Glue suggestions for frags

[gmpolan]

So now that i got my frag tank up and running, i wanna give fragging a shot and was curious whats the best glue to use? Should i keep buying the expensive ones from the LFS or is there a cheaper substitute...?

 

[miami dolfan]

Super Glue Gel

 

[brianjfinn]

I like Super Glue Gel or Gorilla Glue.

 

[merkywater]

GP I believe you can purchase at a dollar store if I'm not mistaking....as long as it is gel and say Cyanoacrylate on back they are safe to use.

 

[jcook54]

I picked up Loctite Control Gel at Home Depot. It's on sale right now at $2.50 for the larger bottle. Made my first frag with it!

 

[jef4y]

Super Glue Gel here too...

I try to avoid using aquamend as it heats to +100 deg F while curing.

 

[rolo65]

Supa glue gel

 

[misu]

I'm currently using the 2 little fishies brand and there's not much of a difference from home depot stuff, big bottles are always a pain when they dry at the tip

 

[lilrobb]

JeF4y;579535 wrote: Super Glue Gel here too...

I try to avoid using aquamend as it heats to +100 deg F while curing.

Not a big issue if it happens underwater - water is an excellent heat conductor...

 

[superclown]

Bimbelton;579585 wrote: You can use super glue in a tank? I thought the chemicals were bad for the water!

When i frag i use a lil bit of the tank water set asside i glue the frags dip in that for a couple seconds dip in fresh water to clean off any slime. Then place in frag tank have had no problems doing this way

 

[superclown]

The gel seems to work the best at least in my experience it also depends on what ur fragging as some things just can't be glued

 

[rjrgroup]

Any experience with gluing mushrooms? I tried and it was not pretty...at all!

 

[superclown]

Anything like mushrooms or leathers your not going to be able to glue as far as i know

 

[chull13]

I find it easier to rubberband mushrooms to a rock or plug amke sure it isn't too tight though

 

[superclown]

That should work fine but i don't think u can use the glue while its still in the water

 

[ichthyoid]

'Generally, cyanoacrylate is an http://www.atlantareefclub.org/wiki/Acryl_group"><span style="color: #0645ad">acrylic</span></a> [IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/wiki/Resin"><span style="color: #0645ad">resin</span></a> which [B]rapidly [/B][IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/wiki/Polymer"><span style="color: #0645ad">[B]polymerises[/B]</span></a>[B] in the presence of water (specifically [/B][IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/wiki/Hydroxide"><span style="color: #0645ad">[B]hydroxide[/B]</span></a>[IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/wiki/Ion"><span style="color: #0645ad">[B]ions[/B]</span></a>), forming long, strong chains, joining the bonded surfaces together. Because the presence of moisture causes the glue to set, exposure to moisture in the air can cause a tube or bottle of glue to become unusable over time. To prevent an opened container of glue from setting before use, it must be stored in an airtight jar or bottle with a package of [IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/wiki/Silica_gel"><span style="color: #0645ad">silica gel</span></a>.'

As we all know (or should) salt water has lots of hydroxide ions in it. So using a little tank water while fragging to dip the coral into after super glue is applied, actually does several good things; including-
-accelerates curing
-conducts heat away/prevents thermal damage to the corals
-helps disburse unreacted products

[IMG]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate</a>

 

[jase75]

I have used the Aquastik epoxy putty to secure some things in my tank (rocks and corals) Works in and out of water and has a longer working time. Might be something better, but I got it before I discovered these forums. I'm just using what I got for now.

 

[hhughes]

A word on mushrooms/leathers...

I discovered thanks to having a baby that the clear plastic baby food containers are very useful.

Clean well (really hot water does just fine), fill halfway with rubble, poke numerous holes for circulation, add your bit of squishy coral, put the top on and sit in the tank for two or three days. Mushrooms, leathers, xenia, etc attach really fast and then you can glue the bit of rubble anywhere you like.

It looks pretty ghetto, but it's only for a few days and it's easier than trying to keep them rubberbanded down ime.