gluing frags

[technomex]

Has anyone ever glued frags underwater? If so, how.

[Tim Marvin]

Super glue gel. Use the thick stuff. Give me a call if you have any questions. (512) 656-2928.. Did you get them already?

[alexwolf]

i am getting some fragnets.......very strong magnets, glue one down, then glue the frag to the other side, and there you go! i ordered two packages to test, should be in next week.

[Tim Marvin]

I'd test them yourself first Alex. I have read some information on the coatings corroding off magnets and they not only de-magnatize, but start leaking BAD stuff into the tank.

[alexwolf]

these are patent pending reef safe, coated from a very reliable source. Dr Mac is using them ;)

[Tim Marvin]

Anything can be patent pending, only time will tell. I would hate to find out the hard way. I don't want Techno to find out with the frags from me. How many years has Dr. Mac been testing them, or should I say weeks?Drug companies go through years of research and still have to pull drugs off the shelves.

[Tim Marvin]

Sorry Alex, I am not trying to bash, I'm just leary.

[Tim Marvin]

If you'll notice all the cleaning magnets are inclosed not just a big block of magnet with a scrub pad attached.

[alexwolf]

Not a problem. IF Dr. Mac says theyre safe, then its allright with me. They have a special coating on them, I will test them and let you guys know!

[Tim Marvin]

They probably are fine, I'm just nervous about them being bare looking.

[alexwolf]

:)

[smelleybrad]

I'll buy some from you Alex. LMK when they arrive.

[ratboy]

Ive been working on super strong cleaning magnets for large tanks and a similar frag mounting idea for about a year now. I looked at the Nautilis reef site at the magnets and to me they appear to be epoxy coated neodymium (NdFeB) magnets that you glue one to a coral and the other to a rock. The problem with this is over time the epoxy coating is breached and the magnets rust out in a few days time. Magnetism is lost as more iron in the magnet is oxidixed to the point that they just dont hold anymore.
My cleaning magnets and frag mounts are similar epoxy coated magnets but I do an additional 3 coatings and then seal the magnets in a polyethylene case which is welded closed.
-Erik

[technomex]

Still at work. Can't wait to get home. I wanted to glue the frags on to the live rock because my turbos keep knocking my other frags off. I have those glued to LR rubble. Those magnets sound like a good idea, but I'll let you test them first.

Tim, I'll call you if I get a brain cramp.

[alexwolf]

Here is the response I got:


Yes I knew from the start how paranoid reef keepers are of their tanks and water, as am I . This is one of the first things Dr Mac and I discussed. He agreed with me that these were safe, since I chose magnets that were coated with Epoxy in order to protect the magnets from corrosion. This also allows for them to be glued as well. They dont contain any toxic metals to begin with, no copper or anything, so even if they did corrode (epoxy got scraped off) it wouldnt harm the tank inhabitants. They would just rust and have to be removed. They also make ceramic discs that I might be able to use as well without the epoxy coating for the really paranoid :). As far as the epoxy coating, many reefkeepers ALREADY use epoxy to mount frags to the rock. This coating on fragnets is ALREADY cured and wont leach anything since the epoxy is basically not effected by the Saltwater. And even if some did leach over time? the fragnets are so small and the coating is pretty thin, it would be almost nil anyway.

The other argument you might get is about Magnetic Fields being harmful. If you think about it EVERY submersible pump surrounds the complete volume of tank water with strong magnetic fields to run the impeller. :) Also a lot of people leave their cleaning magnets in the water as well...There is actually research that shows that magnetic fields can actually INCREASE blood flow in humans, (iron in the blood) and may be benificial to overal lhealth when placed strategically. (magnets on pillows, on joints etc) This is one of the things im having MAC test out as he does his beta testing, to see how the frags react to being mounted on a magnetic disc, to see if they actually might grow FASTER being on the magnets.. it is a possibilty. So far he says they are doing fabulous which makes me feel really good.

And in the wild its now known that many fish migrate by following STRONG MAGNETIC Fields in the OCean Bottom for navigation (esp sharks) so I doubt if magnetic fields would harm the animals in the tank since in nature they are exposed to much stronger fields by the ocean floor.

I also have had 4 frags in my own tank for 5 months mounted with Fragnets with no harmful effects which I can see. I have however lost some fish due to a legit problem. ICH.. :(

[Tim Marvin]

They probably got ich due to the stress of the corroding magnets.....LOL...Just a matter of time for the corals... JK.... So they are selling them before testing? Interesting. We'll, if whomever wrote this letter, and Mac say they are good that settles it.... I'm sure they have never ever been wrong. Try the /www.ecoaqualizer.com next...LOL....

[alexwolf]

nah i bought 2 trial bags to try myself...

[ratboy]

I dont see a toxicity problem with these since the compound is comprised of 3 elements: Ne, B and Fe none of which are toxic to marine life to my knowledge. But my fear would be I grow a nice frag from a little twig and as it is growing bigger the magnet is quietly rusting away. Then you reach a point where the magnet loses strength and your coral falls. Ceramic magnets are salt tolerant but they dont have near the strength of Neodymium so again I would be concerned with corals falling.

[Tim Marvin]

Hmmm... OK, so these magnets are really small right? The coral should be attached before the magnet corrodes away then right?