Sticky Putty

[Chameleon Bob]

Ok I'm tired of my hermits and snails having their way with my frags and small rock. I bought some of the marineland Hold Fast, and not real impressed by it. The stuff just doesn't seem to like being put underwater to setup. Does anyone use this or other products? Any tips to make it work? I followed the directions of mixing it till all white.

[Ninong]

For attaching frags to a piece of rock outside the tank, I prefer super glue gel. There are several different brands but they're all gel type cyanoacrylate. Just like regular super glue except in gel form. You don't have to use much at all and it's not noticeable in the tank. Also, it doesn't make your skimmer go grazy like the expoy putties do.

This is one brand, but there are several others. Just about everybody sells it under their own brand. The only one I have used is the one I linked. It works very well provided you can work outside the tank. Dry off the bottom of the frag and the spot on the rock where you want to attach it, then apply just a small amount of super glue gel. Hold it in place for 30-60 seconds. Then you can either place the rock back in the tank immediately or you can place it in a bowl of tankwater and allow it to cure there for 10 minutes or so first. Check it out to see if it's firmly attached and then place it back in the tank.

For attaching frags to pieces of rock in the tank that cannot be removed, you will have to use one of the epoxy putties. I have tried using the super glue gel in the tank but I have never had good luck with that. There are two different types of epoxy putty that I have tried: the cheapy stuff from Home Depot or Lowe's and the expensive stuff sold in the hobby. If you can't find the cheapy stuff at Home Depot or Lowe's, just ask someone for epoxy putty sticks for boat repairs.

AquaStik epoxy putty is the brand of expensive stuff that I have used. Scroll down the page until you get to it.

Here's the difference: the expensive stuff sets up much faster than the cheapy stuff. This is either a benefit or not depending on your particular needs. When using the expensive hobby stuff you will have only about 30 seconds to use it before it begins to harden. If you delay, it will be difficult to mold in place. The cheapy stuff intended for boat repairs takes much longer to set up, so you have longer to fool around with it before it hardens.

When using either type of epoxy putty, you will have to hold the frag in place until it is firmly set. This can be a minute or less with the expensive hobby stuff or three or four minutes with the cheapy stuff. You may have to apply a little more to butress the frag if necessary. Epoxy putty releases chemicals into the water for quite a while as it cures but this is apparently not a problem with fish or other aquarium inhabitants. It will have an effect on your skimmer. How much of an effect depends on how many frags you did at one time. You will probably have to turn off your skimmer for 24-48 hours.

So all three of those products have their good points and their bad points. I prefer working with the super glue gel whenever possible. Most of the time you will have to work with the epoxy putty.

[Chameleon Bob]

Hey thanks a million now I just need to scrap that crap i got on there now off.