How Strong Is Your Aquarium Aquascape After 24hrs of Curing? 💪 Seven Options...One Winner!

If you've ever had part of your saltwater aquarium's aquascape collapse due to a failure at a joint, you won't want to miss this! In today's episode of BRStv Investigates, we put the most popular aquascaping adhesives for our reef tanks to the test to see which is the strongest and why. Find out how your choice of adhesive performs here!
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[@1oona8484]

I wish you guys did the method of using sand between two rocks and coating it thin superglue so it seeps into all the sand and cracks of the rocks. Turns the sand into a single sold piece that is also glued to to two rocks it is between. This is a very popular method for NSA aquascapes, would have been cool to see how it stacks up to the BRS method of building a NSA aquascape

[@marcus07]

yeah, I'm a little baffled that they didn't test this as this is what they have been promoting for aquascapes.

[@tilexcan]

I used the fine sand and thin super glue as show on Tidal Gardens and it works great. I also found that wetting the rock surfaces before using the Marko Rock also worked very well. I didn't trust the joints done this way when applied to dry surfaces.

[@devisissy1]

Wow that's smart as hell and I am only just hearing about it.

[@Lukas-jo5jg]

Agree with everyone else on the E-Marco. In my experience after a longer cure the bond is STRONG. Like the rock breaks first strong.

[@fishpony1211]

Love that u guys sacrifice so much time, effort and money into making these vids for the community. I still have never glued rocks together but the day i do i know what to use. Thanks

[@noahsmith9121]

If you're interested to figure out if the epoxy offers more give (cheaply) you could try the following: Push a metal rod through each end of the epoxy stick so it resembles a capital "i". Next, somehow, form the glue and mortar in a similar shape to the epoxy stick and add metal rods like before (make sure they're roughly the same width and length). After they cure, secure one end of each in a vice and record as you twist the end to failure. Whichever twists farthest before failure has more give! I wasn't sure if this would be of help, but as an ME student I'm constantly finding ways to cheaply do expensive tests. Thanks for the great content!

[@modotd3885]

Exactly. I think the test needs a bit more thought. I think a combo of superglue (to get structure started), epoxy and mortar for joins and rubble , finally crushed rock/sand with superglue would be the best way to go. Plus patience with leaving it all to cure 24-72 hrs Tip: Don't drop anything from 5ft !!!

[@reeferstatus2781]

“Brute Force” 😂😂🤣

[@VeryBadReputation]

I by no means have your guys experience. But all my aquascapes the last 15years were with thin super glue and cotton. I stick the cotton (or smoking filters) between the rocks and soak with glue. The cotton firm up and holds the pieces together.

[@reconnaissance7372]

I've been practicing with Acrylic rods and drilling Carib Sea Reef Saver to make super strong rock-scapes. I want to make an elaborate rock-scape entirely unglued with no mortar. Almost like a Lego rock-scape where the Acrylic rod is put into a drilled out hole in your base rock and you build it up by perfectly matching up rock and drilling it out to fit together. There's a few reasons why, I just can't be bothered buying all this glue/mortar when I can just get an Acrylic rod for $10 and that's it. Sure drilling rock is a pain in the ass but by the end I think having a secure, but dismantlable rock-scape is more convenient in the event that I ever have to relocate the tank or clean thoroughly. it'll be less susceptible to things like the mortar and glue failing and having the scape fall apart too by picking it up from a weak point or something. This probably isn't for everyone as I do already have drill bits for stone. PS: This made me think it would be cool if BRS sold a purple Dye or Stain so people could go over white Reef Saver rock in purple or even soak/paint their Marco rock.

[@kiwiboy00]

This is what i am looking at doing. I have all the acrylic rods and rocks just need time to drill the rocks and design something. Can I ask do you have any photos? Also how did yours turn out?

[@johnmarks936]

When building metal models with superglues, the thinner applications have a stronger bond. The thicker applications tend not set as fast. Applying accelerators makes the bonds more brittle. The best bonds have the superglues dry for a full 24 hours without accelerators applied. The same maybe at play here for the superglues applied to the coral rock.

[@StrungOutOutdoors]

As in touch with the community as yall are, I'm curious to know why you didn't try the glue master thin and crushed rock method. This is what ive done and I can't break the bond

[@chrischenusa6323]

For doing this I use liquid Epoxy resin

[@Jstn190]

Epoxy is often rubber toughened so your conclusion are correct.

[@LordBonesaw]

I have never bonded rocks together I just stack them and once in place they ain’t going anywhere

[@suvporridge2603]

What about when you glue wet rock but let it cure without water?

[@aquamansreefarmy4421]

I agree with the comments about cement cure times. Try another at least 48 or 72 hours. Ideally at least a week.

[@bartomiejkodyj7275]

I believe they did not test sand and CA glute as this is the cheapest and best metod but it is not fancy delicated reef way which gives more money to seller and manufactuter

[@cww180]

Crush the Marco rock into a fine sand and then use thin glue from glue masters will be stronger than all of these.

[@MerkDolf]

Your test confirmed my bias, epoxy the way to go. It also seems that all bonding agents slow is the way to go.

[@jessicastefanoff4304]

I built my sump out of two part epoxy BRS super glue and mortar and a sterilite container it's been my little pet project for the last year

[@johnwilliams4806]

Thanks for the honesty.. this actually earns my trust on.. I will be a Cx thx …🤝

[@davidhorizon8401]

You clearly need to redo this giving the glue time to cure. Maybe a week? You need to test to find out how long it takes.

[@ericsfishingadventures4433]

I've personally had really good luck with the Orca Underwater Glue - Aquarium Munster. But keep in mind that it MUST BE USED UNDERWATER TO PROPERLY CURE AND WORK!!!

[@waterlover]

To make seamless joints using epoxy before it drys grab a few Little Rock’s or rubble and make impression on half harden epoxy easy and looks great no smooth smeared epoxy look

[@754welive5]

Ahhhhh you missed the chance to test glue master thin super glue with crushed Marco rock😔

[@high_fructose_corn_syrup]

What about gluing smooth river stone? What would you suggest for that? Please help lol

[@OCReventsAndbuilds]

Awesome

[@9StickNate]

I really like the Aquaforest mortar. I have a really nice aquascape for my reef. A few years ago, I went through an earthquake. My windows were shattered; foundation cracked; roof collapsed and my tank was shattered. I lost thousands in corals and fish. I praised the Heavens after I discovered my Rockscape survived that 5‘ plummet.

[@BRStv]

My gosh! Sorry to hear that you went through all of that. It's crazy to hear that the Aquaforest mortar stayed intact!

[@Reefahholic]

Makes sense. I know one thing, the E-Marco might not have won the test, but it’s strong AF.

[@modotd3885]

Strong as AF (Aqua Forest) 😂

[@mordithe]

Freshwater aquascapers use superglue and cotten or cigarette filters to get stronger bonding

[@radiolotek]

What about the Aqua Forrest? You guys just showed their stuff off, how about their cement product?

[@BRStv]

It would be fun to check out all of the products available, but because it would take weeks and weeks to test them all, we stuck to the most popular ones here. Not to worry though, we're using the AF cement product on a different project 🙂

[@radiolotek]

@@BRStv that would be cool. Thank you for the reply. I'd say at least the top ones would be good. Marco is well known and Aqua Forrest was just shown off so that would be a nice comparison for the mortar department. Maybe like your past video, build a simple structure with super glue, and use the mortar to mold it. Set it aside for a few weeks then do the test. I know if be fine waiting to see the results. I'm setting up a 200g tank in December and would love to know what holds the best.

[@zackbrown1948]

You left off the best way to do it. Marco rock powder with thin glue…

[@754welive5]

I was thinking the same thing cause that bad boy gives off smoke when you do it

[@adamc4018]

I’ve used epoxy before it makes your skimmer go crazy for a about a week

[@andreweftink2303]

I took my aquascape out after 6 months for a move and the epoxy didn't hold up well at all. Bought mortar this time around

[@kwajrod]

"The planet broke before the guard did."

[@radiolotek]

Also think this test is flawed. How does it hold up when properly set?

[@garnettjohnson5652]

I tried glue for some small frag and that shyt came apart before the next day

[@754welive5]

Best way to glue rock is crushed rock with glue masters thin glue

[@irresponsible_reefer8229]

So epoxy for dry, super glue for wet

[@Felis-Concolor]

Hi BRS, I have a serious question i can't find an answer to. I have a waterbox 105.4 frag, 48x24x16. I have a Kessil ap9x and I can't mount it because of the overflow box right in the center. I can't hang it from the ceiling and I have no idea how to mount it. I have 2 AI primes on each side at the moment. I wasted money on the kessil AP700 mounts because they don't go on and fit because of the large overflow. Any advice on how I can mount this light? Thank you

[@joshyoung1245]

You can bolt it to the back of the overflow. Or you can also hang it.

[@Felis-Concolor]

@@joshyoung1245 how can I bolt them? To the back of the tanks wall? I also have two return nozzles that come out of the overflow, can I take the nozzles out to fit the mounting arms?

[@tweak_gaminggg]

How much of each bonding agent was used?

[@BRStv]

That we didn't track as each method required different amounts of product to get the job done.

[@MrDon967]

Well that’s a waste. Don’t you guys say marco needs a month to cure why even rush the test? Haste makes waste BRS

[@garnettjohnson5652]

By the way, the video concluded without a complete synopsis

[@modotd3885]

Exactly. I think the test needs a bit more thought. I think a combo of superglue (to get structure started), epoxy and mortar for joins and rubble , finally crushed rock/sand with superglue would be the best way to go. Plus patience with leaving it all to cure 24-72 hrs Tip: Don't drop anything from 5' !!!

[@deborahcollis9814]

create test

[@michaelbaldwin3356]

I’m putting my aqua scape in a aquarium not using it to pull a car on to do a oil change. Been in this hobby for 20 years never glue a scape, never had one get knocked over by a fish or bust a tank.

[@raflesssss]

You need to use PPE! Be smart and safe

[@alanwheelock3937]

Love your videos! but this is not an accurate Experiment. Salt water is very destructive and after a year or two in the tank it eats away at any adhesive product. I’ve tried almost all those products and after a year in the salt water it eats them away and the rocks begin to fall apart. Of course it’s going to be very solid and strong in the beginning.

[@jmdelira87]

Made me tense when Randy dropped the rock without safety glasses. I’ve spent enough time in the lab to know that his eyeballs were in danger.

[@BRStv]

No eyeballs harmed in the making of this video, but definitely noted for next time!

[@aquamansreefarmy4421]

I’m planning on drilling holes through the rock and using 316” steel wire to provide vertical support attaching to the canopy. Tank water depth about 40 inches. Anyone have success with the idea?

[@MrBigTexFyre]

Have you thought about any long term effect the steel may have in your tank due to rust? I don’t know the answer. I would try to find some small diameter acrylic rods to use instead. You’ll have to figure out what diameter is big enough to support what you plan to build, but it may be worth the effort in the long run. Good luck.

[@BRStv]

I would avoid using metal if possible. Acrylic rods work well. We've also seen reefers have good luck with those fiberglass driveway marker rods.

[@aquamansreefarmy4421]

@@MrBigTexFyre yes, I’ve thought about rust. 316 wire has good maybe the best protection for marine environments. Near a coral environment, not sure about their health though. Also considered acrylic rods, pvc tubing(maybe drill holes and recirculate water through the rock, inside-out). I’ll probably use a combination of the ideas. Don’t want essentially plain vertical rock formations. Thanks.

[@aquamansreefarmy4421]

@@BRStvthanks, hadn’t thought about those.