I glue animals to rocks: How do you attach frags to your aquascape?

[Peace River]

I glue animals to rocks: How do you attach frags to your aquascape?

I remember the first time I saw the T-Shirt at a reef show that said: “I glue animals to rocks”. I was initially horrified, then I realized it was referring to attaching corals to the rockscape in a reef tank. Side note: R2R strongly encourages the ethical treatment of animals. Maybe you just got your first coral, or you have been keeping corals for many years – either way, when you put the coral into your tank you usually want it to stay where you put it so that you can create a beautiful reefing tank. How do you attach frags to your aquascape? Maybe you use some type of adhesive or maybe you just set the frag plugs in place without any glue. Please let us know if you recommend a specific type of glue and share your tips and tricks for placing your corals.

Photo by @Alex Costa


This QOTD is sponsored by Nutramar: https://www.qualitymarine.com/nutramar/

“Nutramar’s 100% natural food products are used by public aquaria and breeders around the world. They offer superior nutrition to your most finicky and delicate fish and invertebrates.

 

[kevgib67]

I make an epoxy sandwich using glue. Glue, epoxy and then glue.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Just gel glue. I have had some coral come off of the rock, but that was my fault for not making sure the rocks were completely clean prior to gluing

 

[Gtinnel]

I cut the stem off then use the glue/putty/glue sandwhich method.

 

[Lebowski_]

I cut the stem off then use the glue/putty/glue sandwhich method.

I’ve never had a glued plug move. What does the sandwich method add?

 

[Kellie in CA]

Superglue gel and a whole lot of swearing.

 

[fodsod]

I'm not great at this process at all. I've managed to not kill everything but I'm not impressed with my work for sure. I'm pretty sure I've gotten super glue on everything I own at this point.

 

[Gtinnel]

I’ve never had a glued plug move. What does the sandwich method add?

I have had glued plugs get knocked off before. Using the sandwhich method is just more secure in my experience.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I’ve never had a glued plug move. What does the sandwich method add?

Just kidding an extra insurance

 

[Treefer32]

I use the Superglue gel --- Epoxy --- super glue gel method.

The expoxy provides a malleable surface for the frag plug (base or base snipped off) to rotate and move to get the right position, the superglue gel takes time to solidify in salt water but is sticky so it will hold the epoxyplug in place long enough for the epoxy to dry between the plug and rock. Also, if one wants to relocate the coral (due to lighting, flow, or other changes, usually with the epoxy it's a matter of just prying the plug off the rock. The epoxy also fills in around the plug if placing the plug in a whole in the rock, giving it more stability and less movement if something bumps into the coral.

The epoxy glue sandwich really gives a ton of stability. I even use it for gluing corals to frag plugs or if I take corals off the plug and glue directly to the rocks.

 

[Quietman]

Only recommendation I have is to do any frag gluing with your spouse out of the house. For some reason, mine views the superglue on the floor, towels, table and countertop as some kind of problem.

 

[Gtinnel]

For those who have used glue-epoxy-glue is the epoxy the putty type? I think we are using the same technique but using different terms.

 

[hunterallen40]

I cut the stem off then use the glue/putty/glue sandwhich method.

This is what I do as well! Works very nicely, and is usually quite solid.

 

[David S]

I make an epoxy sandwich using glue. Glue, epoxy and then glue.

This combination makes attaching the corals to rock much easier than just using glue

 

[vetteguy53081]

I use holdfast putty from instant ocean for a couple of decades but now have switched to a very easy and user friendly Tunze Coral gum

 

[Aeiyr]

I'm not gonna lie, I really want that shirt that says "I glue animals to rocks" now.

 

[littlebigreef]

I make frag plug holders out of epoxy.

While its still malleable I can shape it into what I want using a blank plug to hold the form. I make some short and squat, some are 'J' shaped so I can anchor them into the rock work, others are shaped to mount to the sides of rocks. I let them set, pull the plug then drill out the hole slightly and voila!

I can mount these anywhere using additional putty/glue sandwiches and it makes it super easy to pull and dip, frag stuff.

 

[Alexraptor]

Whenever possible i prefer going au naturelle, just like the storm gods decreed! For LPS I tend to prefer taking advantage of or building a proper base/recess around them, this makes it easier to move them, should i need to, which has been very handy with my wall hammer.

 

[paragrouper]

I make an epoxy sandwich using glue. Glue, epoxy and then glue.

Same

 

[zoomonster]

Frags on plugs usually just superglue gel. Frag/plug to rock is superglue epoxy sandwich. Yes, somewhat unsightly until coralline covers it up but I usually just snip the frag plug stem off and glue the disc to rock. Larger plugs etc. get trimmed then glued. IMO more secure and makes it easier to pop it off later, w/o damaging coral, if needed.