Glue

[mermaiden78]

What is a good glue to use for under water projects? (gluing rocks, Frags, or propagation)

[mogurnda]

Depends on the task, but I use two-part household epoxy putty or super glue gel for most things. Cable ties are handy, too.

[TKOS]

Cable ties are great and make it so you don't have to work out of water and with dry surfaces. If you are looking at epoxies then the putties do work best but really try for a marine epoxy, most others will fail in temperate water after a period of time. Aquarium safe silicone is also really great.

[mogurnda]

Cable ties are great and make it so you don't have to work out of water and with dry surfaces. If you are looking at epoxies then the putties do work best but really try for a marine epoxy, most others will fail in temperate water after a period of time. Aquarium safe silicone is also really great.
I don't mean to be contrary, but I frag and mount corals pretty constantly, and this does not match my experience at all.

You don't have to use super glue or epoxy on dry surfaces. It is routine to secure frags on rocks underwater with either.

The cheap household epoxy I use (which was originally recommended to me by one of the local grand-master reefers) has stayed in place and hard as a rock for years. Even if the epoxy were at risk of failure, the frag only needs to be secure long enough to encrust or attach itself to the rock. Any non-metallic epoxy putty will work.

I would never, ever use silicone to attach a frag or to secure live rock.

[Blinky]

Silicone seems like a bad idea - needs to cure for 24+h before it's safe for tank inhabitants, no way I'd put uncured silicone anywhere near my tank. I love superglue gel (I usually use 'Loc-tite' brand but any cyanoacrylate will work), it works really well for me. I've used it out of water, under water, on wet and dry surfaces, it never fails. It's cheap, quick, easy to use and safe.

[mermaiden78]

Ok here is the deal... I went to the local drug store and got some LOCTITE super glue gel... All i can say is wow... within second (not even that long) it was bonded. I used it on one of my yellow polyps and he/she is doing great so far! I did the operation at 12 this afternoon and by around 3 he was opened back up and being normal!!!!! Thanks for all the help!!!! I thought it was going to be more complicated than that LOL :dive2:

[TKOS]

I never suggested using silicon to glue frags. That wasn't the whole question. I suggested it works well as an underwater adhesive.

I am glad your experiences are contrary to what i said.

[mogurnda]

I am glad your experiences are contrary to what i said.Not glad here, just puzzled.

[TKOS]

I work with epoxy a lot and have found that cheaper ones fail under high humidity very easily. I am looking for long term bonding, I guess you aren't.

[mogurnda]

Interesting. I've got some globs that have been underwater for a few years, still rock hard and stuck like glue. I guess I got lucky.

[mermaiden78]

should i worry about the glue that i used? i read on a few sites that they used the same thing.... But i want to make sure

[mogurnda]

should i worry about the glue that i used? i read on a few sites that they used the same thing.... But i want to make sure
That's the brand I'm using right now. Works fine. I like the dispenser, too.

[mermaiden78]

cool it is a very easy to use bottle!!!

[LordsSoilder]

Can you frag to much when doing this process? I mean do they like to be by each other? or is it ok to spead them thin...

[mermaiden78]

well honestly i dont know! I just moved one polyp just to see if i could do it... He seems to be doing fine on his own. I wouldnt think it would hurt anything by spreading them out. IYAM ( well ya did) I think it would be better to spread them fill in more wholes or gaps.

[saltyflash]

I've used super glue a thousand different times for a bunch of different uses but never in the SW aquarium...yet.
I need to attach a trumpet coral to a base rock that can't easily be removed. So, how would I go about this?
Would (should) I pull the coral to the top, expose the hard bottom while leaving most of the coral in the water, apply super glue gel, let it skin over for 30 seconds and then apply it to the spot I want or...? In this scenario would the glue stick to the wet underwater rock that I want to attach to?
Naturally, I want to do it right the first time.

[mogurnda]

I'd take the whole coral out of the water, pat the base dry, put on a large blob of glue and rapidly place it where you want it. It always helps to wedge the coral into a spot where it will naturally be stable. The glue will stick.

[saltyflash]

Thanks Dave... was a little nervy about glue in the aquarium as it seemed kinda 'wrong' but it worked like a dream. Oh the things I can do now!

[mogurnda]

Remember the reefer's credo: I glue animals to rocks and post pictures on the internet.