E-marco 400 hack?

smokin'reefer · Jun 5, 2020

I believe I had seen somewhere here or elsewhere that using regular hydraulic cement from a hardware store was the same as the E-marco 400 stuff.

Has anybody had any experience with using this?

About to hopefully start my aquascape and really don't want to wait to order this. Not to mention the extra cost of product along with shipping.

The one thing that concerns me is the silica listed on the products.

TIA

tsouth · Jun 5, 2020

I do not have experience with this but I can also confirm that it has been said that the specific one you posted is one that is used.
Please check this thread out for more detailed pros and cons: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/quikcrete-hydraulic-cement.388927/

smokin'reefer · Jun 6, 2020

tsouth said:
I do not have experience with this but I can also confirm that it has been said that the specific one you posted is one that is used.
Please check this thread out for more detailed pros and cons: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/quikcrete-hydraulic-cement.388927/

Thanks for the link.

cvrle1 · Jun 7, 2020

I used it about a month or so ago when I was working on my scape. It worked out well, but there is definitely a steep learning curve, especially if you havent worked with any sort of cement before (as was my case)

It gives you very limited working time once mixed, minutes really. Do few test pieces to see what consistency works best. Main reason why people have issues with it down the road is because mixture wasnt correct. I had a test piece that I couldnt even break off with hammer. Rock snapped in different spot. I also used fiberglass rods (orange driveway markers) and drilled holes between rocks for stronger hold. I used cement mostly to fill in gaps, so hope is that since cement is covering up holes and not holding much weight, it will be fine for years. I also used acrylic fortifier (50/50 mix with water) From what I read it should give it more strength and is very similar to liquid that comes with emarco cement.

Seneca · Jun 8, 2020

Emaco r400 and Acryl 60 is reef safe cement ostensibly being rebranded. Hydraulic cement from Home Depot it is not.

smokin'reefer · Jun 12, 2020

Eternaltraveler said:
Emaco r400 and Acryl 60 is reef safe cement ostensibly being rebranded. Hydraulic cement from Home Depot it is not.

Thank, I knew there was a specific type. Do you know where to get this?

Kyl · Jun 12, 2020

When I did my rocks, I used a silicone icing sleeve from amazon and ran it slightly wetter than normal. Slosh it in, stick the rocks together, tie them down and I went over every joint like icing a cake.

Seneca · Jun 14, 2020

smokin'reefer said:
Thank, I knew there was a specific type. Do you know where to get this?

I bought it online, a 50 pound bag. PK supplies. Got the acryl 60 on amazon.

smokin'reefer · Jun 14, 2020

I just went ahead and ordered the Aquaforest Stone Fix. I dont want to regret this down the road. Thanks for everyone's input.

Sisterlimonpot · Jun 17, 2020

smokin'reefer said:
I just went ahead and ordered the Aquaforest Stone Fix. I dont want to regret this down the road. Thanks for everyone's input.

I stumbled across this thread and I do have experience with quikcrete brand you posted.

I ran out of e marco and instead of ordering more, I went to lowes and grabbed that to finish my scape.

18 months later that stuff fell apart. I had to remove the entire rock structure and rebond it with e marco.

I'm glad you chose to go another route.

cvrle1 · Jun 17, 2020

Sisterlimonpot said:
I stumbled across this thread and I do have experience with quikcrete brand you posted.

I ran out of e marco and instead of ordering more, I went to lowes and grabbed that to finish my scape.

18 months later that stuff fell apart. I had to remove the entire rock structure and rebond it with e marco.

I'm glad you chose to go another route.

I am still firm believer that bond breaking with Quikrete isnt issue with Quikrete itself, but more of a user error. There are scapes that used Quikrete to cement pieces together, and are still holding strong years and year on (5+) So far no one was able to show that it is issue with cement. It can happens to any other well known brand of cement if it isnt used properly

Aquaforest stone fix cracked brittle and crumbling

Hey everyone, I’ve been in the building process of a new tank and I put together the aquascape with Aquaforest stone fix...has anybody used this stuff and had it dry like this? Some of it is gray some brown some in between...I can scrape it off with my fingernail...I followed the instructions...

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