Marine Epoxy Tips or tricks?

ficklefins · Feb 23, 2009

I have minor experience with marine epoxy but after trying to use Aquamend I wanted to know if any of you guys have tips or tricks for better application.

Thanks,

mevstheworld · Feb 23, 2009

I had the same question. I found through multiple searches about making a sandwich. Frag plug/rock, superglue gel, epoxy, superglue gel, frag/rock. You have to give the gel a minute to tack up or it will turn to a snot like substance upon entry to the tank water. Hope this helps.

jerryc · Feb 23, 2009

Iv had the same experience when epoxying frags to rock. The epoxy
sticks to the rock but the plug will come of i can re-glue the plug back to the
epoxy and it will never come lose.

mevstheworld said:
I had the same question. I found through multiple searches about making a sandwich. Frag plug/rock, superglue gel, epoxy, superglue gel, frag/rock. You have to give the gel a minute to tack up or it will turn to a snot like substance upon entry to the tank water. Hope this helps.

EliteReefs · Feb 23, 2009

jerryc said:
Iv had the same experience when epoxying frags to rock. The epoxy
sticks to the rock but the plug will come of i can re-glue the plug back to the
epoxy and it will never come lose.

aqua mend is not the best of choices if your attaching a flat frag plug. like you said it will stick to the rock great but not the plug. for those you have to get the aquamend up over the side for best results.

d34532 · Feb 23, 2009

another thing with frag plug sticking is you might want to "rough up" to create more texture for the epoxy to grab on to the plug.

jerryc · Feb 23, 2009

Good point ill start trying that.

EliteReefs said:
aqua mend is nto the best of choices if your attaching a flat frag plug. liek you said it will stick to the rock great but not the plug. for those you have to get the aquamend up over the side for be results.

green machine · Feb 23, 2009

I have a question, Im looking for some epoxy. can i only use the stuff that comes from the lfs? or is there an alternative at home depot or somewhere like that, that is safe to use?

thanks

revhtree · Feb 23, 2009

Aquamend you can get from lowes or home depot I believe. I got some from there before.

green machine · Feb 23, 2009

any idea of the cost of it?

thanks guys

revhtree · Feb 23, 2009

If I remember correctly it was about 5-6 bucks maybe??

green machine · Feb 23, 2009

definatel better than the 11 bucks from the lfs. thanks

revhtree · Feb 23, 2009

DJreefer · Feb 23, 2009

If you ask me the regular plumbers putty [like loctite] works better than the aquamend, It's not as soft and sets up more quickly. REMEMBER to take of your skimmer collection cup before using it, it'll make your skimmer go nutz for awhile.

badfish · Feb 23, 2009

try the loc tite brand it's the same thing and it cures in 5 min.aquamend takes forever to cure.another thing i never mount frag plugs i pop off the frag before it goes into the display.then i mount the frag to a small piece of rubble you can epoxy that easily.a trick i like to use is make a small spike out of epoxy kinda like a golf tee. then glue it to the bottom of your frag on the rubble and just stick it in a hole in your live rock.then you have a pegged coral.