STICK IT !!!!!! Attaching corals?????

[skeeter1]

O.K. all you experienced reefers, here's another question from a new comer to the hobby. I purchased a Colt Coral from a local LFS and I need info on how to attach it to my live rock. The coral has nothing attached to the base and I need help(advise on how to keep it happy in one place. Also, a side note, what's the most effective way to control the brown hair alge that's showing up in various sections of my tank?? mostly on the sand and crushed coral on the bottom. Thanks in advance, advice always helpful

 

[Anonymous]

sticking:
try rubberbanding it down if you can.
you can also stick a toothpick though it and jam the toothpick into a hole or crevice in the rock, or try rubberbanding the toothpick down.

as far as algae, use good ro/di water. snails: i like turbo and astrea. i hear that cerinth are good for the substrate.

ty

 

[arnjer]

Take two rocks and put the colt between them wait a week or two and it should have attached to at least one of the rocks then move it where you want it.
tyoberg has good advice on the algae, you can also manually pull it out and it may take a while but just keep at it.

Jerry

 

[McReef1]

For the algae...How long has the tank been setup? Have you had the water tested for phosphate or silicate by your lfs? What are you using for water? Are you using a protein skimmer and is it running efficiently?

 

[skeeter1]

ro/di water, phosphate = 0, bullet 2 skimmer, tank has been running 5 months, all levels 0, calcium 440, precision marine reactor, ph 8 to 8.25

 

[ojreef]

Hi Skeeter,

I've tried the rubber bands and had problems (Lack of experience?). They seemed to be either to small and cut thru them or to bih and colt floated out. I also tried the tooth pick and it didn't work for me.

Here is another easy and cheap fix. Go to the store and buy a shower scrubbing ball. I know, a what? It is the nylon ballish thing you use to scrub your body when you take a shower. It looks like it's made out of the same stuff as a bridal vail just scrunched-up into a ball.

Anyhoo, pull it apart and cut about a <1" strip to lenth needed to go aroud coral and rock (Plus enough for a knot), razor cut the bottom of the coral lay it on a towel and, let it ooze excess water for a minit or two. Then just lay the coral on the rock and wrap the nylon mesh around the coral and the rock. Make the knot on top of the coral. Put it back and I'll bet by the second week it is hooke solid.

 

[vulkum]

the best way to attach colts or xenia as i just did this! is to go to the harware store and get a tub,roll, whatever of plumbers putty same stuff they use when putting your drain together. usually comes in a tan to brown color make a little ball punch a hole through it insert end of colt and then form around him and place on rock and give a squish to hold it to the rock. that way the bottom of the colt is toughing the rock and the putty just holds him in place. also works good for aptasia just place it over their hole and their doomed!