Holding down corals

[Paul B]

I don't know about most people but I have a problem with small corals staying put. Especially is you have a type of fish that like to re aquascape.
Yes, you can glue everything in but that makes it hard to move things later if need be.
I like to use lead. I know if fresh water they sell lead strips to wrap around plants to keep them anchored but with reef tanks we don't like using any metals so I cut thin strips of lead and cover them with shrink tubing.
The shrink tubing can be gotten at any Radio Shack or even (I think) Home Depot. The lead I get from a plumbing supply or a scrap metal dealer. It is very cheap.
You can make it as heavy as you like and wrap it around the base of the coral.
You can even make longer strips and bend it around corals and larger rocks to secure them. The shrink tubing is black so you don't really see it.
Now my larger fish have a hard time throwing my nicely positioned corals to the substrait.
Have fun.
Lead and shrink tubing

Finished piece

 

[MIKE NY]

...there is no way I'm putting lead or any other metals in my reef regardless if they are in tubing, shrink wrap or anything....I just glued or epoxied them down to rocks which I can move, but even when I had triggers they couldn't move them.

 

[marrone]

Instead of Lead you could fill the tube with sand, which will be heavy enough to hold down any frag. Epoxies works very well for me, as does using PVC and plastic ties.

 

[thirty5]

I think that the point of the lead is so that you can bend it around the frag, Sand is a great Idea but more just like a paperweight. I have been trying to think of some other things to do. I am testing a couple right now and if they work I will give it out..

 

[marrone]

The thing with using sand is that you want the tube to be flexible, which you could then wrap around the frag base and attached to something. The sand would give some weight to the tubing, which would keep it down. In the end either glue or epoxies down a frag, usually into a hole or crack, works very well.

 

[Paul B]

there is no way I'm putting lead or any other metals in my reef regardless if they are in tubing, shrink wrap or anything...

Then don't use it. I have been using lead for years and never had any problems. (but I am strange, maybe thats why)
Now I put it in shrink tubing, if it worried me I would double the shrink tubing. I usually only have to use this temporarily until the coral either grows into the rock or gets too large for the fish to move.

Mike, I am in New Hyde Park right next to you.

 

[MatthewScars]

http://screencast.com/t/5wLrTtlh

Check out that image. Aren't those ends not fully sealed?

Paul: "Then don't use it..."

Why post it if you are just going to get aggressive when people question your suggestion? I personally think shrink wrapping is not an absolute seal and putting lead into your tank is a terrible idea, respectfully. But thank you for the suggestion.

 

[MIKE NY]

Paul you have a beautiful tank. I'm amazed at the things you put in there. If I ever put in half the things you have I would lose half my tank. I have some SPS that RTN,STN or bleach out I swear my me just looking at them the wrong way...LOL
BTW ...I'm on the other side of the Garden City Golf Course right by Carey H.S.

 

[Paul B]

Why post it if you are just going to get aggressive when people question your suggestion?

Matthew I am honestly not being agressive. It was not meant to be a sarcastic answer. I am aware many people are afraid to use lead or any type of metal including stainless steel and thats why I said, if it scares you don't use it.
I also use an UG filter but I would not tell people to use one. It is just my idea and after I posted that about the lead I started to wonder if people would worry about using the lead so I went back to all of the forums I posted in and said if it worries you then don't use it.
Matthew I am sorry if I made it sound like agressive. I am very un agressive when it comes to hobbies and I do realize some of my suggestions may not be ready for prime time.
I will try to be more careful of my suggestions in the future.
As for the ends being sealed in "my" tank. No they are not. But that is my tank and I would not suggest using it like that so you are correct in pointing that out.

Mike I pass your block almost every day. Why don't you come over and check out the tank. I actually don't even know anyone near me with a tank except goldfish, and I can't keep those things alive for anything.

I'm amazed at the things you put in there. If I ever put in half the things you have I would lose half my tank.

Mike I would never put anything in my tank that would harm the fish or corals.

 

[MIKE NY]

LOL..thats great!