Bought some manzanita driftwood branches and couldn't wait to start scaping. Bought a 8x10 acrylic sheet and some super glue gel (loctite and the original super glue gel). I tried my best to trim the base as level as perfect, although it's not great. Tried both dry base and lightly sprayed with water. The glue doesn't take to the acrylic and the stick just falls over. Even tried to the glass bottom of the tank and nothing.
What am I doing wrong? Do I need to make sure the base/bottom of the branch is perfectly even? I don't think that's it though because I have a few sticks that are pretty spot on and still nothing. What's another option? Can I form putty around each stick and then place substrate over it?
Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
For something like what ur trying I would use epoxy myself. I would also drill a bunch of dimples in the bottom of branch and where ur attaching to the acrylic. This gives the epoxy a foot hold if u will. Let cure thoroughly before putting in tank.
Try some slate coaster from hobby store or Walmart. You’ll just have clean felt pads of back. Acrylic would probably work if you took some rough grit sand paper to it or scored it up with a razor blade before. I’d rather use the slates though cause their weighted.
Not sure for this application. Generally the longer the set time the stronger it ends up being. That being said pretty sure any of the decent two part epoxies should work fine. Application is key, good mixing, is key. If you have a 5 minute working time mix for a good solid minute and have your stuff ready to go, apply and mate up then have a way to hold it in place.
The two part applicators take the work out of mixing properly and thats the way I would go.Good ol JB weld can be a heck of an epoxy if measured, mixed, and applied properly. Gorilla and the other name brands all have good 5-15 minute epoxies at lowes or home depot which should work good for your application assuming they bond to what ever your attaching the wood.
SUperglue and cigarette filter is the way to go to secure good contact between wood and rock. But be careful to wear glove as the combo is an exothermal reaction that generates heat.
You guys rock. Had some leftover eggcrate from my frags and played around with the zipties. Pretty damn good. Might try some of the epoxy ideas but if not the zipties will def work. Much better than what I had going.
Pics of build to come shortly. Thanks again.
One more coat of paint tomorrow and then will be working on the stand.
Just playing around with the scape but getting excited. Going with white sand and then river rock gravel on and around the egg crate area. Still thinking about plants.
Saw a nice school of ember tetras today and think they may have moved up the list.
Thanks again for helping out this reefer.
Looks like a good start. Congrats on getting it figured out to suit your needs.
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