Advice on Glues and Putty

[Nemeziz_za]

Hi,

Im looking for an economical alternative to the current products I have been using in my reef tank. So anyone perhaps in the industry or have practical experience with alternate products Im all ears.

I use SuperGlue Gel and Aquamend Putty to affix corals to LR
Superglue gel - Pattex or
Blits Stik Super Glue Gel | Super Glue | Products | Bostik
Aquamend | Epoxy Adhesives | DIY Products | Alcolin

Which gets damned expensive when each Gel glue tube is only 3g!!! and the Putty is only 57g

If it was just corals I could perhaps live with it but I also need to secure my aquascape and have already been through 14 Tubes of Putty and about 9 tubes of the glue.

I still have 2/3rds of an aquascape to do and at the current consumption rate its getting me down.

Looking forward to hearing your input and comments.

P.S: Im not able to take dry scape or have the rock require 14- 90 days to cure

 

[yuma girl]

i have been using the Prtaley Putty Quick set - it is almost half the price to the Alcolin Aquamend Putty...

 

[yuma girl]

sorry the picture added the scribles

 

[yuma girl]

 

[David Webster]

Why not try drilling holes and using acrylic rods to join the structure - it will take u back to your young days - lego ​

 

[Nemeziz_za]

Hi David, you got a decent source on Acrylic rods?

 

[Charl_Stanhope]

I use the original pratley putty and has worked well for me. YOu can also use aquamend.

AquaMend - Epoxies and Adhesives - Polymerics Systems, Inc.

I have found the orignal putty works better than the quikset.

 

[David Webster]

Hi David, you got a decent source on Acrylic rods?

Hi Maizy plastics in C.t
Hope I spelt it right - every one knows them

 

[mornewil]

Hi Maizy plastics in C.t
Hope I spelt it right - every one knows them

Theres also one in Stikland if its closer

 

[belindamotion]

I've seen guys use the normal PVC pipes...even seen a Thread or 2 on MASA where they used the plastic hangers..cut in sections...not sure about the "corrosion" over time in salt water...

 

[Adee]

I use Aquamend....I buy lots, knead it and let it dry for about 5 min....as it goes stiff then use in the tank.

The rod idea for joining LR and even mounting big frags, I've done in the past. I recall I did a thread a while back using the plastic rod on LR sculpting.

 

[Nemeziz_za]

Aquamend and similar packaged Putties are so expensive. I was trying to find perhaps a larger packaged alternate product. @R70 for 54g it's adding up £€£$$

 

[durleo]

I pay bout R30 for prately putty - standard - check around for better prices!

 

[jimilutz]

For plastic rods I use that orange PVC plumbing piping. I figure it is food grade safe and it is slightly more elastic than white PVC electrical conduit.

 

[Chris Delport]

a Question for yuma girl, is the normal Pratley Putty reefsafe? It smells like an abundance of chemicals mixed into window putty and to be honest I would never have tried it.
At what stage of the curing process of the putty do you introduce it to your system, I would assume when it is rock solid.

 

[JamesHunter]

a Question for yuma girl, is the normal Pratley Putty reefsafe

Never had an issue with it and have used loads find it better than the quick set.

 

[Chris Delport]

Thanks guys for the feedback, so I can now take it to join pieces of sandstone to make it more steady for aquascaping.

 

[JS]

Thanks guys for the feedback, so I can now take it to join pieces of sandstone to make it more steady for aquascaping.

Why sandstone?

 

[Chris Delport]

I collected a few awesome looking ones at a rockpool in Moz and can only imagine if it is covered with reef matter.Maybe I'm naming it wrong but it's seasand rock with the most stunnig caves and holes in them.

 

[JS]

LOL, ok cool. That sounds nice, as I know the local coastline sandstone stuff is prone to leach phosphates and cause massive hair algae stuff.