First Time Gluing - It is ugly...I need a drink!

[ChrisKSB]

Just got a new Hammer and Torch and went to glue onto rock for my first time. I have about 20x more glue on my hands then the corals used... First attempt was with the Tunze Coral Cement...but the hammer fell. Then tried Gorilla Glue Gel...just couldn't get it to stick! Hammer ended up with a mixture of both and Torch ended up with mostly Cement. This was extremely frustrating and I just hope I put them in a good place. It looks SO amaturish compared to the way I see so many of you do it! Guess I'll need more corals for more practice...and a bigger tank!


I also wanted to ask - Can you put these at an angle, or should they always be pointing upwards?

Thanks.

 

[P-Dub]

Meh, it's fine! It won't matter in a month or two anyway. I always use the white epoxy sticks from Home Depot. I just put a ton on there so it doesn't move. That is the most important thing.

Point them up whenever possible but not absolutely necessary by any means.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Looks better than most of my jobs. As long as you don’t glue tissue it‘s a win.

 

[ChrisKSB]

Looks better than most of my jobs. As long as you don’t glue tissue it‘s a win.

I sure hope I didn't get any glue on the tissues!!! UGH!

 

[P-Dub]

I sure hope I didn't get any glue on the tissues!!! UGH!

Doesn't look like it to me.

 

[Mike from TN]

I think it looks fine!

 

[Crabby48]

I still glue myself to myself and fish are joined in that mess. Coral still won’t be glued. Sounds and looks like you did well

 

[William Morris]

I use the Gorilla Glue Gel - put some on the base and place it on the rock work. I then pull it up to see if I have enough - there should be some glue transfer to the rock work. If it doesn't look like enough I add more to the coral base. I keep placing it and lifting it until it gets "sticky" and then I hold it in place for 20 sec or so.

It won't hold immediately - and I find by pulling it up off the rock and working it around with the coral itself I can always get it to hold.

 

[Rubberfrog]

I use the Gorilla Glue Gel - put some on the base and place it on the rock work. I then pull it up to see if I have enough - there should be some glue transfer to the rock work. If it doesn't look like enough I add more to the coral base. I keep placing it and lifting it until it gets "sticky" and then I hold it in place for 20 sec or so.

It won't hold immediately - and I find by pulling it up off the rock and working it around with the coral itself I can always get it to hold.

Just don't use it in your hair.

 

[ChrisKSB]

Thanks for the kind words!

I use the Gorilla Glue Gel - put some on the base and place it on the rock work. I then pull it up to see if I have enough - there should be some glue transfer to the rock work. If it doesn't look like enough I add more to the coral base. I keep placing it and lifting it until it gets "sticky" and then I hold it in place for 20 sec or so.

It won't hold immediately - and I find by pulling it up off the rock and working it around with the coral itself I can always get it to hold.

This is great advice, much appreciated! Thank you.

 

[Super Fly]

Looks fine to me, as long as it's sticking. Here's a neat trick I learned about how to use gel glue from Vivid Aquarium:

When mounting frags onto rocks underwater:
1. Place a dab of glue on the base of the frag.
2. Dip the frag quickly into the water to create a glue bubble.
3. Remove the frag from the water and use a toothpick to pop and stir the glue bubble.
4. Place the frag into the aquarium pushing the stirred glue bubble against the live rock.
5. Hold the coral in place against the live rock for 30-40 seconds.

 

[Rmckoy]

I use superglue and never had a problem