CoralWall FAQ
Because each CoralWall is unique to your aquarium and your goals, please fill out the no-obligation order form here. Feel free to attach drawings, dimensions, or your ideas for what you want to accomplish - we can make it happen. Once we receive your order form, we might exchange a few questions over email, then you will receive a payment link along with a layout document. Check out a sample layout document here.
2) How much does CoralWall cost?
Since each layout for each aquarium is different, the price for your CoralWall will depend on how many modules you want, how high your wall will be, and importantly - how many magnets and of what strength it will use. Generally, your per-module price will range from $35-$45 per module, which is significantly less than similarly-sized magnet mounted locking frag racks available today. (Prices as of Spring 2023: FijiCube $64.99, Eshopps Alpha $74.95, IceCap Medium $63.99, AquaMaxx $59.99, PNW Custom $64.99, Flipper $59.99)
3) What holds the CoralWall to your aquarium?
The CoralWall lattice system posts integrate powerful magnets to hold the CoralWall in place, while almost all installations have legs that rest on the bottom of your aquarium to take the weight. We also make a floating vertical frag rack, for frag plugs only.
4) How much weight can the CoralWall handle?
Your CoralWall is designed to be covered by up to 100% in coral rubble, and your particular layout will include enough magnets to stay secured to your aquarium. Each SilTalon locking plug position can hold up to 1/2 pound. Do not extend rocks more than 4” from the wall surface, and place larger rocks toward the bottom of your CoralWall.
5) Does rubble rock come with the CoralWall? What rock can I used for my CoralWall?
No, rock is not included. While any available rock sold as “rubble” or frag mounts can be mounted to the CoralWall once glued to a frag plug, we have found that one of the best ready-to-use rock options is the Marco Rocks Frag Mounts. They come in a 9lb bag and contain many flatter pieces that make covering your coral wall a breeze, without having to cut rock or break up larger pieces, and with the least weight possible. Glueing standard frag plugs to these frag mounts with super glue gel takes just minutes. Alternatively, Stax from Two Little Fishes is another option, though looks slightly less natural. When starting your CoralWall, leaving un-filled frag plug holes adjacent to rock rubble will allow you to place new coral frags onto the wall easily, and allow them to grow naturally onto rock. Or, just glue coral directly to your CoralWall mounted rock.
We don't currently sell Marco Rocks Frag Mounts or coral plugs. Due to their weight, they will be much cheaper for you to order from one of the larger online vendors, from which you can receive free shipping.
6) What corals can I grow on my CoralWall?
We have not found a coral yet that will not grow on a vertical surface, including soft corals, LPS, and SPS corals. Any coral that can be fixed in place, from encrusters like zoas, montipora, favia, and chalice corals, to acropora, micromussa, euphyllia and more - all can thrive on your CoralWall. The CoralWall also is an extremely good way to isolate some corals from your main aquascape, such as zoas, montipora, or mushrooms, that over time can overtake other corals. Because your rubble is attached to the wall with frag plugs, you can remove rocks or entire modules to move them and rebalance colors, to trim back faster growing corals, or remove a module to frag corals from it. Coral colonies that grow large, extending from the wall more than 4" might need to be periodically trimmed back so as to not over-weight your CoralWall.
7) What is the CoralWall made from?
Designed and manufactured in the USA, the CoralWall is made from precision cut cast acrylic, food grade silicon, and uses nylon hardware - all aquarium safe materials. Our magnets are epoxy coated, and internal magnets are further protected by being encased in acrylic, using our specially designed clear acrylic joints that are guaranteed not to leak. Learn more about our magnets here.
8) What frag plugs can the CoralWall accommodate?
Almost all of them - including the larger plastic ORA plugs. We suggest Ocean Wonders 3/4” plugs for mounting rubble, or their larger 1.125” plugs for frag farming. TWIST your frag plugs to more easily remove them from the wall.
9) How will my CoralWall change over time?
Just like how your reef tank will evolve, so too will your living CoralWall change over time - if you let it. Corals will grow over modules covering gaps between them and connecting them, creating a natural looking wall of coral, and making removal of individual modules more difficult. The Coral Wall has been designed and sized with 1/2” of space between modules (though you can place them closer horizontally if you like), to allow for removal at any stage of growth, though at later stages of growth with completely covered modules, zoas or other encrusting corals may need to be severed prior to removal. We also sell replacement front module plates, so if you would rather remove and cut up a fully encrusted module plate to propagate the encrusted corals, you may do that and simply replace the front module plate. Corals, sponges, and coralline algae will to some degree “cement” your vertical posts to your aquarium glass over time, making their attachment stronger. SilTalon locking inserts, for similar reasons, will hold more strongly over time.
10) I need to work around my overflow and powerheads - is that possible?
Absolutely. Our modular design can accommodate almost any layout and powerhead position. And, because our modules can be swapped around on the lattice, you can change your powerhead position, or add powerheads in the future.
11) How deep a sand bed can the CoralWall accommodate?
We have three sizes of legs which range from 1” to 4”, and are adjustable in 1/2” increments. Post legs need to rest on the tank bottom, rather than on your sand bed. If you have a deeper sand bed, or simply want your wall higher off your aquarium bottom - just let us know when ordering.
12) What is the difference between the Aquascape and FragMax modules?
The Aquascape modules are mainly intended for use in a display tank, with the intention of creating a living coral wall. Each includes 21 frag plug positions, 4 standoff mounting positions, and have a little more room on the modules for corals to encrust and more space for rubble to be mounted more easily. FragMax modules are intended for use in frag tanks and for coral farming, with 31 frag plug positions and no standoff holes. FragMax modules can be completely covered with frag plugs with up to 1’ crowns, and using Ocean Wonders 1.125” crown plugs, you may pack them tightly for encrusting propagation, with a single row of 3 smaller plugs in the center - or keep that row empty to prevent cross encrusting from two different corals on either side of the module.
13) Why aren’t your external magnets enclosed?
The epoxy coating on our external magnets provides adequate protection against the occasional splash and drip on the back of your tank, but are not meant to be submerged. We haven’t placed them in an enclosure for two reasons - first to save on cost - but more importantly to retain as much of their holding power as possible. Starting at 1/4” (6mm) apart, for each additional 1/16” of an inch (1.5mm) distance between our N52 magnets you add by enclosing them in additional plastic or acrylic, you decrease the holding power by approximately 20%. We do offer external magnet enclosures if, for instance, you would like to mount a section of your CoralWall on the outside of an overflow, and need the external magnets to be submerged. Do not submerge external magnets that are not enclosed in acrylic.
14) How large are the CoralWall modules?
Each module is 9.75” wide, and 4.625” high, and can be mounted vertically, or horizontally in most instances. The CoralWall modules protrude only 1.17” from your aquarium pane, and hang on your lattice frame. Each module is individually removable from the lattice, without removing the lattice.
15) How large a powerhead can the CoralWall fit?
The CoralWall powerhead modules have a cut out that accommodates a powerhead that is up to 4” in diameter at its base, such as a Vortech MP60.
16) What was the genesis of the CoralWall?
The CoralWall was originally conceived to cover the back of a peninsula tank with zoanthids. While the original concept proved extremely successful - not only covering the often blank end or back of an aquarium but also restricting zoas and palys growth to the back wall so as to not encroach on other corals - there were many shortcomings in the original design. Removable plates and using locking inserts for easily mounting frag plugs and rubble, and easy adjustment or changes, were the key improvements, as well as the retrofit-ability of the lattice system - all making the CoralWall an adaptable and flexible palette for growing corals. And you never have to scrape the back of your tank again!
17) What kind of reefer is the CoralWall for?
From beginner to advanced hobbyist, the CoralWall is for anyone who wants to create something unique - and perhaps has a coral gardener, or bonsai mind set when it comes to their tank. Or maybe for people who just hate scraping the back of their tanks. If you are truly addicted to coral collection, and want to increase the display of your corals, a CoralWall can increase your display real estate very easily. And if you have a frag tank and want to maximize your grow out area, adding a CoralWall with FragMax modules is likely the most cost effective way to increase your grow out area, without the need for another frag tank, lights, filtration or flow.
