coral superglue

[jjz_13]

This might be a stupid question, but here goes anyway...

What are most of you using when you put new corals in your tank? For example, when you get a coral from the LFS and it's attached to a rock, if you want to glue that rock to an existing one in your tank, what do you use?

 

[Don Lino]

I've been using Loctite Super Glue Gel and can be purchased at Wal-Mart...of course

 

[jjz_13]

you can use this right in water with no problems? just spread some on the new little rock and push down onto existing inside the tank. maybe hold it for a few seconds?

 

[shibumi]

That is a good question I want to know too ...

 

[VINH_XUAN]

I'm using the Coral Glue, stick right in the water, hold for 5-10 secs depend on the weight of the piece. Expensive though, 20 bucks for a 1oz bottle from LFS but it hold well even a piece half of my palm.

 

[Don Lino]

Yes jjz_13, I glued stuff in the water but you have to be quick or it'll dry up.

 

[jjz_13]

Thanks for the info, Don. And VINH_XUAN.

 

[Gimplar]

I personally use Super glue, (make sure you use the GEL version, other versions will not bond properly because of the density and consistency) when i frag something, but if you want to attach a piece of rock to another piece of rock, i would suggest using something like molding epoxy. I know that Marineland makes a type thats "reef safe" and ive used it with great success. The only reason i suggest this over super glue, is because super glue, is basically like liquid plastic which drys obviously. even though the glue is, indeed, very sticky, it's actually quite brittle and cant handle larger wieght loads, where as epoxy, (which takes a little time to harden to a point where it holds decent strength) is like cement and can handle a larger stress range.

 

[BlueCoast]

ditto on what Don said. i give the gel superglue a few seconds to cure in the air and in the tank it goes. The key is finding cyano-acrylate glue(reef safe & cheaper than the LFS epoxies) It has worked better for me if i can get both pieces out for 30-60 seconds, but it still works fine when you can't get one piece out.

 

[mrivers]

Depending on the piece, I use Super Glue Gel, or a combination of Gel and green epoxy stick. When there's not enough surface contact for the gel to be usable, what i do is, put some gel on the piece, then apply a wad of epoxy, then glue on the bottom of the epoxy, and then push the piece onto the rockwork. This works quite well, the superglue bonds the epoxy to the rock very quickly, and with the epoxy being pliable, it takes the shape of whatever it's pushed on to. I find the epoxy by itself almost completely unusable.