Attaching Ricordea

[estein02]

I've got a small ricordea, less then 1" diameter that I am trying to attach to a piece of LR. I'm using a rubberband but it was difficult, plus it has 2 mouths which I didn't want to cover. Also, didn't want to get the rubber band too tight. Is there a better way to get them to attach to the LR?

 

[jerthunter]

Originally Posted by estein02
I've got a small ricordea, less then 1" diameter that I am trying to attach to a piece of LR. I'm using a rubberband but it was difficult, plus it has 2 mouths which I didn't want to cover. Also, didn't want to get the rubber band too tight. Is there a better way to get them to attach to the LR?
Try getting a small piece of netting to cover it and use rubberbands to hold the netting to the rock. That way the rubber band doesn't bother the flesh of the mushroom. After a few days it should attach itself and you can remove the net.

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by Jerthunter
Try getting a small piece of netting to cover it and use rubberbands to hold the netting to the rock. That way the rubber band doesn't bother the flesh of the mushroom. After a few days it should attach itself and you can remove the net.
What about cheese cloth? Will that work?

 

[jerthunter]

Originally Posted by estein02
What about cheese cloth? Will that work?
Probably, you want something that won't irritate the mushroom too much but still keep it from floating away so I imagine cheese cloth would be fine.

 

[jmj6239]

I think you may want something a little more open than cheese cloth, like the mesh that comes on a bag of oranges, just my opinion, I think cheese cloth would restrict flow too much.

 

[estein02]

Looks like I need to buy a new fish net...that was the only type of netting that I had in the house. Hopefully that will do the trick. What do you think is a safe amount of time to wait before I remove the netting? Thanks for the help.

 

[jerthunter]

Originally Posted by estein02
Looks like I need to buy a new fish net...that was the only type of netting that I had in the house. Hopefully that will do the trick. What do you think is a safe amount of time to wait before I remove the netting? Thanks for the help.
I would say give it a week just to be safe, but it will probably attach in 2-3 days if left undisturbed.

 

[npage]

Fill a small dish with LR rubble and get a small piece of bridal veil. (from a fabric store) Drop the ric into the dish and secure the veil over it with a rubberband. After a week or two the ric should attach to a piece of rubble. Glue the rubble piece to your rockwork.

 

[estein02]

Still hasn't attached. I've noticed that there are a few pieces of sand on the underside of the ric. Maybe that is stopping it...not sure. Any suggestions? Can I glue the area where the sand is to the LR?

 

[jerthunter]

It depends, you don't really want to risk glueing the flesh of the ricordea, but if there is enough sand attached you should be able to attach it to a piece of rock or a frag disc.

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by Jerthunter
It depends, you don't really want to risk glueing the flesh of the ricordea, but if there is enough sand attached you should be able to attach it to a piece of rock or a frag disc.
Not really sure what to do. Will it eventually let the sand go and attach to the LR?

 

[jerthunter]

Originally Posted by estein02
Not really sure what to do. Will it eventually let the sand go and attach to the LR?
Yes eventually, but it really depends on how much sand is there. If it feels secure against the sand it probably won't try to attach anymore until it starts to spread. If you have enough sand that you can glue I would try glueing. If you get a little glue on the polyp itself it probably won't hurt it too much but the problem is they form a slime so the glue won't stick to them.

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by Jerthunter
Yes eventually, but it really depends on how much sand is there. If it feels secure against the sand it probably won't try to attach anymore until it starts to spread. If you have enough sand that you can glue I would try glueing. If you get a little glue on the polyp itself it probably won't hurt it too much but the problem is they form a slime so the glue won't stick to them.
It's a really small polyp so there might only be a few grains of sand. If I just leave it alone for another week or so do you think that should be long enough? Thanks for all the help.

 

[jerthunter]

Originally Posted by estein02
It's a really small polyp so there might only be a few grains of sand. If I just leave it alone for another week or so do you think that should be long enough? Thanks for all the help.
I would just give it time, it probably isn't worth risking trying to glue it. As long as the netting isn't disturbing the polyp too much I imagine it should attach soon.

 

[nano reefer]

Is it on a small rock??? If it is get some marine epoxy, it cost 15 bucks for a 6 inch tube which is enought to glue down 1000 ricordeas. Holds them there, and if you every need to move it just take it off, little elbow grease. The epoxy doesn't attach it like glue, but it forms to the rock so to remove it you just have to take it off, easy to us humans but little hermits or snails cant make it fall or flip.

 

[dallas612]

i stab mine with a toothpick and it works every time. i even stabbed a loose mat of zoa's and just pressed the pick into a small hole.