Aquascaping GLUE and some "gluing" tips for your rocks!

[tbrown]

pvc.
two part.
no rock.

I like it!

 

[F i s h y]

This is the start of my new 6ft tank scape.
@Glue Masters thin , argonite sand and crushed rock powder. When done right the rock breaks before the bond.

Here are a couple others I've built.

Here is my lagoon scape all growing in. 6 months. For this one I used same method with wet cured rock. Took a little more time but still works.

 

[youcallmenny1]

E-Marco 400 is the best I've used, wouldn't use anything else ever again honestly.

 

[Torben]

2 part epoxy spatula and superglue...

 

[Susan Edwards]

I'm just finishing up a scape for a 240. I used the BRS thin superglue and accelerator to tack the rocks, then used Reef Welder which is a plastic epoxy glue (2 colored beads you mix). The epoxy failed a few times--either it cooled too much or did not have a good mix of beads. I have 1 31 lb structure that is rock (haha) solid. Another structure that will be put in the tank in pieces--I marked corners with a perm. marker and glued 2 tiny bits of rubble to show where another point had to line up.

My center piece, a caribsea xl arch (24") will have Real Reef branches. For this one, after welding, I will use marco e400 as the epoxy can't get a solid hold. But the epoxy works great where branch tips broke and I welded back on and wrapped epoxy around like a big band-aid.

This is approximate the landscape with some slight changes to the left and not the red rock next to the center. Made a better zoa garden with rock and branch

 

[Dryanimtt]

I used mostly super glue and sand. A little bit of epoxy and a piece of fiberglass rod. The super glue and sand combo work like a champ though

 

[Taylor made reef]

yes i fixed all my aquascape with aquaforest stone fix did it in three sections and fixed it all together when it was in the tank..

 

[Vleis]

Floating reef with 2 part EPOXY, silcone & glass

It is pretty scary, but the "rock-epoxy-glass-silicone-glass" works very well. No person will ever struggle to do a floating reef again with that approach i feel......

 

[Quietman]

E-Marco 400 (purple).

 

[Cool tangs]

I built a rock that plates up and once i layed out my scape i glued down with seachem coralcrete. I found early i didnt use enough, so use lots! If you want a very stable hold that is.

I try to invision the whole picture and not get court up in the rock structure otherwise, personally im never happy with just rock

 

[Appoloreefer]

Some may hate me for this but here goes...
I just did my very first glued aquascape and I'm rather pleased with results. I went on the recommended glue sites and had my order all set to be placed and then it occurred to me "cyanoacrylate" the Dollar tree down the road sells that stuff. What to lose? So sent my daughter, (poor child) and began my project. I love the Tidal Garden videos, so instructive and he takes his time showing you how to actually do stuff without selling you the bridge. Anyway first thing I learned was don't use the Gel. Buy the runny fast drying stuff. KEY is to create a powder with the crushed sand left from smashing the rocks into smaller usable pieces and toss it at the joint spots then add a few drops of glue. It joins immediately. Almost like Acrylic solvent. It isn't super strong but it holds. Here's my logic. I need to get it from where I'm building to the spot in the tank where it will stay indefinitely. So the most stressful part will be the move and avoiding it to break? Well that worked for me. I built several pieces and put them all together in the tank to appear as one. So far so good. So $12.00 in Dollar Store glue later. This is my result.

I use the Dollar Tree Gel Glue all the time and it really works.

 

[alain Bouchard]

I can't believe how little people use acrylic rods? You can literally build a solid as hell, dismantlable Lego aquascape without any glue. I plan to make a Pico reef using the Acrylic rod method very soon and will post a Build thread

that is how I build my scape, and I am not little. But I believe it is because it requires more work to build, as you have to drill holes in the rock to fit your rod. But once done, It wont budge with strong waves, and is easy to remove when needed

 

[Spicy Reef]

I used plenty of adhesive

 

[Zoe’s Reef]

Yep! I used super glue gel and Seachem CoralCrete epoxy putty

 

[Crotalus]

I used Nyos mortar to hold the rocks together. It takes a little experimentation to get the mix right, but it sets up fast and hard.

 

[Tidal Gardens Verified Sponsor]

1. What is your favorite GLUE for aquascaping?
-We LOVE @Glue Masters thin glue!

2. Besides GLUE what other adhesive do you find useful for aquascaping?
-We use @Marco67 Mortar to cement the joints for added strength.

 

[rustyreefer]

I used BRS's thick gel super glue and accelerator to hold things temporarily then Marco cement to make it permanent.

Same here

 

[uscggirl]

Love your scape!

 

[uscggirl]

2 part epoxy spatula and superglue...

Very cool drop off scape!

 

[Spicy Reef]

I used plenty of adhesive

Oh, I used

MITREAPEL Super CA Glue​

to get a few "spot welds" then follow up with e-marco mortar to make it more permanent...
In hindsight I should have just used portland cement for the second part. It takes about a month to cure but Look how long it's taking me to do this darn aquascape!!! lol