Aquascaping pin vs glue

[Rscott]

I forgot to order some glue from BRS this week.

Anyone know if a safe Home Depot /Lowe’s alternative?

Also might consider pinning the rock in place
I have seen some people use fiberglass rods from those driveway marker things that you can get at Lowe’s. I have seen that in several places.
Is that safe? The fiberglass doesn’t do anything strange over time and poison my tank?

I have also seen some videos of guys siliconing rock together

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[gonzo620]

I like loctite gel in the plastic side squeeze bottle for underwater use. Gorilla glue gel works best for me when not under water.

 

[Mr Fishface]

I'm looking to make a new scape with rocks using JB water weld and super glue. Seems to be reef safe anyways. It's something that can be bought at home depot too.

 

[lapin]

I used the fiberglass driveway rods. My rock pieces are 25 to 45 lbs, putty was not an option. No problems after 15 months. Just did an Triton water test and everything was in normal range for sea water.

 

[Rscott]

This loc tite and gorilla glue is safe?

I read somewhere that it killed a guys tank

You guys have not had any issues?

 

[Rscott]

I’m tempted to try one of the glues you recommend but want to make sure I don’t have issues later

It’s been ok for you guys?

 

[TessGlo]

I've used the gorilla glue gel several times without problems. Other threads here say the same.

Sounds like you might be working on rock scaping as opposed to gluing down coral. I would suggest you look into Aquaforest stone fix to attach rocks to one another. I'ts especially easy to work with if your rock is still dry, once you get the hang of working with it, it works great. Works just like cement and does not break down over time. I wish I had found it before scaping my last tank.

 

[Rscott]

I've used the gorilla glue gel several times without problems. Other threads here say the same.

Sounds like you might be working on rock scaping as opposed to gluing down coral. I would suggest you look into Aquaforest stone fix to attach rocks to one another. I'ts especially easy to work with if your rock is still dry, once you get the hang of working with it, it works great. Works just like cement and does not break down over time. I wish I had found it before scaping my last tank.

Yes building my first tank, a reefer 450 120 gal
With Carib Sea life rock

I bought 5 tubes of coral Crete at $10 a tube, barley got 25% through my rock work. Disappointed in that. Looking for a cheaper option. The coral Crete was cool because it’s purple tuff to work with

Also contemplating pining it with fiberglass at this point

 

[cracker]

I don't want to pin or glue my rocks Never know if you want to change things or remove a problem rock. I guess pinning would be best . I always relied on careful stacking for a stable rock pile .

 

[Rscott]

Why aren’t people using clear silicon?
It’s strong and cheap and available in large quantities at the hardware store?

I mean after all that is what the aquarium is put together with. It says right on the tube aquarium safe and is 10 bucks for a big tube at Home Depot...

I spent $70 on purple epoxy that sucks


Any reason to not use silicon?

 

[Billdogg]

Any cyanoacrylate (i.e. "superglue") is reef safe. I prefer gel so that I can (sometimes) avoid gluing my fingers together. JB Waterweld is my go-to epoxy for stabilizing rocks and adding frags. If it isn't reef safe, I am in big trouble, as are numerous other reefers. I have used probably 30 tubes worth over the years with no ill effect. Although it starts out white, it will quickly become covered in coraline algae and blends nicely with the surrounding rocks. I use fiberglass driveway marker rods in the bottoms of my base rocks to hold them up so that the burrowers can't cause a rock slide.

Silicone is a very poor choice for aquascaping because it will never encrust with anything. You will have silicone lines between any rocks till the end of time.

 

[Rscott]

Any cyanoacrylate (i.e. "superglue") is reef safe. I prefer gel so that I can (sometimes) avoid gluing my fingers together. JB Waterweld is my go-to epoxy for stabilizing rocks and adding frags. If it isn't reef safe, I am in big trouble, as are numerous other reefers. I have used probably 30 tubes worth over the years with no ill effect. Although it starts out white, it will quickly become covered in coraline algae and blends nicely with the surrounding rocks. I use fiberglass driveway marker rods in the bottoms of my base rocks to hold them up so that the burrowers can't cause a rock slide.

Silicone is a very poor choice for aquascaping because it will never encrust with anything. You will have silicone lines between any rocks till the end of time.

What is the difference between the smooth surface of silicon vs the smooth surface of CA?

How does one encrust and the other not?

Thanks for the input

 

[Billdogg]

If you are using so much CA that there are globs squishing out, you are using way too much! FWIW - it's not the smooth surface it's the composition of the material. All of the reef epoxy that I've used is relatively smooth as well.