Your Best Liked Rock Cement, And Why ?

427HISS · Jun 5, 2019

Check, you're doing great, as I can't remember yesterday.
What's this thread about,.... lol

ReeferReefer · Jun 5, 2019

s.katyarmal said:
QUIKRETE. There are many forums about reef safety using this brand with no conclusions. I personally did not experienced any issues and had coralline algae within 3 months of settling tank using Pukani dry rocks. And all my sps are doing great....

Do you still have to use super glue with Quikrete?

ReeferReefer · Jun 5, 2019

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-8-6-oz-High-Strength-Anchoring-Epoxy-862031/203604182

Is this the stuff?

Bpb · Jun 5, 2019

I have really enjoyed using the E-Marco cement. It’s pricey. I believe the equivalent can be purchased at a hardware store I’m just too chicken to try it. It holds very well if done correctly. It’s concrete after all. I created a large bridge scape out of 10 or so rocks. I weighs probablh 50-60 pounds. I can pick it up by the rock on the very top and it all holds

427HISS · Jun 5, 2019

ReeferReefer said:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-8-6-oz-High-Strength-Anchoring-Epoxy-862031/203604182

Is this the stuff?

I used something similar to anchor my bolts into my garage floor connecting to my car two post lift.
If the epoxy isn't toxic, being a caulking gun application, it might work great.

Bpb, I would trust Marco's, but just trying to find a similar product for a lot lower price.
Do you have any pics of yours ?

Bpb · Jun 5, 2019

427HISS said:
I used something similar to anchor my bolts into my garage floor connecting to my car two post lift.
If the epoxy isn't toxic, being a caulking gun application, it might work great.

Bpb, I would trust Marco's, but just trying to find a similar product for a lot lower price.
Do you have any pics of yours ?

Of my Marcos or the rock work?

ReeferReefer · Jun 5, 2019

s.katyarmal said:
QUIKRETE. There are many forums about reef safety using this brand with no conclusions. I personally did not experienced any issues and had coralline algae within 3 months of settling tank using Pukani dry rocks. And all my sps are doing great....

Have a link?

427HISS · Jun 5, 2019

Bpb said:
Of my Marcos or the rock work?

Both if you have them, or just the rock work showing your scape using the Marcos.

s.katyarmal · Jun 5, 2019

ReeferReefer said:
Have a link?

Google this search term ‘hydraulic cement in reef tank’ you will get many forums links as I said nothing conclusive whether bad or good...my personal experience is good or shall I say no good or bad effect...nothing changed in terms of major parameters...and normal coral growth no fish mortality..

Bpb · Jun 5, 2019

427HISS said:
Both if you have them, or just the rock work showing your scape using the Marcos.

Still VERY much a work in progress. I’ll take some pictures this week as I add more to it. Due to the nature of the cement I can only do one or two additions to it at a time otherwise if the structure shifts at all the uncured cement cracks and has zero hold. If I layer it on thick and let it cure it takes about a dozen hits with a hammer and chisel to break the bond. I have no doubt this will hold for as long as I have this structure in my time in the hobby.

My complaint about super glue and epoxy is how weak the hold is. Apply gentle pressure and the rocks just pop right apart. Cement is more permanent.

chefjpaul · Jun 5, 2019

Ive used e-marco on all my scapes, mainly because I live in a NYC apartment and have no room for bags of cement.

r2odie · Jun 5, 2019

chefjpaul- those scapes are all awesome!! Great work!

427HISS · Jun 6, 2019

r2odie said:
chefjpaul- those scapes are all awesome!! Great work!

I'm with you, great job on all of them chefjpaul !

chef, I looked at your other threads and found more great pics, please post them as well.
I did not want to just do it without permission.

McPuff · Jun 7, 2019

e-Marco 400 is your best bet. Relatively small amount is all you'll need to attach rocks into ANY form you want. It will NOT break. You will have to cut or break the rock itself because the cement is too strong. I built my structures in the garage using a template for the tank's footprint. Just make sure you make those sections in manageable sizes. I ended up with 3 structures and since I have a big tank, the structures were also quite big. Probably 60-80 lbs each. It was stressful to lower them onto the glass bottom.

I will use e-Marco for any and all future builds (though I don't envision another one for quite some time!). It's really fun to create what your mind comes up with. And to know they won't break is a big bonus! Here's an old pic showing the rocks (gosh the tank looks terrible here, it is so different now). The center structure is actually two different pieces as I'd never have been able to create one and lower it in. Each was made of 4-5 pieces of large rock. The right structure is also about 4-5 pieces of rock.

Neoalchemist · Jun 7, 2019

McPuff said:
e-Marco 400 is your best bet. Relatively small amount is all you'll need to attach rocks into ANY form you want. It will NOT break. You will have to cut or break the rock itself because the cement is too strong. I built my structures in the garage using a template for the tank's footprint. Just make sure you make those sections in manageable sizes. I ended up with 3 structures and since I have a big tank, the structures were also quite big. Probably 60-80 lbs each. It was stressful to lower them onto the glass bottom.

I will use e-Marco for any and all future builds (though I don't envision another one for quite some time!). It's really fun to create what your mind comes up with. And to know they won't break is a big bonus! Here's an old pic showing the rocks (gosh the tank looks terrible here, it is so different now). The center structure is actually two different pieces as I'd never have been able to create one and lower it in. Each was made of 4-5 pieces of large rock. The right structure is also about 4-5 pieces of rock.

Does e-marco 400 work in water?

Bpb · Jun 7, 2019

Neoalchemist said:
Does e-marco 400 work in water?

It will cure in water but you can’t mix it up and apply it under water. It will just dissolve into powder. It’s not like epoxy

427HISS · Jun 7, 2019

For you guys that use super glue, what do you think of this glue at Harbor Fright ?
Always use thick gel ?
Are there big quality difference's beween manufacture's ?

https://www.harborfreight.com/super...zIjoiMC45OSIsInByb2R1Y3RfaWQi OiIxMTQ4In0= %

chefjpaul · Jun 7, 2019

427HISS said:
I'm with you, great job on all of them chefjpaul !

chef, I looked at your other threads and found more great pics, please post them as well.
I did not want to just do it without permission.

You can ant time.... I am horrible at updating my builds and taking photos

mandarin417 · Jun 8, 2019

I used E-Marco-400. Propped up the overhanging rock, cemented it in with the gray cement, 24 hours later added some more cement underneath the overhang and it blended in nicely. Folks have posted the DIY formula but I wanted the convenience of just getting the materials shipped to me. Very happy with the results and strength of the product. See video of rock piece in my new little tank.

TheLost · Jun 8, 2019

427HISS said:
For you guys that use super glue, what do you think of this glue at Harbor Fright ?
Always use thick gel ?
Are there big quality difference's beween manufacture's ?

Super glue, CA glue... its all Cyanoacrylate. What you want to look for are any other added ingredients you don't want in your tank.

There are normally 3 kinds: thin, medium and thick. Thick (or Gel) is what you want.