Epoxies, putties, super glues....Mounting corals

[spaulr]

I'm looking to mount a few corals that keep getting knocked over in the substrate. One is a frog spawn, the other is a candy cane. What's the best way to mount those types of corals with a boney structure? And where can you get the clay-like epoxy?

 

[trido]

I buy my gel glue and two part epoxy from my LFS. I believe they can both be purchased at anyone of the common online vendors as well.

 

[kevindub]

I use the two part epoxy from Two Little Fishes. I got them from Premium Aquatics. It works excellent for Torch corals.

 

[pcardone]

The epoxies work fine but sometimes throw off your skimmer for a few days.
The LFS has a glue thats more skimmer friendly.

 

[Anonymous]

Dont waste your time with the other crap.

Get this, works the best, easy to use, no mess, doesnt affect water.
Made by Marineland.

 

[spaulr]

Thanks for your input, I'm going to pick up some epoxy this weekend.

 

[trido]

Thanks for your input, I'm going to pick up some epoxy this weekend.

And I figured this was a dead thread.

I disagree that the epoxy is the only way to go, or the "best". I use the epoxy and the superglue gel. They both have their places. I find the epoxy is good for securing rock work and heavy corals and the super glue gel is good for every thing else. I use 20x more gel than I do epoxy.
The epoxy makes the skimmer go crazy and takes about ten minutes to really set up in place in which time you have to shape it and then hold the rock or coral while it sets. The super gel doesnt bother the skimmer, sets up rather quickly and is great for mounting frags to plugs and rockwork. Of the near 50 corals in my 120 only a few are mounted with epoxy.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your input, I'm going to pick up some epoxy this weekend.

And I figured this was a dead thread.

I disagree that the epoxy is the only way to go, or the "best". I use the epoxy and the superglue gel. They both have their places. I find the epoxy is good for securing rock work and heavy corals and the super glue gel is good for every thing else. I use 20x more gel than I do epoxy.
The epoxy makes the skimmer go crazy and takes about ten minutes to really set up in place in which time you have to shape it and then hold the rock or coral while it sets. The super gel doesnt bother the skimmer, sets up rather quickly and is great for mounting frags to plugs and rockwork. Of the near 50 corals in my 120 only a few are mounted with epoxy.

In specific, have you ever used Holdfast?

The super gel is a nightmare to work with, at least it is to me. It ALWAYS ends up getting everywhere, on my fingers etc, but I AM a bit of a slob.

Holdfast seems to be the perfect solution I always looked for. Works UNDERWATER, sets up in a few minutes, and does not affect the water at all.

Your milage may vary.

 

[SnowManSnow]

<-- always used superglue gel with absolutely no difficulties.

b

 

[bleedingthought]

I almost always use super glue gel also, but to mount LPS like euphillias (any of the 'boney' ones), it's better to use the epoxy since it's basically like a rock and it would take a lot of super glue. For coral plugs or frags that are already mounted, sometimes it's good to use epoxy also.

But I agree with Trido, most of the time I'll go with super glue (gel).

That's my side of the story.

 

[Anonymous]

Have any of you tried THIS specific product? Holdfast.

I have used super glue gel AND holdfast. I like the holdfast better, especially since you can use it underwater much easier than gel.

 

[bleedingthought]

I've only used holdfast as an epoxy.

Did you turn off all your water flow when using super glue gel?

Like I said, though, I only use the holdfast for "bigger" jobs or skelleton mounting. Any frag to rock/plug, I use either superglue gel or toothpicks/rubberbands.

 

[spaulr]

I've used superglue gel to mount zoanthids, but I was looking for something more like a putty for the Euphyllia and candy cane corals I have. I don't think sg gel would work too well. Also, could you explain a little bit more about the skimmer wigging out when using epoxies...

 

[bleedingthought]

Just watch your skimmer, if it starts overflowing (it rises the water/bubble line when it starts to pull epoxy "chemicals") turn it off for a little while or lower your standpipe (if this applies) enough for it not to overflow and readjust it after a couple of hours.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I've only used holdfast as an epoxy.

Did you turn off all your water flow when using super glue gel?

Like I said, though, I only use the holdfast for "bigger" jobs or skelleton mounting. Any frag to rock/plug, I use either superglue gel or toothpicks/rubberbands.

Yea, skimmer off, but working the gel I just thought was a pain. I have big hands (and a small brain) and the gel was always just a mess for me, inaccurate, and took several attemps sometimes to get it where i want it before it dried.
The holdfast works for 7minutes before it hardens up beyond workability.

I just like the convenience of being able to work the holdfast into a small ball, diving in with everything running, and moutning whatever I have to.

I only continue to harp on/recommend the holdfast, because every time I get someone to try it, they come back to me and ask why the hell havent they looked for something like this instead of using the gel for so long.

Just seems so much easier and convenient using this stuff.

 

[Anonymous]

I've used superglue gel to mount zoanthids, but I was looking for something more like a putty for the Euphyllia and candy cane corals I have. I don't think sg gel would work too well. Also, could you explain a little bit more about the skimmer wigging out when using epoxies...

Try the holdfast :wink:

Skimmer wigs out with most epoxies and chemicals similar, and I dont know chemically why, others smarter than me can answer exactly why, but it will start bubbling and skim a lot all of a sudden. You should turn it off when doing this, or at least adjust it's settings.

The holdfast doesnt affect it.

I should get my check from Marineland soon....