How safe is reef putty?

Joanna1905 · Jul 22, 2015

Hi all

Just wondered how safe reef putty was? Got some coral frags attached to some small pieces of live rock but can't seem to get them to stay on the main rock in the tank so they can settle and get established. Worth investing or would you just leave them as my hermit crabs keep knocking them off the place where they seem to thrive?

Amoo · Jul 22, 2015

I use the Gel Super glue > JB Water Weld > Gel Super glue method. Works well, keeps pesky crabs and snails from knocking things around. Putty takes about an hour to setup, so the super glue works as a temporary binder until it hardens.

Joanna1905 · Jul 22, 2015

Amoo said:
I use the Gel Super glue > JB Water Weld > Gel Super glue method. Works well, keeps pesky crabs and snails from knocking things around. Putty takes about an hour to setup, so the super glue works as a temporary binder until it hardens.

Hi
Much appreciated, the guy in the store wasn't very helpful when I looked at the glue and putty. So I will try the glue

hybridazn · Jul 22, 2015

Reef epoxy or "putty" is fine in the tank. If your going to use super glue make sure the active ingredient in it is cyanoacrylate. That is safe to use in our tanks without a very long cure time.

Joanna1905 · Jul 22, 2015

hybridazn said:
Reef epoxy or "putty" is fine in the tank. If your going to use super glue make sure the active ingredient in it is cyanoacrylate. That is safe to use in our tanks without a very long cure time.

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Joanna1905 · Jul 22, 2015

Thank you! So either should do the trick

there's that many products about I just wanted to make sure first.

nport19 · Jul 22, 2015

I use it all the time with my tank and it doesn't seem to harm anything. I also use reef glue color which works great if you don't like the look of the putty on your reef.

Greengny · Jul 22, 2015

Your skimmer may go a bit nuts with the addition of the putty but it will calm down after awhile depending on how much you use. Watch that it doesn't overflow your waste container/cup.

Joanna1905 · Jul 23, 2015

Thanks for the advice

Eel Steve · Jul 23, 2015

Reef putty is absolutely fish safe, hence why it's called Reef Putty.

All superglue is nontoxic really, or the majority of it, but the Gels are generally reef safer.

For the record this isn't from experience, I'm just starting out, and had to research all this stuff within the last few days.

Joanna1905 · Jul 23, 2015

Well I don't have any fish as yet, it was my water condition etc I was concerned about, not had the tank long and as I'm completely new I am managing to maintain it and didn't wanna mess it up lol! Thank you for the help.

frogman_reefer · Jul 23, 2015

A cheaper option but a very good one is gorilla glue Gel it's 5.00 for a pretty good amount. They key with superglue is the main ingredient must be Cyanoacrylate. And buy Gel. The Gel works best.

Regular gorilla glue doesn't work as it contains the wrong ingredients, but the new gel does and it's CHEAP! (Always a bonus in this hobby) you can pick it up from Lowes, Home Depot, target, etc.... Make sure the active ingredient is cyanoacrylate and you should be good to go.

Eel Steve · Jul 23, 2015

frogman_reefer said:
A cheaper option but a very good one is gorilla glue Gel it's 5.00 for a pretty good amount. They key with superglue is the main ingredient must be Cyanoacrylate. And buy Gel. The Gel works best.

Regular gorilla glue doesn't work as it contains the wrong ingredients, but the new gel does and it's CHEAP! (Always a bonus in this hobby) you can pick it up from Lowes, Home Depot, target, etc.... Make sure the active ingredient is cyanoacrylate and you should be good to go.

If the glue does NOT have cyanoacrylate will it definitely kill my fish?

hybridazn · Jul 23, 2015

Eel Steve said:
If the glue does NOT have cyanoacrylate will it definitely kill my fish?

It wont kill the fish but it will def kill the corals.

frogman_reefer · Jul 23, 2015

hybridazn said:
It wont kill the fish but it will def kill the corals.

+1

johnwidley · Jan 4, 2023

Joanna1905 said:
Hi all

Just wondered how safe reef putty was? Got some coral frags attached to some small pieces of live rock but can't seem to get them to stay on the main rock in the tank so they can settle and get established. Worth investing or would you just leave them as my hermit crabs keep knocking them off the place where they seem to thrive?

I used nyos reef putty today the most expensive! Tank went cloudy skimmer stopped skimming the two fish I have are really struggling just sitting at the bottom not swimming corals seem ok. Was warned against using putty by lfs wish I’d listened now!