Tips and Tricks 101 - Page 3

Chin_Lee · #1 09-10-2006, 01:22 AM

Some people (like me) have difficulty gluing mini or large colonies to rocks because of water flow or the size of the rock. What i've done that works really well is make a mould of the epoxy and then superglue it.
1) mix up a ball of epoxy and stick it into the rock where you want to put the coral.
2) Then push the base of the coral into the ball of epoxy and mould the epoxy around the base. Then gently pull out the coral again and let the epoxy harden.
3) When its harden, turn off all water movement in your tank, squeeze some superglue onto the base of the coral and insert it into the epoxy mould.
Its a guaranteed fit.

Chin_Lee · #2 09-10-2006, 01:26 AM

Always leave enough room behind the tank for YOUR arm to fit behind. If and when the time comes that you HAVE to put your arm back there, its too late.

Chin_Lee · #3 09-10-2006, 01:31 AM

If you are paranoid about putting rock onto barebottom glass, cut some 1/4" lengths of 1/2" pvc pipe to make little round discs. Then place these between the rock and glass. Its so thin, you won't see them and it allows water flow under the rocks. You can even glue them down with super glue if you want to stop them from sliding around.
FYI - they will come off (with a pair of pliers) if you ever want to move or rearrange the rocks again.

Axial Corillite · #4 02-10-2002, 10:28 PM

Good one Mike I'v saved lots of corals with crazy
glue(locktite 454-40).I've even stop a Euphyllia parancora from melting with a big gob of glue on the dieing edge.
Another good one for sick corals is a 25% Reef plus 75%Reef water bath for 30sec. Then back in the tank for 1hr then do it again.

StirCrazy · #5 09-10-2006, 02:21 AM

to get a more even flow though out the tank build plastic hangers to attach your power head brackets to. this will allow you to make different length ones so you can put power heads at any hight so you can have a couple at the bottom, couple in the middle and a couple at the top or what ever. also by using a hanging system you can slide it over a few inches when you are cleaning the glass and not suction cups to come loose.

Steve

Johnny Reefer · #6 09-10-2006, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

to get a more even flow though out the tank build plastic hangers to attach your power head brackets to. .....

Any words of wisdom on how you build them?
Just with a heat gun and a few pieces of acrylic?

Thanx much,

SuperFudge · #7 09-10-2006, 01:03 PM

Damn, wish i had have known i could have put sand in the pipe.
woulda saved me a few trips to find the spring....

DOH..

StirCrazy · #8 09-10-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer

Any words of wisdom on how you build them?
Just with a heat gun and a few pieces of acrylic?

Thanx much,

I will take some pictures. glue and heat gun wouldn't be enuf as you have to use thicker stock to make it. a torch will bubble the plastic so cutting small chunks and gluing is the best way.. I will do a DIY thread on it as I have to make some more..

Steve

Johnny Reefer · #9 09-10-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

.. I will do a DIY thread on it as I have to make some more..

Steve

That'd be great!
Thanx Steve.

Cheers

,

StirCrazy · #10 09-10-2006, 02:23 AM

when stacking rock, weather you use a support frame or not, arrange it to make several pathways through the rock work at the bottom, not only does this give the fish nooks and crannies to race through but it also allows a strategically placed power head to provide a positive water flow through your rock work and reduce the settling of crap where you can't get at it.

Steve