Re-planting downed rods & fans

[MikeJacobs]

This may sound trivial, but I can't get the sight of all the toppled coral here after mini-season out of my mind...

When I shore dive on our Lauderdale by the Sea first reef, I can count dozens if not hundreds of toppled corals. Many still have life but not for long as they settle into one of our many honeycombs or into "dead" stretches of sand.

My first question is whether I'm nuts to think that re-attaching sea fans or rods will make any difference. What do you think? I mean, we do reef clean-ups, right?

Second question - I made a quick search and really haven't found anything about re-attaching corals... anybody have a lead for me? I'd need an epoxy or cement that could be applied in salt water and would dry immediately.

Third question - if I'm not totally off my rocker, perhaps drilling a post into dead limestone would be useful trick... anybody know if the fan/rod would eventually re-connect itself?

 

[divad]

Its not trivial. Its a depressing sight. I've tried to set them back up with rocks, like a kid trying to revive a dead bird. Its pathetic
and pointless........but the glue idea makes sense. That exists, I
believe, because I've seen it on TV (irony intended). They should outlaw lobstering there or make a law requiring lobsterers
and photograghers to eat what they kill. That should sort things out.

 

[ScottyK]

It can be done, and when I complete my move to Florida in the next six months or so, I'd be glad to try and help you do it.

Stony Corals can survive being broken up and re-attached to things quite well. In the marine aquarium hobby, it's the main way they are propagated. Most stony corals in the hobby are tank raised now.

There is a putty product called "Aqua Stick" that is completely inert in seawater. It can be molded, shaped and used to join two wet halves underwater. You can get it for $7.99 a tube here.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/intro/main.html

It needs about 24 hours to cure, and then becomes as strong as the rock. It can't be getting knocked around too much by current or surge while curing though. You'd need to either do it on a really calm day, or move the broken frags to a protected bay. You can then attach them to manageably sized rocks, come back in a day or two, and swim them back out where you found them.

Good luck with it........

Scott

 

[ScottyK]

PS- Mike

Check your local laws carefully before you do anything. If you're breaking any, either don't do it or be careful you don't get caught

Scott

 

[ReefGuy]

Believe it or not, you can use superglue (although it may be difficult outside the aquarium environment). I've used it several times to cement gargonian frags to liverock. Another thing you can sometimes to is use dental floss (with softies) to tie them to the rock until they can re-attach themselves.

 

[MikeJacobs]

ReefGuy once bubbled... SNIP.... Another thing you can sometimes to is use dental floss (with softies) to tie them to the rock until they can re-attach themselves.

That's the intel I'm looking for... they do re-attach themselves? Being a colony rather than a single animal I was wondering if they would.

Do you know for sure that they do in fact re-attach? Thanks!

 

[MikeJacobs]

ScottyK once bubbled... It can be done, and when I complete my move to Florida in the next six months or so, I'd be glad to try and help you do it. SNIP

Scott thanks for the link and the legal alert - I will check for sure. When you get into town give me a shout for sure.

 

[ScottyK]

I'll do that Mike

Soft corals can re-attach, but stony corals cannot. anything with a base of skeletal aragonite will need to be permanently re-attached by you.

Hope this helps you out.......

Scott

 

[DennisS]

Check with Broward Dept of Environmental protection. I think you need a permit to do what you propose, at least with the hard corals. There is the coral nursery that NOVA operates. It is really weird, to even work as a volunteer under NOVA's auspice repairing and transferring coral you need to get approved with a backround check etc. The check is required for all county volunteers but seems a bit much to transfer and repair coral damage.

Damaged coral is routinely reattached, Harold Hudson in the keys sanctuary has been doing it for years. Do a google search using his name and coral and you will find a lot of good info.

 

[MikeJacobs]

DennisS once bubbled... SNIP...Damaged coral is routinely reattached, Harold Hudson in the keys sanctuary has been doing it for years. Do a google search using his name and coral and you will find a lot of good info.

Sheesh, *that's* what I was looking for. I've sent him an e-mail and will follow up on the text I found when I have a chance.

I'll also investigate the legal requirements before doing anything. Thanks much for setting me in the right direction.