Hard Corals / Rock

[cbarria]

How do I glue my corals to the rock? Will super glue work under water? Do I have to get the rock out so I can glue the corals? My snails keep moving them around.

Thanks,

[Aquazoa]

You have to use a gel super glue as it isn't runny like the liquid. Yes, the rock surface as well as the coral base has to be dry initially but once contact is made it can be immersed (or misted) for a much faster curing. As the super glue cures underwater it feels like taffy or bubble gum until it is rock solid.

[Ray1214]

The best one I have used is called "Lock tite" or something like that. Get the gel. A neat Charles trick is to hold the coral upside down when you put the frag in. The strands from the glue won't go everywhere and stays put.

I use dry frags, but a wet frag that has a towel dry spot can work sometimes, especially if you are using a hole in the live rock.

Ray

[georgiajams]

I've always used the regular super glue. Apparently I need to find the "gel" form.

Anyway, yeah, what I first thought was alarming about gluing SPS was keeping the mounting medium and the coral out of water until the glue cured. But... it's no biggie. They do fine. I believe Rick-O said he accidentally left one out all day once and it still did ok (not suggested though!).

I typically pat the rock dry (if not already), pat the frag dry in the place it will be mounted, find a place where the coral will self-stand in the rock, leave it there, and glue where it contacts the rock. Like Aquazoa said, once you apply the glue, if you dip it in your little tub of working water for just a second it seems to cure better/faster (anti-intuitive, I know).