First corals advice, attaching, etc.

[Raoul5Duke]

Looking for some advice or helpful links for my first corals. Easiest method to attach them and how to do it. I have found one or two articles on this, but thought I would throw up a thread to see if anyone has better info. One article I came across suggested using a needle and thread or fishing line to pierce the end of frags and attach them to rocks until they can naturally adhere. Most of the threads I have come across seem to discuss using glues. Thanks for any suggestions.

[DAHansen]

For leathers, xenia, kenya trees, and the like people mostly use rubber bands, needle and thread (fishing line), and I've even seen toothpicks and string (toothpick through the flesh).

I know there are folks that glue down individual zoas and other button polyp frags with superglue gel.

For hard corals (SPS) most folks either glue down the frag, or use the epoxy stick stuff.

For mushrooms, ricordea, and what not, a lot of folks use veil material to keep them from floating off while waiting for them to attach to a peice of LR rubble.

I like to buy frags that come already attached to something, so that all I have to do is secure the rock or plug in my existing rockwork - for which I use the epoxy puddy because it's easy to work with and has a relatively long set time.

[Raoul5Duke]

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for. Any particular places that sell frags already attached to a plug?? Or is that pretty much standard?? Sorry if that's a dumb question, but this will be my first coral purchase.

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by DAHansen

For leathers, xenia, kenya trees, and the like people mostly use rubber bands, needle and thread (fishing line), and I've even seen toothpicks and string (toothpick through the flesh).

I know there are folks that glue down individual zoas and other button polyp frags with superglue gel.

For hard corals (SPS) most folks either glue down the frag, or use the epoxy stick stuff.

For mushrooms, ricordea, and what not, a lot of folks use veil material to keep them from floating off while waiting for them to attach to a peice of LR rubble.

I like to buy frags that come already attached to something, so that all I have to do is secure the rock or plug in my existing rockwork - for which I use the epoxy puddy because it's easy to work with and has a relatively long set time.

Great information there

Originally Posted by Raoul5Duke

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for. Any particular places that sell frags already attached to a plug?? Or is that pretty much standard?? Sorry if that's a dumb question, but this will be my first coral purchase.

That's pretty much standard for most places. It's just easier to store and transport when it's already attached to a plug/disk. The exception may be if you buy from a local reefer's tank. I personally like to "mount" my frags to a plug/disk/rock and let them "Stew" in my tank for at least a week after fragging. This way I help to ensure it's a healthy viable coral going into someone else's tank.

Kudos for research BEFORE buying!!

[DAHansen]

Re: Pre-attached frags.

I like buying the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) corals, because I can see what they are attached to, how they're shaped, etc.

Also, a lot of sellers will tell you how (or to what) their frags are attached. I like to scroll through all the corals in the vendor section here on RS. It seems like the best stores are represented. (At least I haven't been able to find any others that are as good who aren't sponsors here.)

EDIT: Important! I forgot to tell you. I like to check out liveaquaria.com when I'm researching corals. They tend to have a least the bare essentials on care and feeding for just about every common type of coral out there - light requirements, flow requirements, etc. It will give you a good baseline.

[BigAl07]

again great advice

[Raoul5Duke]

Thanks again. Extremely helpful.