Cyanoacrylate gel

[karimwassef]

I've been using superglue for fragging and it works ok when dry. Unfortunately, I have some small frags that I want to attach to a wall.

I remove the frag, apply glue, wait a few seconds and then go into the water to the rock wall.

Unfortunately, the glue immediately releases a surface film and loses stickiness. The gel creates a skin that won't stick any more.

The only way to make this work is to apply a large enough gob so that pressing it against a hard surface underwater bursts the glue skin and allows new glue to touch the wall and frag.

This is a messy and painful method.

I've used underwater epoxy but these are very small frags on a vertical wall... So the epoxy doesn't hold as well.

Alternatives? Better techniques?

I can't use plugs (no big enough holes in the wall) or do this dry.

 

[undertai]

Rough up the surface you are trying to glue it to. Scratch with a screwdriver or sand paper, the problem is the surface is to smooth. Their is a thin film of slime on the walls the glue needs something to adhere to, only thing it is adhering to is the thin film on the glass. Hope you get what I'm saying.

 

[JB NY]

You need to use the epoxy, super glue combo. Roll a little ball of epoxy, put a dab of superglue on one side, stick the frag into the superglue and the epoxy. Then put some superglue on the opposite side of the epoxy ball and, holding the epoxy ball with the frag, push it onto wherever you want the frag to be. Hold it for about 20-30 seconds and it should hold tight and you are ready to go!

The superglue when on the epoxy and immersed in the water will still form the little film, but it will break when the epoxy is pushed into something. The glue will hold tight quickly and allow enough time for the epoxy to harden keeping everything in place.

I have glued literately hundred of frags this way, you can glue to rock or walls it will work with everything.

 

[karimwassef]

I'm gluing to a rock wall, but the slime comment holds true.

Joe - can you show some pics?

 

[JB NY]

I don't have any pics of the step by step, but here are a bunch of frags done that way.

 

[karimwassef]

Do you use superglue above and below the epoxy?

 

[JB NY]

yes

 

[karimwassef]

The one to the frag can air dry. The one under the epoxy would skin in water, right? So how is it better? Does the softness of the epoxy allow for a better fit to the rockwork and better distribution of the superglue?

 

[OllieDog]

The one to the frag can air dry. The one under the epoxy would skin in water, right? So how is it better? Does the softness of the epoxy allow for a better fit to the rockwork and better distribution of the superglue?

The epoxy molds to the shape, but isn't sticky. The glue doesn't mold well, but when a bubble is formed and the epoxy presses it into a shape and molds it down, the skin of the glue busts and spreads around between the epoxy and rock surface. press it into a spot and hold it firm for a while.

 

[JB NY]

No air dry. roll the epoxy in a ball, put some glue on the ball, stick the frag in it. Then turn it upside down and put glue on the opposite side, then stick the side that you just put glue on into your rockwork. The epoxy will mold itself around whatever you are pushing it into, The superglue allows it to stick quickly, the epoxy hardens in about 10-20 minutes and because it was pressed into the rock it will stay there. But because the epoxy is pliable you can use this method to stick the frag on glass too.

 

[karimwassef]

Cool. Thanks.

Last night, in frustration, I've used just epoxy. I like this better.

 

[karimwassef]

The epoxy putty is ok if it hooks down into something. Like a custom plug.

As far as non-filming over superglue ... after much experimentation, I found a superglue that doesn't immediately film over in water. Other versions from Loctite or gorilla glue didn't work very well

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/9CE58B11-9AE6-4A2E-BE0F-DF275FEB3B12_zpsrxsswr8c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/9CE58B11-9AE6-4A2E-BE0F-DF275FEB3B12_zpsrxsswr8c.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 9CE58B11-9AE6-4A2E-BE0F-DF275FEB3B12_zpsrxsswr8c.jpg"/></a>

This produces a minute film but it pops and cures in water

 

[SaltyWalter]

The brand of super glue gel from Oceans Wonders is the best glue I've used. And for $10 you get a TON of glue compared to the little tiny tube that's inside that brand of super glue posted above, its just a big fancy package but only a small tube inside.

 

[karimwassef]

I don't support any brand. Just that this is the one that worked for me. I'll try Oceans Wonders too.
I could have used the input before struggling for a couple of weeks with multiple versions.

 

[karimwassef]

I checked it out, but it's epoxy putty? I used putty already, but I need an adhesive.

 

[karimwassef]

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/5A905B28-8AA7-4D72-A4E7-FA22435423EB_zpsoohv1igw.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/5A905B28-8AA7-4D72-A4E7-FA22435423EB_zpsoohv1igw.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5A905B28-8AA7-4D72-A4E7-FA22435423EB_zpsoohv1igw.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/46D7ECA7-20DD-4A68-8B9E-009E0843DC46_zps4ekvt1wa.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/46D7ECA7-20DD-4A68-8B9E-009E0843DC46_zps4ekvt1wa.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 46D7ECA7-20DD-4A68-8B9E-009E0843DC46_zps4ekvt1wa.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/126B24AC-FFA4-4DBB-9712-962230C69082_zpsjdcr0tzk.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/126B24AC-FFA4-4DBB-9712-962230C69082_zpsjdcr0tzk.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 126B24AC-FFA4-4DBB-9712-962230C69082_zpsjdcr0tzk.jpg"/></a>

 

[Hockeynut120]

I use the super glue gel from the dollar store 2 tubes for a buck with epoxy the way explained above with great results. I glue all coral this way I have no plugs in my tank all glued directly to rock

 

[karimwassef]

I like using the epoxy but there are times when I just need to glue a thin branch to a rock. The putty ball to do the job would be 10x bigger than the frag...

So. I just need a little strong glue. A drop but strong enough to get the job done.

 

[karimwassef]

I think the other issue is biofilm... Both by the frag and on the rock. Some frags are slimier than others. Some rocks have algae residue too.

The superglue creates a hard surface on both parts first. Then they can adhere.

It should be noted that I have a powerful surge that can simulate a storm. While infrequent, I've witnessed a surge event snap a thin branch of birdsnest in half with the frag recovering well, but needing to be glued.

 

[SaltyWalter]

I checked it out, but it's epoxy putty? I used putty already, but I need an adhesive.

Google oceans wonder glue and its the first result lol BRS is the second result. I just like it because it comes in such a large amount compared to the tubes. Even at the dollar store in those 3 or 4 packs for your getting only 0.07oz per tube... This comes with 2oz and much more convenient than those crappy little tubes that end up breaking and getting glue all over haha but yeah it prob works just as good.

I just feel like same as lets say salt for food at home, would you rather rip open one of those little paper packages from a fast food place each time you need it, or have a jar of salt and sprinkle some on?