Epoxy Rock together

[Critter]

I'm trying to do rock work on my small 20gal tank. I picked up that epoxy made by two fishes, and so far i'm not impressed. I managed to get two rocks to mostly stick together though i bet if I tugged on it good enough it would seperate. Is this stuff any good or am I just not doing it right... I cut about a 1/2 inch wide piece of epoxy, rubbed it around untill the light grey and dark grey mixed then on one rock I had out of the water, stuck it to the two points of the rock where it would meet the other rock. It really didn't seem like it wanted to stick to the rock.
Is there a better product out there that I should be using?

Thanks

 

[jaystampareef]

Epoxy sticks suck. Try using a generous portion of gel based super glue, (yes, plain old super glue). I mean GENEROUS portions. Squirting some Great Stuff foam will also mechnically attach rock together (by filling into small holes and bonding the rock together), but this only works with dead rock b/c the foam need a couple of days to cure.

 

[furman589]

Yeah I never have much luck with epoxy sticks I half the time I have to redo it because they fall off. I would say drilling your rock and using fiber glass rods to make rock pillars would be easiest. Also zip strips work pretty good.

 

[jaystampareef]

You can also use hollow, plastic tubes that you buy from aquarium supply stores.

 

[Critter]

Good ideas, but would rather avoid the drilling and tube method if possable... was hoping for an expox or glue method. I tried the superglue and it didn't seem to bond. I guess i might have to take both pieces of rock out and try it.

 

[jaystampareef]

Yeah, rockscaping can be a major problem. Don't feel bad... we all have or have had rock-stacking issues! Super glue does work better out of the water, but remember, you need to use a LOT to get a good firm hold.

 

[rigleautomotive]

Critter,if you mix the epoxy and use super glue gel on the epoxy where it hits the rock it will stick pretty good.i make a indentation in the epoxy and put a small puddle of super glue in it and then press it to the rock.i then do the same on the other side where it meets the other rock.this works for small rocks but the real heavey ones need to be pegged to hold better.

 

[Critter]

hey now thats using your head... these are just fist-sized pieces so I will give that a shot. thanks

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13900132#post13900132 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rigleautomotive
Critter,if you mix the epoxy and use super glue gel on the epoxy where it hits the rock it will stick pretty good.i make a indentation in the epoxy and put a small puddle of super glue in it and then press it to the rock.i then do the same on the other side where it meets the other rock.this works for small rocks but the real heavey ones need to be pegged to hold better.

 

[jaystampareef]

That is a good idea!

 

[rigleautomotive]

you must have missed the demo i gave at the swap.i explained how the glue makes the epoxy much more effective for gluing some of the more difficult frags.i have been using this method for years and i discovered it worked much better then just the epoxy.the glue works like an activator

 

[Critter]

I remember you were showing us a frag and you put some glue on the base and diped it in water to activate it and then teased at it to get some spider webs... (lol then you set in the tank and I remarked that it might get glued to the bottom of tank lol)... But I didn't put the 2 n 2 together about fixing the rockwork.. I tried it tonight, both two fishes products epoxy and gel. I must say, the epoxy stuck to the rock right away on the out of the tank piece.. then i put it on the other ends of the expoxy and stuck in it and for the first time it really flet solid immdiately. I put some stress on it tomorrow and see how it went but i'm thinking this is going to work out well.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13901771#post13901771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rigleautomotive
you must have missed the demo i gave at the swap.i explained how the glue makes the epoxy much more effective for gluing some of the more difficult frags.i have been using this method for years and i discovered it worked much better then just the epoxy.the glue works like an activator

 

[Critter]

Dan, that worked like a charm... I reached in tonight and it doesn't wobble or try to come apart...! So I think this is the answer I was looking for... thanks a bunch!

Chris

 

[rigleautomotive]

no problem,glad to help