Whats the secret... to gluing frags?

[Ram_Puppy]

Yesterday I tried gluing several frags to my rocks and I think I only had success w/ two...

I pulled the frag out, dried the base of it, applied copius amounts of superglue gel, and then put it in the tank, stuck it to the rock, and held it for a minute of five...

release...

fall...

:unsure

have pity on my fellow addicts!

[LoneStar]

Repeat that 30 times and you'll get the hang of it ;)

[hobogato]

you did it right, except, when you put it in the tank, you dont just press and hold. scrape the blob of glue aroung a bit and you will see it start to stick to the rock in the tank, then press it in place and hold.

[Noodle]

Here's my technique :)

I'm assuming your frag has a stony part? After putting superglue onto the frag, dip it back into water so it makes a 'skin'. Then apply more superglue to the frag again, and then squish/wiggle the frag against the rock so that the skinned superglue breaks and oozes out. Repeat as neccessary until you can feel the frag stick to the rock surface.

[Ram_Puppy]

noodle, i don't think that would work well for me since i am gluing the plug to a rock that weights about 15 lbs... I don't want to take the whole thing out. ;)

Ace,

i tried to imitate what i saw you do the night you glued those rainbow digi frags back on (at least i think that was what they were). i guess i moved that last movement of dragging it around.

I think what maybe i am lacking is adequate supplies of superglue. ;) i need to get a huge tube of it before i get my next order in.

[LoneStar]

Location is important too. I always scout out for a place in the rock that has a void or a small hole. Makes the glue take a foothold a lot easier.

Also I have never had a problem with the cheap super glue gel they sell at Big Lots. Pretty cheap there, so you can wipe them out without breaking the bank.

[tony]

and i thought i was the only one that couldnt get the hang of it . . .

[Ram_Puppy]

tony, i have tried and tried.... lol.. i can not tell you how much frustration has been caused by this.

I will be wiping out biglots very soon. ;)

I am thinking of making a big order soon - and if thats the case, it's big enough I might as well do it as a group order.. maybe in a couple weeks.

[Bill S]

If I remember, I'll take a small piece of dry rock and scrape the mounting spot first - so it's not trying to hold onto slime. As Calfo said, use more than $0.25 of super glue gel on that $25 frag!

[Ram_Puppy]

I'll take a small piece of dry rock and scrape the mounting spot first

ok... that makes so much sense i am practically slapping myself for not thinking of it.

good thing coraline covers superglue. ;) lol

[ClownReef®]

The best glue I've ever used for SPS is Loctite. You are gonna need lots of it too. Put some glue on the base of the frag, then just stick it where you want it for a couple of minutes, apply some pressure. If it hasnt attached yet, rub it against the rock and you will see it will stick more and more.

EDIT: Here (http://www.fragoutpost.com/coral-propagation/acropora) you go! This might make it a bit easier seeing that my post didn't make a lot of sense.. :wacko

[Ram_Puppy]

thnaks guys!

[Richard]

I just clean off the spot then squirt a glob of superglue on my finger and smear it on the rock. Then put glue on the frag and stick it on. That way I'm gluing glue to glue. Works for me.

[apedroza]

Also if the glue from teh dollar store is the same that I used in the past, that maybe your problem!!! Even though it is a gel type glue it does not hold near as well as does the loctite. Spend the extra 2 bucks and buy the 10g loctite. You wont be disappointed!!!

[cpreefguy]

I just clean off the spot then squirt a glob of superglue on my finger and smear it on the rock. Then put glue on the frag and stick it on. That way I'm gluing glue to glue. Works for me.
This method has worked for me many of time, messy, but it works!

[Ram_Puppy]

where do you get the large bottle of loctite, all i ever seeis the small bottles and they don't go very far.

[ClownReef®]

Ive never seen any big tubes. Just go to Lowes and get a bunch of the small ones. Never buy the loctite HEB sells. It is twice as expensive as Lowes and much less glue.

[hobogato]

they have a 10 gram tube at lowe's for 4.48, or you could do a group order and get:

here is the price breakdown for the quantities

<72 tubes - $3.70 a tube + shipping
72 - 216 tubes - $3.17 a tube + shipping
222 or more - $3.17 a tube but no shipping charges.

[erikharrison]

Ram, best place for good superglue gel, the dollar store at West and Blanco. 3 tubes for a buck. They also sell medical gloves. It looks funny when you go buy a whole lotta super glue and gloves! I do the same thing as some of the others. I smear the glue around the base with my other hand while I press down on the frag. Make sure not to wiggle the frag back and forth because it will not set right!

[cpreefguy]

but as mentioned before, dollar store glue does not work near as well as the loctite glue

[erikharrison]

it works for me! I have yet to have a rogue frag wandering around.

[Willow]

ok.. what about the mushrooms who think they are tumbleweeds?... my superglue gel doesn't like to stick to slime...

[ClownReef®]

Willow:

Try rubber banding them to a piece of rubble. They will attach. Give it a few days, then you can remove the rubber band.

[Willow]

Willow:

Try rubber banding them to a piece of rubble. They will attach. Give it a few days, then you can remove the rubber band.thanks.. I'll have to try that

[Ram_Puppy]

i have not had a lot of success w/ rubber bands. invariably something happens and the mushroom goes flying around. i attatch mushrooms to larger pieces of rubble using the lemon squeeze cloths from heb. (you can find them in the veggie section, they are like little tiny hairnets). the one time i haven't done this in months and my two cool mushrooms blew away into the rock work.

[Willow]

i have not had a lot of success w/ rubber bands. invariably something happens and the mushroom goes flying around. i attatch mushrooms to larger pieces of rubble using the lemon squeeze cloths from heb. (you can find them in the veggie section, they are like little tiny hairnets). the one time i haven't done this in months and my two cool mushrooms blew away into the rock work.I'm guessing the bridal veil netting and a rubber band would work then... (the rubber band to hold the bridal veil in place)... I have a whole spool of it so I'll have to try it instead of the rubber band alone....

I have a few "tumbleweeds" that I need to go dig out of the rock work... Since I'm planning on moving the rocks anyway this weekend it might be a good time to try it...

[Ram_Puppy]

yes, I would think bridal veil and a rubberband would work... just make sure that if the rubber band fails there is something holding the bridal veil on - use a new rubber band, if there is any age to it at all it'll break really fast.

[Willow]

yes, I would think bridal veil and a rubberband would work... just make sure that if the rubber band fails there is something holding the bridal veil on - use a new rubber band, if there is any age to it at all it'll break really fast.gotcha, thanks!...