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What is the best glue for aquariums?
There are many different types of adhesives that can be used for aquariums because there are many different parts of aquariums that need glue. Let’s find out what glues are best suited for each part of your aquarium.
Table of Contents
Bestseller No. 1
Seachem Flourish Glue
- Performance driven at affordable prices
- Made in the USA with quality materials
- Field tested to ensure nothing but the best for your pet
- Bonds within seconds
$9.48
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Bestseller No. 2
Bondtech Aquarium Glue Clear, Reef Glue, Coral Glue Instant, Aquarium Glue for Plants and Rocks, Mosses, Coral, Wood, Stone, Freshwater and Saltwater Aquascape, Pack of 1, 5 g
- Professional and Reliable: Bondtech aquarium glue is suitable for moss, coral, shell, stone, root, plant, etc. in freshwater aquariums, which not only won't affect the growth and life of the plants and fishes, but also make the aquarium look more beautiful. Meanwhile, our reef glue is packed in aluminum tubes to keep its effectiveness
- Clear & Waterproof: Coral glue is clear after it is fully cured and can be used on or under water, it can blend perfectly with the aquarium environment
- Strong Adhesion: Aquarium glue for plants and rocks has a gel-like consistency, will not flow easily, easy to apply, can be quickly cured in a short period of time, and can ensure a strong bond
- Wide Application: Our aquarium super glue can be used for aquarium sticking coral, aquatic plants, sunken wood, moss, artificial decorations and other materials of aquarium supplies, suitable for aquarium scenery, scenic fish ponds, wigwam bonding, creative flower pots and so on
- Easy to Use: First poke the sealing layer of the aquarium glue, evenly apply the right amount of glue on both contact surfaces, and then press the two contact surfaces for 30 seconds to make it initially cured; wait for 5 minutes to be fully cured. After use, you need to wipe the aquarium glue outlet clean, and then tighten the lid, so as not to affect the next time to open
$5.99
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Bestseller No. 3
RA AquaTech Aquarium Glue Clear for Plants Corals aquascaping Instant Aquarium Safe (4pcs Pack)
- Note: For aquarium live plants, corals, small artificial decoration or small rocks. If you need to glue large decoration or rock, use silicone instead.
- Note: Unlike some adhesives that cure by evaporation or heat, this cyanoacrylate is aquarium-safe stable formula that needs moisture to cure. If applied in a dry environment, spray some water to expedite the curing process. If an excess amount of glue is exposed to air without sufficient moisture, it will not cure properly.
- For the best result, always apply the glue directly to the point of contact between surfaces not "around" it. Depends on the moisture level and the amount of glue used, the fixture time varies from 10second to 30mins, full cure time varies from 10mins to 24 hours. You don't have to wait! Once it cured to partial strength, place it in your aquarium and let it fully cure underwater.
- Superior cyanoacrylate gel, extremely thick formula. Works underwater or above water. Insoluble in water, 100% safe for freshwater, saltwater aquariums & reptile (heat resistant up to 150F)
- 5grams each tube, total 20grams per pack. Small individual package, increase utilization rate.
$9.99
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Bestseller No. 4
Aquarium Glue, Clear Reef Glue, Instant Aquarium Glue for Plants and Rocks, Mosses, Coral, Wood, Stone, Freshwater and Saltwater Aquascape
- Professional and Reliable: Bondtech aquarium glue is suitable for moss, coral, shell, stone, root, plant, etc. in freshwater aquariums, which not only won't affect the growth and life of the plants and fishes, but also make the aquarium look more beautiful. Meanwhile, our reef glue is packed in aluminum tubes to keep its effectiveness
- Clear & Waterproof: Coral glue is clear after it is fully cured and can be used on or under water, it can blend perfectly with the aquarium environment
- Strong Adhesion: Aquarium glue for plants and rocks has a gel-like consistency, will not flow easily, easy to apply, can be quickly cured in a short period of time, and can ensure a strong bond
- Wide Application: Our aquarium safe glue can be used for aquarium sticking coral, aquatic plants, sunken wood, moss, artificial decorations and other materials of aquarium supplies, suitable for aquarium scenery, scenic fish ponds, wigwam bonding, creative flower pots and so on
- Easy to Use: First poke the sealing layer of the aquarium super glue, evenly apply the right amount of glue on both contact surfaces, and then press the two contact surfaces for 30 seconds to make it initially cured; wait for 5 minutes to be fully cured. After use, you need to wipe the aquarium glue outlet clean, and then tighten the lid, so as not to affect the next time to open
$7.99
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Bestseller No. 5
BDYLYS Aquarium Glue, Clear Reef Glue for Instant Aquascaping of Plants, Rocks, Moss, Coral, and Wood in Freshwater & Saltwater Tanks (30g)
- Superior Bonding Strength: Our Aquarium Glue offers exceptional bonding strength for various materials, including plants, rocks, mosses, corals, stones, and wood, perfect for both freshwater and saltwater aquascapes.
- Clear Formulation: The unique clear formula ensures that adhesive points remain invisible, maintaining the natural beauty of your aquarium without any visual disruptions.
- Instant Adhesion: With a fast-drying formula, this glue provides instant bonding, allowing you to secure your aquarium elements quickly and efficiently without long waiting times.
- Safe and Non-Toxic: Made from safe, non-toxic ingredients, Aquarium Glue is harmless to fish and aquatic plants, ensuring the health and stability of your aquarium ecosystem.
- Versatile Application: Ideal for setting up new aquariums or repairing existing ones, our glue is the perfect solution for durable and lasting aquascaping, rejuvenating your aquatic environment with ease.
$7.99
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In general, when it comes to the outer glass of an aquarium, silicone-based adhesives tend to work the best. But not all silicone-based adhesives are created equal and some aren’t aquarium safe at all, others might be good for freshwater but not saltwater, or vice versa. Because of those reasons, the best glue for the outside glass of an aquarium is Aqueon Silicone Sealant. Aqueon Silicone Sealant is permanent, watertight, clear after it dries, doesn’t crack, is non-toxic, and is suitable for both fresh and saltwater aquariums.
Best Glue for Underwater
It can be difficult to find the best glue for underwater aquarium applications, especially if you have a situation where you need to glue a plant or a rock but can’t remove the water from your aquarium. There are many non-toxic waterproof adhesives, but few that can actually bond underwater. That is why the best underwater aquarium adhesive is Seachem Reef Glue because it can be applied to both dry and wet surfaces and it will still form its bond within a few seconds. It also works for both freshwater and saltwater, so no matter what you need it for, Seachem Reef Glue has got you and your aquarium covered.
How to Glue Aquarium Plants
- When gluing plants outside of an aquarium, make sure to first clean your surfaces of any slime or gunk and to make sure they are dry for the best bond possible.
- Grab your plant and apply a generous amount of adhesive like Seachem Reef Glue to the bottom.
- Then, press the plant down onto whatever surface you are gluing it to and hold it for about 20 seconds.
- Repeat the process until all of your plants are glued and make sure they cure fully before placing them back in the aquarium and adding water.
- Repeat the process again with any new plants you have.
Best Underwater Epoxy
An epoxy is not the most obvious choice when gluing an aquarium, but it is a very good choice as it doesn’t cause any cloudiness within the tank. A great underwater epoxy is the Two Little Fishes Aquastick Coralline because it can handle just about any kind of application in or on an aquarium.
Best Aquarium Cement
Cements are generally only used for larger aquariums as they can withstand a great amount of water pressure either through containers, sumps, or building tanks. Generally, the type of cement used for those applications is acrylic cement and the best one for an aquarium would be IPS Weld-On 16. Its gel consistency makes it easy to control, it has a fast cure time, and it has an incredibly strong bond. It’s perfect for and heavy-duty tanks.
To summarize, the best overall glue for aquariums is Aqueon Silicone Sealant. The best underwater glue is Seachem Reef Glue. The best underwater epoxy is Aquastick Coralline Red. And the best acrylic cement is IPS Weld-On 16.
It very much depends on the glue. Some would be toxic to the plants and animals inside the aquariums, but all the ones recommended in this article, if used in the ways we recommended them, are perfectly safe for aquariums.
When using the Aquastick Coralline Red, just like with any epoxy putty, get a bit in your hand and play around with it to warm it up to room temperature before placing it into the desired surfaces and leaving to cure for 12 hours.
Yes, Aqueon Silicone Sealant could definitely be used to affix decorations to a tank. Just make sure it gets the appropriate cure time of 24-48 hours.
Yes, IPS Weld-On 16 is very much toxic as it contains solvents and it should never be used on the inside of a tank for fear of poisoning the wildlife inside.
Yes, Seachem Reef Glue adheres to glass so you can glue things directly to the tank should you wish to do so.
