Is gorilla glue reef safe?

[KrisReef]

I’m glad it’s not just me….. one day I’ll successfully glue something for my tank and not get it on my fingers or something not supposed to have glue on it….. someday.

When I was a young man I had a job running a lathe making parts for aerospace applications. The old ones taught me to use a rag to keep the oil from getting spread around everything in the work place including the machinist. One part of that scheme was to use a bib and have a rag handy, and the rag would hang off the belt so that it covers the right trouser pocket which made grabbing the rag like a gun fighter pulling a pistol or just allowed a quick finger wipe on the rag when I needed to get the oil off of my hands. It was amazing how some people could wear a white business suit and work on a lathe all day without getting a spot on their clothes, so I did my best to keep a rag in my belt loop when I worked to try and stay clean.

I have ruined more pants with a spot of super glue gel in that front right pocket area where the rag used to hang. The one pair I have is on me now…

 

[lcord5747]

Any poly glue is not aquarium safe

I used a polyurethane gorilla glue, it has had time to cure out of water, should I abandon the rock structure?

 

[vandy]

I used a polyurethane gorilla glue, it has had time to cure out of water, should I abandon the rock structure?

i'd give it a couple weeks out of water to make sure it has cured properly before dunking it in your tank. Once it fully cures it should be fine, but most polyurethanes will break down with prolonged contact with salt water (ie, flake apart). Not necessarily a toxicity issue at that point but it may not last more than a month or two.

 

[BeanAnimal]

i'd give it a couple weeks out of water to make sure it has cured properly before dunking it in your tank. Once it fully cures it should be fine, but most polyurethanes will break down with prolonged contact with salt water (ie, flake apart). Not necessarily a toxicity issue at that point but it may not last more than a month or two.

Sorry - that is not typically the case.

Original "gorilla glue" is a single component polyurethane. It is NOT a polyester based urethane (that would possibly degrade in marine water)

Also - it does not take "weeks" for single component polyurethanes (like original gorilla glue) to fully cure. The reaction does take some humidity, but unless it encapsulates itself fully, it is cured in ~24 hours.

Getting WET (not humid) before it is fully cures causes it to "foam" or "expand" and this speeds curing, but the foamed product is weaker than the solid product. The wetter, the more it will foam and the dryer (it does require some moisture in the air) the more dense (strong).

What causes most of these products to break down (poly glue, great stuff foam, etc.) or any plastic for that matter is UV. It does not have UV inhibitors in.

 

[vandy]

Sorry - that is not typically the case.

Original "gorilla glue" is a single component polyurethane. It is NOT a polyester based urethane (that would possibly degrade in marine water)

Also - it does not take "weeks" for single component polyurethanes (like original gorilla glue) to fully cure. The reaction does take some humidity, but unless it encapsulates itself fully, it is cured in ~24 hours.

Getting WET (not humid) before it is fully cures causes it to "foam" or "expand" and this speeds curing, but the foamed product is weaker than the solid product. The wetter, the more it will foam and the dryer (it does require some moisture in the air) the more dense (strong).

What causes most of these products to break down (poly glue, great stuff foam, etc.) or any plastic for that matter is UV. It does not have UV inhibitors in.

Good to know! Thank you for correcting me

 

[BeanAnimal]

Good to know! Thank you for correcting me

Not so much correcting, just adding to your knowledge. I have the unfortunate resume of pumping millions of pounds of the stuff in mining and civil engineering settings.

 

[KrisReef]

I used a polyurethane gorilla glue, it has had time to cure out of water, should I abandon the rock structure?

The back side would be more helpful.

The website says that it is also cyanoacrylic, like regular super/ gorilla glue.

“

Product Line​

Gorilla Glue Clear Glue

Dry Time​

24 h

Glue Type​

Cyanoacrylate Glue

Surface Type​

Wood; Stone; Metal; Foam; Ceramic; Glass”

The dry Time is 24 hours

 

[BeanAnimal]

The back side would be more helpful.

The website says that it is also cyanoacrylic, like regular super/ gorilla glue.

“

Product Line​

Gorilla Glue Clear Glue

Dry Time​

24 h

Glue Type​

Cyanoacrylate Glue

Surface Type​

Wood; Stone; Metal; Foam; Ceramic; Glass”

The dry Time is 24 hours

The glue he used was polyurethane, they do make cyanoacrylate glues too... But I dunno where the 24 hour thing is coming from... I don't trust stuff, even on manufacturers websites or labels anymore. There is no accountability or quality control of information anymore. I would bet if you called them you could tell them more about their product than they could tell you...

 

[Outlaw Corals]

I think I used polyurethane glue on accident, it has had 24hours to cure. I’m I safe or do I need to take it apart and restart?

I’m really not sure about that stuff