Frag Glue.....Options

[luke33]

I have been fragging sps for about 10yrs or so at this point and I have always used the dollar tree super glue gel because of a few reasons. 1- its cheap and 2- its very thick. I have tried half a dozen other glue's and always dislike them because they are to runny or to messy. The only thing I don't like about the dollar tree glue is you end up wasting some of it since its in tube's and here recently the tube's have broken completely and made a mess all over the place when I was trying to glue down frags.

I won't disclose the glue's that I gave to the wife for her hobbies, but I recently tried the premium aquatics private label(like many have these days) and I was honestly surprised. It looks like many of the other glue's out there on the market but the price was really cheap for two ounces(8.99). I was extremely happy when I used it for the first time as it was as thick as dollar tree or more so, and as soon as the coral was pushed on it, bam, it stuck, which is the biggest issue with to runny glue's out there. It also instantly hardened when I put it in the water. So I can finally say, I don't use dollar tree glue anymore.....sweet!

Anyone else try this stuff yet? Or anyone have a similar glue they prefer? Is there anything better on the market that has a better price point?

 

[brett_schn]

Is the dollar store glue just regular super glue. Is it reef safe?

 

[ReefersDirect Verified Sponsor]

IC Gel is very good

 

[smh254]

I've used the dollar tree glue for 2 years and love it. I've never found a glue that is as good. Thanks Luke for the info I will have to give this a try.

 

[smh254]

Is the dollar store glue just regular super glue. Is it reef safe?

Yes reef safe.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Interesting. I am also a dollar tree super glue gel user and love the stuff, but I also am going to have to check out this new holy grail glue that you speak of.

 

[luke33]

Interesting. I am also a dollar tree super glue gel user and love the stuff, but I also am going to have to check out this new holy grail glue that you speak of.

I've been a devoted member of dollar tree for 10+ yrs so I was really happy to find a glue that was inexpensive, not in a janky tube that was as thick or thicker. I had practically given up to finding anything else.

 

[luke33]

IC Gel is very good

I don't disagree with this but the price is not comparable. I can buy 8 twin packs of the super glue gel at dollar tree for $8 or one 2oz PA glue for 8.99. I figure I waste 1/4 of the dollar tree gel half the time so the extra .99 from PA is worth it, and not having to waste so many tube's as I frag 30-40 sps at a time.

 

[BoomCorals]

BRS huge 20oz bottle for $30

 

[luke33]

BRS huge 20oz bottle for $30

Dang that is pretty good! I see a $30 10oz extra thick BRS but I don't see any 20oz. How thick is it? Having such a large bottle, do you have any issue's with it drying or crusting bad?

 

[BoomCorals]

Dang that is pretty good! I see a $30 10oz extra thick BRS but I don't see any 20oz. How thick is it? Having such a large bottle, do you have any issue's with it drying or crusting bad?

Sorry I meant 10oz not 20oz, it was a typo. It's quite thick. They give you two extra bottle tips as well so if it crusts up too bad that cutting the tip down is no longer feasible you just switch to a new tip.

 

[vanpire]

Previously, I used super glue gel like everyone else. But it didn't work well on large frag sizes, and sometimes half bottles go to waste.

I use this now:

https://www.amazon.com/Polly-Plasti...496339266&sr=8-7&keywords=thermoplastic+beads

There are larger sizes hat are even better deals. A little goes a long way and it is re-usable. This will enable you to mount a lot of frags.

You make it sticky and moldable buy using hot water above 150 F. I use boiling water because it is faster to get it soft and moldable.

I use a fork to get the right amount from the water and then, use my fingers to form a small ball press the ball on the frag plug on the frag plug (it cools fast). Putting the frag plug in the warm/hot water also makes the plastic stick better. Then I place the frag into the moldable plastic ball and dip it in water. Instant set. I vary the amount of plastic I use by the size of the frag.

If you make a mistake, just remove the plastic and place it in hot water to get it soft and sticky again. Best thing: it doesn't stick to your fingers like superglue gel can.

You can also use this to place frags on rocks inside your tank but you have to be FAST because it cools and hardens pretty quickly within your tank.

Problem is that is WHITE when you first put the frag into your tank but pretty soon, coralline algae will cover it.

 

[luke33]

Sorry I meant 10oz not 20oz, it was a typo. It's quite thick. They give you two extra bottle tips as well so if it crusts up too bad that cutting the tip down is no longer feasible you just switch to a new tip.

Ok, sounds pretty good, thanks for the response.

 

[luke33]

Previously, I used super glue gel like everyone else. But it didn't work well on large frag sizes, and sometimes half bottles go to waste.

I use this now:

https://www.amazon.com/Polly-Plasti...496339266&sr=8-7&keywords=thermoplastic+beads

There are larger sizes hat are even better deals. A little goes a long way and it is re-usable. This will enable you to mount a lot of frags.

You make it sticky and moldable buy using hot water above 150 F. I use boiling water because it is faster to get it soft and moldable.

I use a fork to get the right amount from the water and then, use my fingers to form a small ball press the ball on the frag plug on the frag plug (it cools fast). Putting the frag plug in the warm/hot water also makes the plastic stick better. Then I place the frag into the moldable plastic ball and dip it in water. Instant set. I vary the amount of plastic I use by the size of the frag.

If you make a mistake, just remove the plastic and place it in hot water to get it soft and sticky again. Best thing: it doesn't stick to your fingers like superglue gel can.

You can also use this to place frags on rocks inside your tank but you have to be FAST because it cools and hardens pretty quickly within your tank.

Problem is that is WHITE when you first put the frag into your tank but pretty soon, coralline algae will cover it.

I have almost purchased this quite a few times and then read negative reviews about it. So I have a question for you. So you melt the plastic, scoop some out and roll it into a ball, attach it to the bottom of a frag plug, how solid is it at this point and does it grip to the plug very well? Then when you add it to your tank, how long is it mendable, does it harden quickly? Are we talking mendable for 5 seconds or 1min?
Thanks!

 

[radiata]

Problem is that is WHITE when you first put the frag into your tank but pretty soon, coralline algae will cover it.

If the white bothers you, it can easily be colored:

https://www.amazon.com/Polly-Plasti...&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=colored+polly+plastics

 

[Andrewalex11]

Y'all do the underwater squeeze or put the glue on first then just dunk that sucker

 

[luke33]

I put the glue on first, let the frag settle for 60 seconds or so, squirt some water on the frag and glue, give it another 60 and put it in the tank

 

[vanpire]

These are the steps that I do:

Step 1: Estimate the amount you need. I put my beads in a glazed ceramic bowl so it doesn't stick to the bowl.

Step 2: Add hot water and wait a few minutes till beads are clear

Step 3: Get quantity you need and roll it to roughly a ball

Step 4: Paste it on the plug

Step 5: Mount your coral

Step 6: Put frag and plug in tank water for a few minutes for plastic to harden and then place in the tank

 

[vanpire]

I have almost purchased this quite a few times and then read negative reviews about it. So I have a question for you. So you melt the plastic, scoop some out and roll it into a ball, attach it to the bottom of a frag plug, how solid is it at this point and does it grip to the plug very well? Then when you add it to your tank, how long is it mendable, does it harden quickly? Are we talking mendable for 5 seconds or 1min?
Thanks!

When working working the plastic outside of the tank, you have a minute or two.

Within the tank, you have about 20-30 seconds.

 

[CoralReefer1019]

I use Harbor Freight Gel Super Glue it's cheap and it works! And also the JB Weld Epoxy putty from HD