Coral Placement

[Alberych]

Hey everybody I'm getting a big order of frags (30) in the next couple of weeks. I know I'm going to need to move them around for optimal lighting. In the past I've gotten one or two at the same time, so moving them around hasn't been an issue. Now what I'm wondering is: do you know of any like, temporary placement fixatives? Once I find good spots for the coral I'd like to pop them off the frag plugs and fix directly to the rock, but is there any putty or anything I could use to temporarily keep them place on the frag plugs until I find a good spot for the corals?

 

[seabass]

Most people put them on the sand bed until you are ready to place them where you want. However, you might try an epoxy stick to place them on your rock. The epoxy doesn't stick all that well, and you should be able to pry the frags up when you want.

[Clown79]

I normally start thrm on sand and move them once acclimated.

 

I have used epoxy to secure my plugs, sometimes you are able to remove it, other times its sticks on really well.

 

The times it doesn't adhere well- snails or hermits can knock it down. The times it adheres-nothing will remove it easily

[BoxKing]

It would really depend on what you have coming in and what your equipment is, since the demand corals require will vary per the species. While acclimating some corals for a few days or more on the sand bed would be good to get them used to your lights, they may need to be bumped up sooner to meet their individual needs. I never had 30 frags come in at once, but I use a magnet frag rack that I place in the tank, and place them to the height that would best suit them, and at the level they will most likely end up when I place them. Less demanding corals will start much lower, just off the sand bed, and I will monitor them in lower settings over a course of a week or two to see what they seem to like best.

 

Let us know what your tank specs are so we can further help. Maybe a tank shot If you have a bunch of open space, you could always do a DIY egg crate which costs almost nothing and use that as a temp rack.

[seabass]

Ideally, you would quarantine the frags in a quarantine or frag tank. Then you could observe them and deal with any pests prior to moving them to your display tank.

[rjl45]

I have been reading a lot about pests that can come in on a coral frag. Did you know Ich can be transmitted by frags to your tank and then to your fish? QT is always a good idea.

 

With that said, I have used superglue to temporarily attach plugs to rock. I prefer to pop them off the plug, glue to a piece of rock rubble, then glue the rock into the rock work. Gives a more natural look while I am observing the corals to ensure they are happy. I hate the look of frag plugs, so i try to get rid of them asap. If you have a lot of coraline algae, the glue doesn't stick too well, so just scrape off a little spot before gluing. Never had any trouble pulling them off the rock. The downside is sometimes the crabs can pop them off.

[Polarcollision]

dude, superglue is your friend. 'super' easy to knock off the rock when it's time to move. Or even when you didn't want it to move.

[zsxking]

You may be interested in this

 

Superglue will be the easiest I think. It's easy to remove cleanly, just cut is with a coral cutter and the whole thing will pop off rock/plug.

[Hammerstone]

dude, superglue is your friend. 'super' easy to knock off the rock when it's time to move. Or even when you didn't want it to move.

I can vouch for this. I can't keep

My Zoas on the damn rock lol. There is dried superglue on the rock, but the Zoas are on the sand till I try to glue them again. I have no plug.

[BoxKing]

Honestly, having your tank specs and pic would better serve us all in aid to helping you.

[Hammerstone]

Honestly, having your tank specs and pic would better serve us all in aid to helping you.

i think my husband would need to take a video of how I'm doing it wrong.

[Hammerstone]

You may be interested in this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edJ8Lorgxi8&index=38&list=PLBaMLrfToJyybUT18OE3fMomFb9XU0ffC

 

Superglue will be the easiest I think. It's easy to remove cleanly, just cut is with a coral cutter and the whole thing will pop off rock/plug.

Thank you for this video. I think it's going to help me out!?

[zsxking]

I can vouch for this. I can't keep

My Zoas on the damn rock lol. There is dried superglue on the rock, but the Zoas are on the sand till I try to glue them again. I have no plug.

The thing about zoa is that, they always want to fight off glue. So when I glue them, I add a small rubble right next to it, and leave the plug in low flow area (sump) for weeks, till it grow onto the rubble, or the pub.

[tarunteam]

I can vouch for this. I can't keep

My Zoas on the damn rock lol. There is dried superglue on the rock, but the Zoas are on the sand till I try to glue them again. I have no plug.

You need putty epoxy. Make some epoxy, put some glue on it and glue the frag to the epoxy with super glue. The superglue the other side of the epoxy and stick it on any rock.

[Hammerstone]

You need putty epoxy. Make some epoxy, put some glue on it and glue the frag to the epoxy with super glue. The superglue the other side of the epoxy and stick it on any rock.

Thank you!!! When I am at the LFS I'll get some epoxy.

[tarunteam]

Thank you!!! When I am at the LFS I'll get some epoxy.

Dont do that. Order it online. The LFS crap is over priced.

[Hammerstone]

Dont do that. Order it online. The LFS crap is over priced.

Very good to know. I will look online. Thank you!!!

[tarunteam]

This is what i use:

 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/items/?_nkw=pc-11+epoxy&_sacat=&_ex_kw=&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_sop=12&_fpos=&_fspt=1&_sadis=&LH_CAds=&rmvSB=true

 

But if your worried and want "proven" epoxy:

http://www.marinedepot.com/Coral_Glue_and_Aquarium_Epoxy_-FIMTEP-ct.html

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/saltwater-aquarium-fragging-supplies/super-glue-epoxies.html

 

Also if your worried it about being reef safe:

 

http://www.pcepoxy.com/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert.php#pc11

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2100308

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1342011

 

 

Also read:

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/148730-steviets-how-to-glue-coral-thread/

[Hammerstone]

Okay