How do you attach your plugs/discs to rock?

[kimoyo]

Hi,

Just wondering what the best way to attach plugs to your live rock.

Thanks

 

[herman]

when I used plugs in the past i drilled the rock cause it looked weird otherwise. Dont use cheap drill bits because it leaves behind shavings. After drilling use a tooth brush just in case any shavings were left behind.

 

[kimoyo]

did you glue it?

 

[herman]

Only some. The smaller frags there was no need to glue. If your drillbit is the same size it will fit quite snugly. Without the glue its easy to move around if you want

 

[kimoyo]

Drilling rocks seems like it could be a hassle for me. You could also break the steam of the plug if needed.

Someone told me that using putty to attach frags to rocks/plugs but what about for just attaching the plug to the rock? Or is there something else that is good?

 

[DevIouS]

Sup Paul....

You can try epoxy:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TL1611

They also have a 2 part version.

 

[kimoyo]

Whats goin on Phil, how you been?

I think I saw another member using that yesterday. Is it easy to remove later on?

 

[DevIouS]

Everythings pretty good....thanks.
Good to see you around.

About removal.....I'm not really sure. I guess with some force anythings possible...:lol:
I know some members here use it.

I'll be able to tell you soon though, cause I will be using some tonight while I re-scape my rock work.
I will only be using it for rock to rock.

 

[DevIouS]

Oh & the good thing about it, is that you can shape it up for a more natural look.

 

[House of Laughter]

I use maxicure glue gel - I glue the plug first then attach it to the rock. Easily removed and can turn reef colors over time.

House

 

[kimoyo]

I use maxicure glue gel - I glue the plug first then attach it to the rock. Easily removed and can turn reef colors over time.

House

So your just using your frag glue? Does gluing it underwater make the bond weaker and easier to remove the plug from the rock?

 

[House of Laughter]

I glue outside the water and then attach - not sure about the bond - quite frankly, never thought about it. Since the rock is brittle and pourous anyway, the glue usually rips small shavings of rock when I detach - just part of the picture

House

 

[jackson6745]

Paul superglue holds the plugs to the rock but you kind of have to use a lot. I always break the frags off the plugs and mount to the rock.....It will look more natural MUCH faster. I have no patience to wait for little frags to encrust over big plugs.

 

[jhale]

another good reason to remove the plugs is to avoid getting anything nasty in your tank. i.e. nuisance algae, Rich can attest to that
you don't want that red turf stuff in your tank, no frag is worth that.

 

[kimoyo]

Yep I understand that now. I'm actually breaking the pieces off (or getting them unmounted) and regluing them to new plugs/discs. But I'm thinking about using that epoxy to mount the plugs/discs to the rock unless anyone knows any negative reason (other than looks) not to.

 

[jiggy]

2 part epoxy is bad.. it burns the corals.. alot of people on rc recommend regular putty or superglue

 

[kimoyo]

Thanks Jiggy. We weren't talking about a 2 part and it was to glue the plug/disc to the rock. Does the 2 part let off chemicals in the tank?

I found this stuff in Home Depot this past weekend, AquaMend, you guys think its okay?

 

[cali_reef]

I found this stuff in Home Depot this past weekend, AquaMend, you guys think its okay?

Never used AquaMend before but this is the stuff I get from HD out in the west coast:

http://www.rectorseal.com/productdata/othrprdcts/dsep200.htm

I been using this for the last 5 years and did not have any problems with it. However, none of the HD around here carries this stuff, the ones I have seen there have metal filling in them.

PS. all epoxy are in a form of two part glue, the two different color putty are the two parts.

 

[kimoyo]

Thanks.

So does the putty release stuff or is it just when you stick it directly to the coral?

 

[cali_reef]

The putty I use causes some skimmer to go crazy, ask pecan2phat about that.

I never see it "release" stuff, I am sure it does add some chemical to the water as it hardens. I never have any problem immediate after using the stuff, even after my initial tank set up when I used 3-4 tubes of it.