NSA Bonding Materials (safe for coral / fish)???

Fishyx3Netx3 · Oct 30, 2025

Hello Reefers,

This is my first attempt at a reef tank. I have a 125 gallon tank plumbed and ready to fill. However, I am stuck trying to create a negative space aquascape. My qustions are twofold.
1) I have bought every epoxy, mortar, superglue, and quick set material offered at the big box stores and LFS. None of the work w/ the Marco Reef Saver rock I have purchased. I have watched the BRS video on building a NSA and they make it look super simple using "their" products. Question is... Is it really that easy with their products? My thought was I could find something w/ similar ingredients so to speak locally. Nada!
2) I do have several segments of my design that are holding fast. However, at this point I have used enough bonding material to hold together a small roller coaster. How worried should I be about toxicity to future coral and fish after I cycle the tank for a while? How long should I cycle it given the enviroment I have described?

Fish Fan · Oct 30, 2025

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I found that using regular non-gel super glue and baking soda makes a very strong bond on both wet and dry rock. You may want to reinforce the joint with some epoxy, but the super glue/baking soda should help get your structure built. The baking soda acts like a quick set, and increase the strength of the joint by getting some solid material in there too. Just make sure to rise off any excess baking soda as that can increase your Alk and pH.

Good luck!

Fishyx3Netx3 · Nov 18, 2025

Fish Fan said:
Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I found that using regular non-gel super glue and baking soda makes a very strong bond on both wet and dry rock. You may want to reinforce the joint with some epoxy, but the super glue/baking soda should help get your structure built. The baking soda acts like a quick set, and increase the strength of the joint by getting some solid material in there too. Just make sure to rise off any excess baking soda as that can increase your Alk and pH.

Good luck!

A late but huge shout out to "Fish Fan" for suggesting the combo of superglue and baking soda to bond / build a NSA (aquascape)! After spending almost $100 on other bonding materials it was the cheapest and easiest to find items that worked amazingly! The proof is in the picture so to speak.

exnisstech · Nov 18, 2025

I can't help but wonder how the superglue baking soda combo holds up long term.
I used superglue as a temporary bond then went back over and filled the joints with e Marco 400 cement.

I even dropped a section onto concrete by accident and it held together. I don't think superglue would have held. What I've read is that the baking soda is an accelerant which may or may not actually increase joint strength but that's just me thinking out loud.

cba191 · May 11, 2026

Fish Fan said:
Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I found that using regular non-gel super glue and baking soda makes a very strong bond on both wet and dry rock. You may want to reinforce the joint with some epoxy, but the super glue/baking soda should help get your structure built. The baking soda acts like a quick set, and increase the strength of the joint by getting some solid material in there too. Just make sure to rise off any excess baking soda as that can increase your Alk and pH.

Good luck!