Manny Tavan Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Decided to start my new build by getting the rocks first. This will force me to take my time since I don’t have anything else. Not even the tank. This is by far my least favorite part of the build and decided to make a branch style aquascape for a 5ft tank. Sadly my caribsea liferock shapes rock were damaged during shipping. I got 13 pieces instead of 4 large structures. The branches on the other hand were intact Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 Decided to use this quick onset cement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 We're your shapes glued together from caribsea? I have an arch from them that is actually 3 pieces epoxied together. If you want more selection I have 2 40lbs boxes I can sell out of. These are just normal boxes, not shapes. I'm no longer setting up my reefer 350 so I have no use for them except a few pieces for my girlfriend's 50 cube which are cycling in a 10g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 I like this pieces, it's at CB's tropical on 181st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 Yeah caribsea shapes are just pieces epoxied together to create a shape. The epoxy held pretty well the rocks broke in between the pieces of epoxy because the rocks is made of aragonite and is much weaker. I know cb’s does sell arches individually Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 I’ll let you know if i need more but so far so good. This cement sets REALLY quickly. Got too hard before I could use the first batch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 I probably would have used Marine epoxy vs. cement. But that's me and I like epoxy The piece in the pic is at CB's, he's got a lot of nice pieces but wants good money. Travis got me started in this hobby and has been real helpful along the way. Considering I went in for a winter tank for pond goldfish. My Wyoming whites came from him as a mated but not breeding pair. I recommend his fish. All have been great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 I bought epoxy initially but figure i wouldn’t have enough to make this design. This is the vision and I’m going to need at least several pounds of cement to make it hold safely 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Epoxy can make that happen. Just have to research the epoxy. I've glued cars together as an auto body tech, correctly, I've done structural steel repairs with epoxy. Epoxy is bad as*. You just have to research and find the right epoxy, there are thousands to pick from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 6 minutes ago, CrabbyCrabs said: Epoxy can make that happen. Just have to research the epoxy. I've glued cars together as an auto body tech, correctly, I've done structural steel repairs with epoxy. Epoxy is bad as*. You just have to research and find the right epoxy, there are thousands to pick from. oh I know epoxy is solid. I use it all the time. But can you get a 10lb bucket of epoxy for $7? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 21 minutes ago, Manny Tavan said: oh I know epoxy is solid. I use it all the time. But can you get a 10lb bucket of epoxy for $7? Hydrolic cement rocks. Just set it quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 The faster it sets the weaker the bond. Slow set is higher strength. Just FYI. Choose wisely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 which epoxy brand would you recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 There are many depending on application. 3M, loctite, JB, some I used in other hobbies. I'd probably look into the ones related to the hobby first. Most epoxies are probably safe once cured. Contact caribsea, they can probably provide the epoxy they use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 7 hours ago, Manny Tavan said: which epoxy brand would you recommend? Give the hydrolic cement a shot! I can tell you from personal experience it works awesome look it up on reef2reef andcreef centrsl. Very good reviews! If you want to wait and order Marco cement (likely just hydrolic cement) it has great results as well I personally would not spend the extra dough for epoxy as I have seen this stuff pop right off rocks but again this is my personal experience and hydrolic cement has worked well for me good luck with whatever you choose Manny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) Did more research. Some people are reporting crumbling of the hydraulic cement after a year or so. Seems like emarco 400 is just hydraulic cement MasterEmaco N 427 but it comes with an acrylic fortifier acryl 60. Some people report using the quickrete acrylic fortifier with the quickrete hydraulic cement. Not sure i want to experiment further because the branches I am using are HEAVY so I ordered emarco 400 cement. Doubt I can find it locally under it’s generic name Edited November 3, 2018 by Manny Tavan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paratore Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 This took me two tubes of epoxy and a lot of superglue. And three days....and two tries lol this is the before. I’ll take a picture of it later today so you can see how corals look on it. Sent while trying to get my next coral fix..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paratore Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 I would use just good old epoxy and super glue with BRS superglue fast set spray. That’s what I used. It’s tried and true. My Tanks been running for a year and a half now and nothing has even budged Sent while trying to get my next coral fix..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash21 Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) Masons Supply might have what your looking for? Never mind. It’s a Reef Product thought it was a cement product. Edited November 3, 2018 by Flash21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 The next time I aquascape I'm going to try something like this: (these were from a build thread I found on R2R: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/100-gallons-acros-tank.310947/) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 27 minutes ago, SuncrestReef said: The next time I aquascape I'm going to try something like this: (these were from a build thread I found on R2R: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/100-gallons-acros-tank.310947/) That is just hydrolic cement repackaged I believe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 It’s all I use and last 3 years ion my big cube and 200 gallon tanks when I tried separateing it broke the Pukani not where it was cemented together. In the end you gotta do what ur comfortable with lots of good advise here for sure 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paratore Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Not the best photo but here is how the tank stands now after a year and a half. Structure has held together well. Sent while trying to get my next coral fix..... 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 2 hours ago, Paratore said: Not the best photo but here is how the tank stands now after a year and a half. Structure has held together well. Sent while trying to get my next coral fix..... Dang - has it seriously been a year and a half since that build started? Ugh... where did the time go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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