Your favorite coral glue?

[Alexander1312]

I am running low on coral glue and wanted to hear what everyone found to be the best or easiest to use.

Some bond very quickly, and others take forever. Also, larger tubes have advantages, as I do not like how difficult the ones below, which I have been using until now, are to open, especially if you need larger amounts. They are good though for quick glueing job. Maybe need two different sizes?

Pro Glue Grenade

What makes our glue different? The initial use of childproof protection ring. Positive pressure only aluminum tubes mean you get all the glue that you pay for. The ability to glue underwater without any back syphoning / compromising the product. It is an ultra thick gel that you can literally...

www.polyplab.com

 

[tribbitt]

BSI big tubes are nice

 

[Slingfox]

This is the cheapest high quality source of cyanoacrylate based super glue: https://a.co/d/1S6noqB

If I could get it for similar price I would go with the small tubes of BSI which seems to set faster when working in the tank itself. When gluing frags into plugs outside the tank any gel-based cyanoacrylate works.

 

[Edgar Sandoval]

The brs gel glue works best

 

[Alexx]

This is the cheapest high quality source of cyanoacrylate based super glue: https://a.co/d/1S6noqB

If I could get it for similar price I would go with the small tubes of BSI which seems to set faster when working in the tank itself. When gluing frags into plugs outside the tank any gel-based cyanoacrylate works.

Yup I always used the dollar tree super glue. Is cheaper at dollar tree if you find super glue gel. Don't use the regular red super glue.

 

[psidriven]

Harbor freight super glue gel 10 pack of 3g tubes for $5. Only issue is they sometimes separate into gel and liquid in the tube. Before opening I just squeeze the tubes a few times to mix it up.

 

[Finnaddict]

Here you go.

Amazon.com

 

[Alexander1312]

How do we know or are not concerned there is nothing else in these cheaper glues which might leach into the water?

I know there is a reef tax on the reef glue so no guarantee on these either, but the one that @Finnaddict mentioned I also saw @CaseyP mentioning in another post, is rather inexpensive, or the one @psidriven referred to, or @Slingfox.

Reason I am asking is that one of the silicon tubes I bought from Amazon just broke down after only a couple of weeks from the use of ozone, and silicon should be much longer resistant to corrosion from ozone, so I wonder what shortcuts these seller of cheap glue take which goes into the water.

 

[Slingfox]

How do we know or are not concerned there is nothing else in these cheaper glues which might leach into the water?

I know there is a reef tax on the reef glue so no guarantee on these either, but the one that @Finnaddict mentioned I also saw @CaseyP mentioning in another post, is rather inexpensive, or the one @psidriven referred to, or @Slingfox.

Reason I am asking is that one of the silicon tubes I bought from Amazon just broke down after only a couple of weeks from the use of ozone, and silicon should be much longer resistant to corrosion from ozone, so I wonder what shortcuts these seller of cheap glue take which goes into the water.

You can buy ozone safe tubing on Amazon—just need to look for the right product.

Reef product suppliers almost certainly get their superglue from one of the many glue OEMs other there and repackage it. Instead of purchasing from the aquarium products company you can purchase straight from the superglue companies who are able to offer the product for much cheaper. Use of the economical glues seems very common in the hobby.

Similarly, people who feed nori sheets to their tangs often purchase nori from the grocery store or online rather than pay the ridiculous markup for the nori packaged for the aquarium hobby.

 

[MichaelB]

You can buy ozone safe tubing on Amazon—just need to look for the right product.

Reef product suppliers almost certainly get their superglue from one of the many glue OEMs other there and repackage it. Instead of purchasing from the aquarium products company you can purchase straight from the superglue companies who are able to offer the product for much cheaper. Use of the economical glues seems very common in the hobby.

Chad said people won't buy it when you tell them is ok for freshwater only because of the packaging, change packaging and now people are actually requesting it and sales are increasing with the addtional freshwater hobbyist.

Similarly, people who feed nori sheets to their tangs often purchase nori from the grocery store or online rather than pay the ridiculous markup for the nori packaged for the aquarium hobby.

Solid example of this marketing occured from from a conversation with Chad from reef nutrition at the recent cfm. He said they are now offering tdo pellets for freshwater ad well. The only not really a secret is the packaging says freshwater and shows freshwater fish. The product is 100% the same and unaltered in anyway only the packaging. I can imagine probably the same with some of these glues mentioned here.


I wouldn't take the same view in terms of a dosing type chemical for a tank. As there are likely lot of stuff you wouldn't want in your tank. Glues I expect only have a handful of actual ingredients some suitable for aquariums/ water others not. There likely aren't hundreds of different brands and qualities when it comes to glue. As there is with chemicals or supplements.

 

[Chrism1330]

Tin uses the dollar tree super glue gel so I bought a few just cause i needed some in the moment and he said it works well so why not.
My favorite tho is the BRS super glue big bottle

 

[Coral reefer]

Ic gel

 

[DaddyHook]

As long as it’s cyanoacrylate you’re fine. Silicone is a whole different ballgame. Lots have mildew and mold prevention additives. So you need to be extra careful to make sure it’s pure silicone.

For glue I use a few different viscosities depending on what I’m doing.

For coral to plugs or in-tank mounting

Amazon.com

For structural/aquascaping I use all 3 thickness.

Amazon.com

 

[RandyC]

How do we know or are not concerned there is nothing else in these cheaper glues which might leach into the water?

I know there is a reef tax on the reef glue so no guarantee on these either, but the one that @Finnaddict mentioned I also saw @CaseyP mentioning in another post, is rather inexpensive, or the one @psidriven referred to, or @Slingfox.

Reason I am asking is that one of the silicon tubes I bought from Amazon just broke down after only a couple of weeks from the use of ozone, and silicon should be much longer resistant to corrosion from ozone, so I wonder what shortcuts these seller of cheap glue take which goes into the water.

Where was the silicon used? Silicon's ability to resist ozone really depends on the environment. Ozone typically will not have an affect on silicon in water or when in low concentrations in air. But if exposed directly to high concentrations of ozone or ozone with really dry air, it will break down quite easily.

 

[derek_SR]

BSI big tubes are nice

This is my favorite. It's got the right viscosity, sets fast, and they include a bunch of spare applicators to replace the ones that gum up. ALTHOUGH if you use it correctly each applicator lasts a very long time without clogging, which is often an issue with cheaper glues (if you aren't going the grenade route where they are 1-time use).

 

[iani]

This is my favorite. It's got the right viscosity, sets fast, and they include a bunch of spare applicators to replace the ones that gum up. ALTHOUGH if you use it correctly each applicator lasts a very long time without clogging, which is often an issue with cheaper glues (if you aren't going the grenade route where they are 1-time use).

Are you guys talking about icgel? That is what I use.

 

[L/B Block]

Any thick IC gel works. Use to use seatak as well but it’s not available anymore it seems.

Once the rocks are rescaped-going to use sandwich method with maxspect coral putty for corals -which is suppose to be epoxy like without supposedly causing protein skimmers to overflow. See how it works!

 

[PjFish]

BSI thick or IC gel was my go to since I used to use it for modeling plus can easily sand down if needed.. But now I prefer the smaller gel tubes mentioned above like @Finnaddict..Although that bsi ic gel is like toothpaste and comes in handy at times glueing frags on vertical areas in tank if needed..

 

[Arvin R]

I use Habor Freight super glue gel and have been happy with it. Occasionally there are some bad tubes in the pack but since I bulk buy 5-10 packs at a time it isn't really an issue. Definitely squishing the tubes before opening to mix them up again has helped. It applies thick and doesnt slick out onto the water surface as much as other glues I've used.

 

[derek_SR]

Are you guys talking about icgel? That is what I use.

Yep, this is the good stuff: