Epoxying the live rock ....

[rfny75]

I'll be epoxying my live rock tomorrow using Aqua Stick Epoxy Putty, it's my 1st time using it and there is really no directions on the package. Any advise? and would I be able to detach the rocks later if I need to move things around?
For the record, it's a 72g tank with about 95lbs of live rock.

Thanks!

 

[pecan2phat]

Wet your fingers with tap water then cut the epoxy stick with the amount needed. Start to nead the epoxy with your left and right thumbs & fore fingers until it is uniform in color (about 10 to 15 seconds). Since it's rocks that your going to epoxy, use a generous amount in more then one surface area.
Dry fit the pieces of rock together to see where the nice bond would occur and avoid crumbling areas of the rock. Then place your globs on one piece of rock and smoosh the other rock onto the epoxy points. Hold for a bit or do it so that it can lean against something to cure a bit.
Trial and error will come a long way with using epoxy to know how much and where.
The rocks can be twisted apart when you want to separate at a later date. epoxy is not really that strong of a bond where it is permanent.

 

[rfny75]

Thanks for the detailed answer!

 

[DevIouS]

Don't forget to turn off your skimmer!!! (if you have one)

You might have to leave it off for a day or 2.

 

[rfny75]

oh! and why is that?

 

[DevIouS]

Epoxy will cause it to overflow.

 

[rfny75]

ohh, I definitely don't want that nasty smelling stuff overflowing! thanks for the advise ...

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

It will be mostly water. I turn my skimmer off for a few hours and it usually doesn't pull that much out to overflow. Keep an eye on it and if it starts to overflow then turn it off.

 

[DevIouS]

Well you do want to make sure your skimmer cup is empty or else the crap will go back in your tank.

I guess it depends on the skimmer.

I couldn't use my ER skimmer for close to 6 days with a 2" piece of epoxy.
Although I've heard, the more you use epoxy......eventually your system & equipment will get accustomed to it.

 

[EmilyT]

dont some people get allergic reactions to it? i would wear gloves.

 

[rfny75]

One more question, would it be ok to put a piece of epoxy on the back glass wall of the tank, since I have some rocks leaning on the back wall and I want to make sure they don't shift around later. Will I be able to take off the epoxy from the glass if I decide to change things around later?

 

[EmilyT]

im not sure how the epoxy would work on the glass, but if you epoxy all the rocks together then they shouldnt shift around anyways if theyre really dug into the sand.

 

[KathyC]

I highly doubt it would stick to glass as it is too smooth. If you just want to protect your glass from being scratched from the rocks leaning on it, then put some epoxy on the points of the rocks where it will be touching the glass.
And as Emily mentioned..your rocks should go ALL the way to the glass on the bottom of your tank. NOT on top of your sandbed. Otherwise in time, through the additon of a fish that likes to dig, or from flow the sand you will have a collapse from the sand being eroded out from underneath your rocks. Epoxy or not...