Coral glue is a specialized adhesive designed for use in aquatic environments, primarily for securing corals, frag plugs, and live rock in marine aquariums. It stands out due to its superior intermolecular bonding that sets underwater, allowing aquarists to secure items without draining their tanks.
Why Use Coral Glue in Aquariums?
This unique adhesive offers a multitude of benefits for hobbyists and coral farmers, establishing a new benchmark for ease of use, curing time, versatility, and durability. Its ability to bond securely in water simplifies many tasks within an aquarium.
- Secure Placement: Permanently attaches corals and rock structures, preventing them from falling or shifting.
- Instant Adhesion: Many types, especially cyanoacrylate-based gels, offer fast bonding, reducing stress on corals and minimizing tank disturbance.
- Aquascaping Freedom: Allows for creative placement of corals and rocks, enabling designs that would be impossible with gravity alone. You can glue corals and rocks upright, sideways, or even upside down.
- Coral Fragging: Essential for attaching new coral fragments (frags) to frag plugs or directly to live rock, facilitating coral propagation.
- Safety: Formulated to be non-toxic and safe for delicate aquatic life, including fish, invertebrates, and corals.
Types of Coral Glue
While the core function remains the same, coral glues typically come in two main forms, each with distinct characteristics:
Cyanoacrylate Gel (Super Glue)
This is the most common and popular type due to its rapid curing time. Often referred to simply as "coral glue" or "frag glue," it's a thicker, gel-like version of super glue.
- How it Works: Cures almost instantly upon contact with water, creating a strong, localized bond.
- Benefits:
- Extremely fast setting, often within seconds.
- Precise application, ideal for small corals and frag plugs.
- Minimal mess compared to epoxy.
- Excellent for attaching soft and stony corals to small bases.
- Considerations: Can create a temporary white film (blooming) around the bond site if too much is used or if water flow is low, though this is generally harmless and dissipates.
Epoxy Putty
Coral epoxy is a two-part adhesive that comes in a moldable putty form. It requires kneading to activate the bonding agents.
- How it Works: Once mixed, it cures over a longer period (minutes to hours), forming a very hard and durable bond.
- Benefits:
- Exceptional strength, ideal for larger, heavier corals and structural rock work.
- Excellent for filling gaps and creating custom shapes.
- Longer working time allows for repositioning before it sets.
- Considerations:
- Can be messier to work with.
- Requires manual mixing and handling.
- Takes longer to fully cure, meaning items may need temporary support.
Key Features of High-Quality Coral Glue
A premium coral glue offers reliability and performance crucial for a thriving reef tank. Its design focuses on creating robust, long-lasting bonds under challenging conditions.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Underwater Setting | No need to remove items from the tank, minimizing disturbance. |
| Superior Intermolecular Bonding | Creates a strong, durable, and permanent attachment. |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly application, often direct from the tube or kneaded by hand. |
| Fast Curing Time | Reduces waiting periods and the risk of corals shifting post-application. |
| Versatility | Bonds various materials like ceramic, plastic, live rock, and coral tissue. |
| Durability | Withstands constant water flow and chemical changes within the aquarium. |
| Non-Toxic | Safe for all aquarium inhabitants, preserving the delicate ecosystem. |
Applications of Coral Glue in Aquariums
Coral glue is an indispensable tool for nearly every reef aquarist.
- Coral Fragging: The primary use is to attach small coral pieces (frags) to specialized frag plugs or small pieces of live rock for propagation.
- Aquascaping: Securing live rock together to create stable, interesting, and elevated structures that provide hiding spots for fish and ideal placement for corals.
- Coral Placement: Affixing larger coral colonies directly to the rockwork in desired locations, ensuring they receive optimal light and flow.
- Repair Work: Fixing broken coral branches or reattaching pieces of live rock that have come loose.
- Equipment Concealment: Gluing small pieces of rock or coral to obscure visible equipment, like pump cords or heaters.
Tips for Effective Coral Gluing
Achieving a strong and lasting bond requires proper technique:
- Preparation is Key: Ensure both surfaces to be glued are clean and free of detritus or algae. Gently dry the coral's base with a paper towel if using cyanoacrylate gel for an even quicker, stronger initial grab.
- Use Sparingly (Gel): For cyanoacrylate gel, a small, pea-sized amount is usually sufficient. Overuse can lead to more "blooming."
- Firm Pressure: Hold the coral firmly against the substrate for at least 10-30 seconds (for gel) to allow the bond to initiate. For epoxy, support might be needed for longer.
- Work Quickly (Gel): Cyanoacrylate gel sets very fast in water, so have your placement decided before application.
- Knead Thoroughly (Epoxy): Ensure epoxy putty is mixed completely until it's a uniform color before applying to guarantee proper curing.
- Avoid Direct Contact: While non-toxic, it's best to avoid getting glue directly on sensitive coral polyps. Aim for the base tissue or skeletal structure.
- Consider Water Flow: Turn off powerheads temporarily during gluing to prevent the glue from being washed away before it can set.
- Gloves: Wear gloves to protect your hands, especially when using epoxy putty, as it can be messy.
By understanding its properties and applying it correctly, coral glue becomes a vital component for maintaining a beautiful and stable reef aquarium.
