View Full Version : What kind of glue is safe?
Is Elmer's glue safe for a tank? I want to glue some rocks to a piece of plastic. I did a search but couldn't find anything on this particular type. Thanks.
125gJoe
10-20-2003, 8:13 PM
Originally posted by 99SH
Is Elmer's glue safe for a tank? I want to glue some rocks to a piece of plastic. I did a search but couldn't find anything on this particular type. Thanks. Don't know about Elmers and if it is safe, but Super Glue Gel worked in a saltwater tank to glue corals in place..
mogurnda
10-20-2003, 8:15 PM
Elmer's is water soluble, which will limit its usefulness. Any kind of cyanoacrylate (super glue) gel will be safe.
Stay away from any PVA or white glues. Even the ones that are solvent based will swell in water and then fail. This includes elmers. Cyanoacrylates will also fail as this is actually what they were designed to do. Some last much longer than others.
Marine Epoxies and aquarium safe silicone glues are your best bet.
mogurnda
10-21-2003, 9:15 AM
Cyanoacrylates will also fail as this is actually what they were designed to do. Learn something new every day. Not a problem with corals, as they grow onto the rock. Rocks and plastic grow so much more slowly that I guess it wouldn't work in this case.
Grassguy
10-21-2003, 9:21 AM
I agree with TKOS. Aquarium safe silicone works well
RClarkofNC
10-21-2003, 7:34 PM
Aquarium sealant has worked well for me. It's good to have on hand anyways just in case.
I haven't tried it, but I've also heard that the glue from hot glue guns is basically parafin (wax) and is safe to use, though it may now hold as well after being under water for a long time.
silicone for long term, hot-melt will work for short term.
i had several pvc creations i made with hotmelt and some of the smaller ones fell apart after awhile. the failure might have also been due to no surface preparation/ lack of adhesion. with a porous material it would work alot better, pvc is naturally slick.
if needed you can also do small spots with hot melt to make the creation and then go over it all with silicone........... the hot melt sets quickly, the silicone takes forever.