Deployment and Coral Planting

Two different techniques were used to attach the corals to the Reef Ball modules. The first utilizes a non-toxic type of putty that hardens within 24 hours. The second technique uses a special blend of Hydraulic cement which hardens within just a couple minutes. Utilizing the cement requires a team of people to mix, swim and apply, but is necessary for larger transplants that are not completely stable with surrounding water movements. Site one is anchored...all units have 2 sand anchors at each pod with stainless cable running thru all modules.....the anchors are beneath the sand and the cable is run along bottom of units and buried under sand as well...this is for the aesthetics. We were not sure of the anchor technique when building, all future units will be made with Fiberglass rebar holes to facilitate anchoring in an aesthetic way with more horizontal stability in mind. Site 2 will be anchored upon our return for the Turks job. We had ran out of sand anchors due to a contractors lack of performance on island. The sites are on sandy bottoms....jet probes proved the sand to be 5' plus in all areas we placed units. We surveyed the earlier sites Marsha deployed balls on in 1999 in same and shallower depths. The units settled 10-15 cm which created a self anchoring that has lasted all these years. Dr. Harris concluded that anchoring was not a big issue due to this and the units would settle and self lock. We added the anchoring we did just for extra security and peace of mind. In addition, this area is not subjected to major waves or currents in normal conditions but we do understand the storm possibilities The smaller cakes and balls that are serving as caps were secured to the lower units using both putty and cement attachments.