I have been going through stick after stick of Aquastick epoxy putty to attach my corals to the live rocks and it just doesnt seem to be working. I knead it until it is warm and squishy, I have tried to put it on thick, I’ve tried to put it on thin and it just doesnt work. One of my corals is already bleaching because almost every morning I have to pick it up out of the sand and put it back into place. I dont know what I am doing wrong with this stuff. So I was just curious what does everyone else use?
I use the putty for heavier items, like hammer and frogspawn frags. For most of my little stuff I use Super Glue Gel.
Make sure oyu get the gel - it’s MUCH easier to work with than regular super glue. Put a small dollop on the bottom of the frag, then place the frag where you want it to grow. As soon as the glue hits the water it will form a “skin” - when you press the frag in to place the “skin” breaks creating a bond under water. Hold the frag there for a minute and you’re all set.
Is there any brand of superglue? And its safe? I have specifically a chili coral that I am worried about. I need to hang it upside down. I tried to use the putty and even tied a zip tie around it for a few days until the putty hardened and as soon as I cut the tie the coral fell! Ill have to try the glue. Fingers crossed! ;D
I don’t believe there is a specific brand that you need to worry about just that it is the GEL style and not the thin watery style.
The only thing I have heard (and I don’t remember where I read it, could have dreamed about it one night) is that there is a chemical that you should either look for or stay away from (I can’t remember exactly >LOCO< ) in the super glue if you are using it to attach soft corals. When attaching stony corals, any gel type will suffice, was how I remembered it.
EDIT: Also, when placing the coral with superglue gel under water, I was told by one of the guys down at Dr. Macs, to put plenty of glue on the corals skeleton, then when you get it in place, kind of twist the coral back and forth just a little bit to “break” that skin that forms that was mentioned earlier.
i thought that you had to use a marine safe epoxy,but that may be wrong. +1 on the multiple skins of gel method.
[quote=“JCoyne, post:3, topic:4120”]
Is there any brand of superglue? And its safe? I have specifically a chili coral that I am worried about. I need to hang it upside down. I tried to use the putty and even tied a zip tie around it for a few days until the putty hardened and as soon as I cut the tie the coral fell! Ill have to try the glue. Fingers crossed! ;D[/quote]
Some very light fishing string could just be left there, and not be seen…that is if you can tie it in the spot you nee to. Dr. Mac’s mariculturing island people don’t have access to glue (solomon islands) they use only fishing line to attach frags to frag-plugs. Pretty cool, and the coral even crusts on the string.