florida joe
Well-Known Member
My black comb i will try for a better pic this aftennoon they are a really nice fish for rockwork such as yours
Aquascaping Live Rock
- Thread starter bugsman
- Start date
bugsman
Member
I am so frustrated right now I could spit nails. Someone please tell me what brand and type of epoxy you use to stick corals to your rockwork. I can't seem to get anything to stick and stay. Everything keeps falling off. I can't get anything off the substrate.
I did a little more rearranging but I am now at a loss as to how to get anything to stay on the rock. Some help here please. Diagrams, how to's - I will take any advice at this point.
I did a little more rearranging but I am now at a loss as to how to get anything to stay on the rock. Some help here please. Diagrams, how to's - I will take any advice at this point.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Super Glue Gel / cyanoacrylate gel usually works for me. I put the whole bottle underwater, and squirt a lot on the rock and whatever I want to stick, and then hurry up and stick it really fast, then hold it there for a little while Cyanoacrylate gel usually hardens really quickly under water. I used epoxy once and was not impressed.
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Slow down take a breath this is not a race search out AquaStick Epoxy most if not all LFS have it
BTW tank looks great
BTW tank looks great
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I use epoxy putty all the time in the business that I'm in... It takes about an hour for it to get hard, and about a day to completely cure. I've never had success with epoxy because it take too long to harden. I like cyanoacrylate gel because it's quick and easy. 
If you do work with the epoxy, it just takes time and patience, like Joe said. You'll eventually get it!
If you do work with the epoxy, it just takes time and patience, like Joe said. You'll eventually get it!
florida joe
Well-Known Member
I have never experienced that long a time frame for epoxy specifically for the aquarium trade I personally use aqua stick Mix Ratio 1:1 by volume
Pot Life 8 minutes
Gel Time 10 minutes @77°F Cure Time 20 minutes
Quote:
It takes about an hour for it to get hard, and about a day to completely cure
Pot Life 8 minutes
Gel Time 10 minutes @77°F Cure Time 20 minutes
Quote:
It takes about an hour for it to get hard, and about a day to completely cure
foxandhound
Member
I just tried to glue some frags with superglue gel. I squeezed it onto the bottom in mid air, counted to 5, then plunged it in the water and held down for 30 seconds. NOT IMPRESSED. Next time, I'll use Seth's method of doing it in the water. No wait time.
slice
Active Member
In my tank, there is only one rock that is glued in place, the grapefruit-sized one on the very top. The red line shows where the glue seam is. The potential for disaster should this rock
dislodge and fall is apparent; my glue seam had to be strong and reliable.
What I did (and do for any gluing operation, be it a frag plug or whatever), is to knead a ball of epoxy and form a "pancake" the appropriate size and thickness to the surfaces to be joined.
The thickness of the "pancake" should be a bit thicker than any gaps between the irregular surfaces to be joined. Your goal is to get as close to full surface adhesion as possible when the rocks are mated.
Apply a bead pattern of superglue gel on one surface of the pancake, enough that when pressed against the rock, the gel will spread to cover most of the surface. Press the gelled surface of the epoxy into the surface of the first rock, making sure the epoxy fills as many nooks and crannies as possible.
Run another bead os superglue gel on the exposed surface of the epoxy as before. Position the glued rock and press into the intended surface. Gently rotate while pressing the glued rock to ensure the epoxy fills as many nooks and crannies on the receiving surface as possible. If the pancake was made thick enough in the first step, you should be able to get nearly full surface coverage. In a few seconds, you will feel the superglue gel "lock". When you feel this STOP, otherwise you weaken the newly created bond.
The superglue gel will hold the rock in position until the epoxy cures. Any epoxy that oozes from the seam (hopefully, you will have some) will be covered with coralline in due time and will be indistinguishable from the rock.
I glued the rock shown above nearly a year ago and it remains solid. Every so often, while working in the tank, I give the top rock a tug just to make sure. For all practical purposes, it is one solid piece.
The only time I use only superglue gel is when placing a frag and am unsure of its final position. When I am certain of the placement and want to "lock it down", I use this glued epoxy technique.
dislodge and fall is apparent; my glue seam had to be strong and reliable.
What I did (and do for any gluing operation, be it a frag plug or whatever), is to knead a ball of epoxy and form a "pancake" the appropriate size and thickness to the surfaces to be joined.
The thickness of the "pancake" should be a bit thicker than any gaps between the irregular surfaces to be joined. Your goal is to get as close to full surface adhesion as possible when the rocks are mated.
Apply a bead pattern of superglue gel on one surface of the pancake, enough that when pressed against the rock, the gel will spread to cover most of the surface. Press the gelled surface of the epoxy into the surface of the first rock, making sure the epoxy fills as many nooks and crannies as possible.
Run another bead os superglue gel on the exposed surface of the epoxy as before. Position the glued rock and press into the intended surface. Gently rotate while pressing the glued rock to ensure the epoxy fills as many nooks and crannies on the receiving surface as possible. If the pancake was made thick enough in the first step, you should be able to get nearly full surface coverage. In a few seconds, you will feel the superglue gel "lock". When you feel this STOP, otherwise you weaken the newly created bond.
The superglue gel will hold the rock in position until the epoxy cures. Any epoxy that oozes from the seam (hopefully, you will have some) will be covered with coralline in due time and will be indistinguishable from the rock.
I glued the rock shown above nearly a year ago and it remains solid. Every so often, while working in the tank, I give the top rock a tug just to make sure. For all practical purposes, it is one solid piece.
The only time I use only superglue gel is when placing a frag and am unsure of its final position. When I am certain of the placement and want to "lock it down", I use this glued epoxy technique.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Well, I didn't know it was rocks you were trying to glue together!!! lol
The only rocks that I glue together is base rock. I take the dry rock before it gets wet, and I use 100% aquarium safe silicone and put a bead down on a rock that I want to join together, and then put the other rock on top of the silicone and then let it dry for 24 hours out of water. It seems to be the best, cheapest, and easiest way to glue base rock together, IMHO. I also learned that trick in some aquarium book years ago. I wish I could remember the name of the book...
If it's live rock, then I would suggest the epoxy method. It doesn't take as long to dry, and you can leave your rock underwater while it cures.
The only rocks that I glue together is base rock. I take the dry rock before it gets wet, and I use 100% aquarium safe silicone and put a bead down on a rock that I want to join together, and then put the other rock on top of the silicone and then let it dry for 24 hours out of water. It seems to be the best, cheapest, and easiest way to glue base rock together, IMHO. I also learned that trick in some aquarium book years ago. I wish I could remember the name of the book...
If it's live rock, then I would suggest the epoxy method. It doesn't take as long to dry, and you can leave your rock underwater while it cures.
foxandhound
Member
Thanks so much everyone!!!
Ok, so superglue gel for semi-permanent placement of small frags.
Epoxy for strong hold larger corals and rocks. But what Epoxy is safe to use with corals and fish in the tank?
Ok, so superglue gel for semi-permanent placement of small frags.
Epoxy for strong hold larger corals and rocks. But what Epoxy is safe to use with corals and fish in the tank?
florida joe
Well-Known Member
aqua stick
slice
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433223
aqua stick
Yeppers, this stuff:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/Two-Little-Fishies-Aquastik--Grey-Color_p_1306.html
-also comes in red
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433223
aqua stick
Yeppers, this stuff:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/Two-Little-Fishies-Aquastik--Grey-Color_p_1306.html
-also comes in red
kiefers
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slice http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433458
Yeppers, this stuff:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/Two-Little-Fishies-Aquastik--Grey-Color_p_1306.html
-also comes in red
why do you need to epoxy your live rock? I can see if it's due tipping and falling frequently nonetheless. I get board with the looks of my set up after six months or so and feel the need to "redecorate". However if your going for the more permanent feeling, I would use the aquastick
Originally Posted by Slice http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433458
Yeppers, this stuff:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/Two-Little-Fishies-Aquastik--Grey-Color_p_1306.html
-also comes in red
why do you need to epoxy your live rock? I can see if it's due tipping and falling frequently nonetheless. I get board with the looks of my set up after six months or so and feel the need to "redecorate". However if your going for the more permanent feeling, I would use the aquastick
slice
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiefers http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433459
why do you need to epoxy your live rock? I can see if it's due tipping and falling frequently nonetheless. I get board with the looks of my set up after six months or so and feel the need to "redecorate". However if your going for the more permadent feeling, I would use the aquastick
As I said a few posts above, there is only one rock I epoxied and that one HAD to be positioned permanently. All my other rock are loosely positioned "tetris" style. If you don't need to glue it, then don't. The OP had a 'scape that needed some reinforcement to keep rock from falling.
As for boredom, my coral growth makes my tank always changing...
Originally Posted by Kiefers http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433459
why do you need to epoxy your live rock? I can see if it's due tipping and falling frequently nonetheless. I get board with the looks of my set up after six months or so and feel the need to "redecorate". However if your going for the more permadent feeling, I would use the aquastick
As I said a few posts above, there is only one rock I epoxied and that one HAD to be positioned permanently. All my other rock are loosely positioned "tetris" style. If you don't need to glue it, then don't. The OP had a 'scape that needed some reinforcement to keep rock from falling.
As for boredom, my coral growth makes my tank always changing...
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Guys you missed something, this was the Ops post and to that I suggested he epoxy some oyster or clam shells to the rock to make platforms for this frags
Quote:
I did a little more rearranging but I am now at a loss as to how to get anything to stay on the rock.
Quote:
I did a little more rearranging but I am now at a loss as to how to get anything to stay on the rock.
slice
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433462
Guys you missed something, this was the Ops post and to that I suggested he epoxy some oyster or clam shells to the rock to make platforms for this frags
That was 55 posts ago. We usually can't keep on topic more than 2 or 3 posts. I certainly can't remember more than that...
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433462
Guys you missed something, this was the Ops post and to that I suggested he epoxy some oyster or clam shells to the rock to make platforms for this frags
That was 55 posts ago. We usually can't keep on topic more than 2 or 3 posts. I certainly can't remember more than that...
kiefers
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slice http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433460
As I said a few posts above, there is only one rock I epoxied and that one HAD to be positioned permanently. All my other rock are loosely positioned "tetris" style. If you don't need to glue it, then don't. The OP had a 'scape that needed some reinforcement to keep rock from falling.
As for boredom, my coral growth makes my tank always changing...
blah blah, hahaha
I can see where you had to use some epoxy but the OP?
aquascaping is indeed a frustrating task, I will admit that.
Originally Posted by Slice http:///t/388675/aquascaping-live-rock/40#post_3433460
As I said a few posts above, there is only one rock I epoxied and that one HAD to be positioned permanently. All my other rock are loosely positioned "tetris" style. If you don't need to glue it, then don't. The OP had a 'scape that needed some reinforcement to keep rock from falling.
As for boredom, my coral growth makes my tank always changing...
blah blah, hahaha
I can see where you had to use some epoxy but the OP?
aquascaping is indeed a frustrating task, I will admit that.