Polymorph for creating awesome aquascapes!

[Leishman]

Rock structures were made with Polymorph.

https://reefbuilders.com/2016/10/10/polymorph-plastic-has-tremendous-applications-for-aquariums/#

This stuff is so easy to use and cheap.

Just melt in sub-boiling water.

and use to fasten rocks together.

Push some sand or rock chips in to areas that will be exposed (I was too late to do this fully)

and you have SOLID bonds.

This will be the sump, just using it so I don't scratch the display while messing with aquascaping.

 

[revhtree]

This is so good I had to copy it to a whole new thread of it's own!

 

[VbReefer]

Is this the same as the AquascapeFix? Reusable? Cheaper? Looks like it may be softer while "melted"?

 

[Berlibee]

Very cool any brand is safe to use? There are several different on Amazon.

 

[Dilan Patel]

I just recently used the aquaforest poly product on my new build for attaching the live rock together. Have to say when I used it in water before I upgraded thought it was the worst thing ever. but now that I was able to use it out of water it is amazing...Might even use it to attach frags if they can be attached out of water.

 

[Pjhjr]

Very cool any brand is safe to use? There are several different on Amazon.

Looks really usefull!! Can you use in an existing tank or will it cool to rapidly to stick to rocks together?

 

[PhilT]

I just ordered instamorph. They also sell color pellets that you can mix in to dye it. I was thinking some red, blue and black to make a purple/black to match my reef rock.

 

[PhilT]

So how much would you mix together to bind two pieces of rock together? How strong is it?

 

[Black Pearl]

does it work in water

 

[vertigo01]

Looks awesome.
What is the longevity of this stuff?
What are the chances of it breaking down over time, especially if U.V or Ozone is being used?
How tenacious is this stuff?

 

[rbadger]

I used this about a year ago to attach some liverock together before putting in the tank. Worked pretty well as far as molding, etc. but didn’t really hold too well. It’s hard when “cured” and when the rocks were bumped, they came out of the impressions in the plastic. Maybe some superglue in the depression would bond it better with the rock.

Also, mine turned grayish black after a few months...

 

[MikeA]

That's awesome. Did you intentionally create a dinosaur?

 

[Travis Stewart]

Really similar to reef welder by aquamaxx but I’m sure a lot cheaper. I do like that the aquamaxx product comes in purple so it looks like coraline. Nice scape!

 

[BMW540]

Looks awesome.
What is the longevity of this stuff?
What are the chances of it breaking down over time, especially if U.V or Ozone is being used?
How tenacious is this stuff?

I contacted one of the manufacturers and they said it would degrade over time underwater (especially salt), but they didn’t give me a time frame. Most of these thermoplastics are biodegradable in 3-6 months so I’m not too keen on using one to hold up a rock structure in a glass box...

 

[TheLadyCrash]

That's awesome. Did you intentionally create a dinosaur?

I thought the exact same thing...

 

[bobbyM]

Sweet! Looks great!

 

[CoralNerd]

I added some to hold a rock together and it's taken forever for coraline to coat it. You would think coraline grows on anything. All my other rock has it but the white poly still hasn't got coated with pink. I wouldn't use it again.

 

[Leishman]

I contacted one of the manufacturers and they said it would degrade over time underwater (especially salt), but they didn’t give me a time frame. Most of these thermoplastics are biodegradable in 3-6 months so I’m not too keen on using one to hold up a rock structure in a glass box...

“fully degrade into CO2 and H2O in 6-12 months in commercial compost”.

That’s at temps over 150f.

I rolled a thin 100g sheet and put it in the baffles of my sump. After six months of exposure to a high flow saltwater environment, it was still weighing in at 100g.

I have seen no degradation of my joints in 10 months of it being used in my aquascape.

 

[alanbetiger]

Just found this thread, sounds pretty cool!
1. Some people asked but didn't get a reply. Can you heat it up/soften it and then use it underwater to place a frag before it cools/harden
2. Do you think roughing the harden surface with coarse sandpaper would help coraline attach?

 

[Leishman]

Just found this thread, sounds pretty cool!
1. Some people asked but didn't get a reply. Can you heat it up/soften it and then use it underwater to place a frag before it cools/harden
2. Do you think roughing the harden surface with coarse sandpaper would help coraline attach?

1. you would have to move quickly. I have made a mold of where i want to place a frag, pulled it out when solid, attached the frag and then glued it in place.
2. it may. i don't have it in may exposed areas. Corals do encrust over it.

my joints do not show any signs of weakness after two years in the tank.