel bad for tossing the container after one session.
The advice above is excellent.

 

[exnisstech]

Another vote for keeping the GSP in its own Island at least until you decide how much you like or dislike it. I have some in 4 tanks and love it. I'm trying to get it to cover the bottom on one buts it's a large tank. Happy GSP can over take a small tank if not kept in check and it grows fast when happy. I have some on a back wall and have to scrape it off the weirs every 2 weeks.

 

[dym]

The gel super glue brand super glue you can get from the dollar store in 2 packs, way more economical. The tips always get all gloopy once they touch any water anyhow and you wont feel bad for tossing the container after one session.
The advice above is excellent.

How do u do that? I have gorilla glue gel do you need to take the rock out of the water first? Or can I put glue on the plug then submerge it? Also do you know if I can move them immediately or do i have to get them used to higher par

 

[Science/G]

How do u do that? I have gorilla glue gel do you need to take the rock out of the water first? Or can I put glue on the plug then submerge it? Also do you know if I can move them immediately or do i have to get them used to higher par

Put the glue on the plug four on the base of the coral skeleton and then place it onto the rock. Wiggle it around and then hold it in place for a few seconds. As far as par I think if you keep in mind the ranges the corals require and what your light is putting out I don't think you really need to acclimate them.

 

[Red_Beard]

How do u do that? I have gorilla glue gel do you need to take the rock out of the water first? Or can I put glue on the plug then submerge it? Also do you know if I can move them immediately or do i have to get them used to higher par

All the glue needs to be applied outside of the tank. My favorite way to mount plugs is to use a small blob of epoxy with the glue, instant ocean epoxy is usually readily available at petco if your lfs doesnt have any.
You make an epoxy/superglue sandwich. The superglue will stick quick and hold everything in place, the epoxy forms to the rock and gives the super glue more surface area to stick to. Cut the plug stem off, mix up a small amount of epoxy and put a dab of glue on the bottom of the plug and then stick the epoxy onto it. Mould the epoxy to the bottom so it gets a good flat spot and then put another dab of superglue on the bottom of the epoxy, then squish the plug onto your rock where you want it mounted. The extra super glue layer will keep it attached while the epoxy cures.

To glue frags to plugs, or frags directly to the scape, it depends on what you are gluing, but most of the time the way @Science/G recommends is best. Just a layer of glue. Things will grow to the plug/rock faster if they dont have a wad in the way to have to overgrow first.