What is your method of attaching plugs to rocks?

[Jeremiah]

Basically I've got plugs all over the place...I am tired of always having to pick them up after they get knocked over in the tank.

90% of what is going into my tank is going to be zoanthid/paly's. I like the idea of keeping them on plugs so I can pull them out for fragging. However I want to figure out a decent way that once they grow out a bit they cover the plug and look decent.

Currently what i'm starting to do is clip the base of the standard small frag plug off and glue that to the rock, then i can remove it frag what is needed then glue/puddy it back.

What products do you guys use? Any particular frag plugs I should look at? Feels like a waste that i'm always clipping the base, maybe a nice lower profile plug w/o the base that i'm clipping? I've gotten some larger round flat ones, but those are huge in my nano...so hoping for something thin that is close to a standard plug size?

found these...whatcha think?
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/cermaeco-frag-plugs

 

[sethsolomon]

I use Harbor Freight gel super glue. Works really well.

 

[Jeremiah]

Sorry if I dindn't ask my question right...less interested in how they are attached, glue or puddy...more interested in what the frags corals are growing on. Different ideas for plugs...something smaller that can be attached and pulled so that i can get some grow out, but not so large that it is an eye sore.

That link i just found in the first email actually has me kind of excited, was just seeing if anything similar to that or better that people use.

 

[Blindrage]

Another plug options is Eshopps:

http://www.marinedepot.com/Eshopps_...ater_Aquariums-Eshopps-QH12965-FIMTCM-vi.html

 

[sethsolomon]

Coral Plugs is a good place to get cheap decent plugs. http://www.coralplugs.com/frag-plug.html

 

[FinsUp]

for what you're wanting, I'd glue a piece of rubble to the top of a plug

 

[Munch]

I have been gluing to small pieces of rubble. They lock better into existing rockwork, without having to glue in.

 

[CRW Reef]

if you order aragonite ones you can cut them up into what ever size you want. I get square ones and use my dremel to score lines in the size and shape i want then use my bone cutters to snap them when ever i need them. Ceramic ones have saturated the market but if you ask me, they are no good for zoas as they are not usually porous and the beneficial algae and bacteria cant establish under the zoa mats as easy. I have also noticed that for whatever reason algae growth is alot more prominent on ceramic plugs vs aragonite ones. Oh and the other thing is that the ceramic snap cuts where ever it wants when you try and cut them. Just my two cents for whats its worth

http://www.advancedreefaquarium.com/product_p/fragtile.htm

 

[Jeremiah]

thanks, so now i need to find smaller round ones. Not a fan of the square.

 

[Blindrage]

thanks, so now i need to find smaller round ones. Not a fan of the square.

Like the ones listed right below the square page linked?

http://www.advancedreefaquarium.com/product_p/fragdisk-s.htm

 

[jahmic]

+1 for rubble. I have a collection at home...just get a small piece of dry rock and take a hammer to it...looks much more natural than plugs and they usually can be wedged into spots so that they don't budge without glue or putty

 

[jda123]

Mix a batch of putty. Grab a bit and mold it to the the rock where you want the frag. Let it sit for a few minutes so that it starts to set. Take it out and let it dry. Now, you have an Invisilign style plug for your tank.

I also make flat discs/shapes that I put stuff on in the sand.

You can just break the thin putty with your hands or use wire cutters or tin snips on it.

 

[Smiley]

Aquatic 2 part epoxy... Make a small ball of it... Super glue the ball to your coral. Then superglue that to your rock in the tank. The eopoxy acts as a medium to mate two surfaces together and the superglue holds it.

 

[Mermaid Gardens]

This thread was very helpful. I've been having trouble with getting frag plugs to fit. They're either too big, or won't fit snug and continually fall.

 

[Munch]

Ecotech glue works great under water, sets in under 30 seconds..

 

[rplank]

Unless the frag has grown onto the plug itself, I always remove it from the plug and superglue it where I want it on my rock. I don't like the look of the plugs mounted to my rock.
I have glued them to rubble pieces as someone else mentioned and then removed the original piece and move it once it has spread onto the rock.

 

[SynDen]

I have been gluing to small pieces of rubble. They lock better into existing rockwork, without having to glue in.

+1