Aquastik Epoxy

APC · 08-19-2005, 05:47 AM

Has anyone ever used Aquastik Epoxy to mount corals to live rock? I used some the other day and am over all not impressed with it. I had better luck with crazy glue gel. Another problem is that it makes protein skimmers go nuts - I am getting all kinds of bubbles in my tank. The manufacturer suggests turning off your skimmer for 36 hours, which I did. I also did 2 - 10% water changes in that time just to be safe. I turned my skimmer back on and I am STILL getting bubbles 48 hours later. I only used a small amount of epoxy (maybe 10% of the stick). any one used this before? If so any idea how long the bubbles are going to last?

APC · 08-19-2005, 06:08 AM

Also..I just put a poly pad in my filter to try and help this issue out...not sure if it will do any good, but I don't think it will hurt

Birdlady · 08-19-2005, 06:13 AM

I don't know about the skimmer issue, however, I know the epoxy is really for mechanical locking. It does not really stick, it just creates a space in which to squish the coral. I don't really like it either. I am going to try some monofilament line myself this week.

APC · 08-19-2005, 06:19 AM

Thanks. Let me know how the fishing line works out for you. Crazy glue seems to work well for me. All I need is for the rubble to stay put until the softies attach to the live rock. That historically has taken about a month in my tank.

Jason McKenzie · 08-19-2005, 07:01 AM

I use a "hold fast epoxy stick" and I know 3fishes has a stick epoxy out as well as Tunze. I've never tried Aquastick before but use the hold fast and 3fishes to attach all my corals. LOVE it. Never had a skimmer problem as most of the time the bubbles are dead in my skimmer from having my hands in the tank.
It can be a pain to use but I've found the gel glues only work if the coral and rock are dry and I can't pull big chunks of rock out of my tank to use it.

J

APC · 08-22-2005, 05:51 AM

Well 5 days, 2 water changes, and a poly pad later, the bubbles have finally gone away. No more aquastik for me.......

Matt Rogers · 08-22-2005, 09:46 AM

Weird APC, that's a drag. good to know.
I use the hold fast stuff like Jason.. never had a problem... you just need to turn it white first by kneading it first.

APC · 08-22-2005, 10:01 AM

Thanks...I will give the hold fast stuff a shot.

Covey · 08-22-2005, 12:22 PM

The holdfast stuff smell like perm though!

It also seem to completily kill my skimmer output. I guess the opposite of making it go nuts. Hey Sue fishing line won't work either. Most lines are actully made to break down so there won't be a ton of it messing up the enviroment. Could try the braided stuff but I am pretty sure monofiliment wouldn't last more than a month or two. Maybe enough for the coral to glue itself to the rock though.

Birdlady · 08-22-2005, 05:39 PM

hehe...well I will let y'all know! I just redid my tank and used quite a bit of 30lb line...