getting Zoa's to stick to the frag disk

[mjweber]

So I went to my LFS and got a bunch of Fire and Ice zoa's and Blue tubs. Since I already have some in my DT tank i decided to try my hand at fragging. I followed the directions (gloves, goggles ect) adn glued the 3-4 polyps + the mat to a frag disk. Not more than 3 hours later Half had disapeared, and by week one, all the polyps had blown off the frag disk. I'm really confused because its not like there really is any current in my frag tank, just a tiny little itty bitty power head rated at like 70 GPH.
This pretty much happens every time. I'm about to give up. Any suggestions?

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by mjweber
http:///forum/post/2714316
So I went to my LFS and got a bunch of Fire and Ice zoa's and Blue tubs. Since I already have some in my DT tank i decided to try my hand at fragging. I followed the directions (gloves, goggles ect) adn glued the 3-4 polyps + the mat to a frag disk. Not more than 3 hours later Half had disapeared, and by week one, all the polyps had blown off the frag disk. I'm really confused because its not like there really is any current in my frag tank, just a tiny little itty bitty power head rated at like 70 GPH.
This pretty much happens every time. I'm about to give up. Any suggestions?
Are you using a new tube of Superglue gel? I do know that on new cut frags, the superglue can cause the unhealed polyps to melt away, perhaps they are more suseptable to being burned by the glue

. I do know that I have had polyps (and other frags) come unglued, don't really think it is that uncommon.

 

[bluering09]

what type of glue are you using?

 

[bluering09]

I have used a tiny bit of Gorrila superglue and it works/ed great. hope it helps!

 

[jaymz]

What i do is sit them on the sand bed or in a container with some sand in it. Let it sit there for a week and the polyps should grab ahold of some sand. then you can glue the sandy foot to the disk.

 

[codylowe]

Originally Posted by Jaymz
http:///forum/post/2714414
What i do is sit them on the sand bed or in a container with some sand in it. Let it sit there for a week and the polyps should grab ahold of some sand. then you can glue the sandy foot to the disk.
you do this with zoas??? Sounds like something you should do for mushrooms instead...
I just chip my zoas of the rock using a chisel and glue the rock onto something. I've had good luck so far.
I have had BAD LUCK when i tried to peel the matt off and glue it. You should always try to chip off whatever it's attached to.

 

[jaymz]

Originally Posted by codylowe
http:///forum/post/2714726
you do this with zoas??? Sounds like something you should do for mushrooms instead...
I only peel the mat back if it has already started to peel off itself. or sometimes some zoas are just hanging off the side of the rock. I take this opportunity to cut them loose. If you just leave them on the sand bed they will spread.

 

[xtreeme]

so just leave them in the sand and the grow on that both zoa and mushroom?
I want to frag sometime and if it will do on its own that is good.

 

[jaymz]

zoas will spread on the sand bed. Its hard to do because you have to make sure there is no flow blowing them around the tank. i usually put loose zoas or mushroom in a container with sand inside the tank till they grab some sand. Mushrooms i dont think would do well long term on the sand, just long enough to get them to grab some sand with there foot then glue them to a rock.

 

[xtreeme]

thanks. This rock has so many there no more space they are going on side. Its flat, about 4" long and 1 1/2" wide covered. I just got for $20 not sure if good price. Since they are so close will the spread just setting down. After in sand I just place somewhere? This is new to me.
mjweber, I have no ida about it Im new. I did see coral epoxy search google.

 

[codylowe]

I'de say, just chisel (break) the rock apart. Then glue the pieces to was you want.

 

[mjweber]

Thanks for all your advice. I guess I should have just tried to crack the rock apart and glue the pieces, next time I will. I also really like that sand idea. I'm going to try that too. Thanks for everyone's suggestions