Dollar store glue vs IC Gel. Which is better?

trido · Oct 3, 2014

Dollar store glue? How many frag plugs does everyone get with one tube? And I mean with an actual dolop of glue on it.
The reason I ask, is because I can make over 70 frag plugs with two tubes of IC gel. I'm wondering how many little dollar store tubes I'd have to use during a frag session and how much that would cost. Does it really save money?

trido · Oct 3, 2014

I should add. I use dolops almost the size of a dime when I'm fragging SPS. I dont like to skimp so I dont have to reglue frags a day later.

reefaddictionrx · Oct 3, 2014

I like using the IC gel better. I used the dollar store small packets for a while and although it works fine, the tubes have very little glue in them compared to the IC. I would only get 2-3 sps frags per tube of glue. The IC like you mention, lasts a lot longer.

micromount · Oct 3, 2014

Great glue!
Ecotech Coral Glue 75ml | Premium Aquatics

tyler1503 · Oct 3, 2014

I get one use out of cheap cyanoacrylate super glue. Once I put the cap back on, there's no getting it off again! I can get about 5 frags per tube if I go easy on the glue though. So 8 tubes of glue per pack at $2 a pack, that's $0.05 per frag

babyjess210 · Oct 3, 2014

Dollar store glue is 3/4 air and 1/4 glue but you get 3 tubes for a buck. 5-6 frags top. I went back to BSI

trido · Oct 3, 2014

Thanks for the replies. I am curious why so many people are adimant on using the dollar store glue.

tyler1503 · Oct 3, 2014

trido said:
Thanks for the replies. I am curious why so many people are adimant on using the dollar store glue.

At 5c worth of glue per frag, why not use it?

It's cheap, easy and you don't have to go to a specialised store to find it. There's no way you'll ever find ecotech or OW frag glue in a $2 shop lol.

hart24601 · Oct 4, 2014

Been using gorilla glue gel superglue for years. Walmart and ace hardware have it and it doesn't plug up after use. A decent amount of glue in 1 bottle.

Snook65 · Oct 4, 2014

micromount said:
Great glue!
Ecotech Coral Glue 75ml | Premium Aquatics

Agreed. After use, I put it in the freezer until I need it again. Put the frozen tube in a cup of warm water for 15-20 minutes and it's good to go. Well worth the little bit of extra money.

mfinn · Oct 4, 2014

One of the main reasons I use the Ic-gel brand is the ability to get the cap off after multiple uses. I tried the dollar store tubes, but it seemed like most of the time, if you didn't use the whole tube and put the cap on, it would never come back off.
Plus I like the larger amount in a single tube.
I got in on a group buy of Ic-gel a few months ago and they were under $5 a tube.

sawdonkey · Oct 4, 2014

hart24601 said:
Been using gorilla glue gel superglue for years. Walmart and ace hardware have it and it doesn't plug up after use. A decent amount of glue in 1 bottle.

Which one? It looks like a lot of liquid in the bottles and I've considered it, but have been afraid to try it. Doesn't it expand?

hart24601 · Oct 6, 2014

sawdonkey said:
Which one? It looks like a lot of liquid in the bottles and I've considered it, but have been afraid to try it. Doesn't it expand?

It doesn't expand, has a green top and says super glue gel. It's a gel superglue, not the normal expanding stuff. It's really thick and one bottle lasts quite a while. I have not had a problem with it drying shut. I swear most of my reef is held together with it for years now!

sassAwrasse · Oct 7, 2014

I like krazy glue gel. Just found a 20g tube at A.C.Moore for $6.79. It says "craft" on it, but there are no differences in the ingredients. Better than the $2.99 for 2g.

Pete polyp · Oct 7, 2014

I buy this stuff 12 packs at a time

Avner · Oct 7, 2014

I use thick super glue ( in general i use them for RC model )
Super Glue CA (50g / 1.7oz) Thick it cost about 2$ from Hobbyking :smile:

Turbo4toy · Oct 7, 2014

I think it was Harbor Freight that had some too. It was in packs of ten or something but I can't remember the price for sure. But it also had small tubes I'm assuming the same size as the dollar store.

Big E · Oct 7, 2014

micromount said:
Great glue!
Ecotech Coral Glue 75ml | Premium Aquatics

1 tube of Ecotech glue is $20--Total amount of glue- 75mls

40 tubes of Super glue gel = $20-- Total amount of glue- 142mls

Camellia · Oct 7, 2014

I hate to knock Echotech as I have all their products and love them. But if I accidently touch an SPS glued with Echotech it falls off much easier than with super glue gel.

Omega0397 · Oct 7, 2014

A fellow reefer turned me onto the Loc-tite brand of superglue gel. While the glue performs as you would expect, the real value here is the applicator! Instead of a squeeze tube, there is a plastic bottle with buttons on the sides for dispensing it. I also have not had any issues with the tip clogging after using it on multiple occasions. Oh, and it's about $2.50 at Target.