Super glue

I was checking out Tankgeek.com and seen Cory posting about super glueing plants to rocks and such. Does anyone have experience with this? I have searched several sites including "how to" on youtube but still can't find anything with what super glue leaches out into the water. Glueing plants instead of tieing them down sounds SO much easier but I don't want to harm anything inside the tank.

I've heard about that too, something about how superglue is fine in the aquarium once it has fully cured/dried. I think it's more popular with marine aquariums. But I never heard of it being used to gluing plants down onto rocks, that really WOULD be easier!

It was designed to close open wounds on animals and humans, so I dont see why it wouldnt be OK to use on adhering plants.

I've use the super glue on corals before never had a problem
I'm pretty sure is ok for plants

Also, it seems like the gel version works better than the liquid version. Very interesting! I just might try this on some anubias and rocks, someday! (when i'm feeling lucky. lol)

Hey folks, the super glue gel is the one to use. I learned this from Roy (seattleaquarist). I then used it to glue anubias rhizomes to a piece of driftwood and they are growing well.

I kinda dry the rock or wood with a paper towel, do the same to the rhizome, apply the gel to the rhizome then hold it onto the rock or wood until it's fairly tight. The gel apparently cures a little quicker.

I put it into prize tank and it is doing well. In fact I may offer it up for sale at the next GSAS auction.

Give it a shot!

Thanks folks. I'll buy the glue and try it next weekend.

Salzabar wrote:I was checking out Tankgeek.com and seen Cory posting about super glueing plants to rocks and such. Does anyone have experience with this? I have searched several sites including "how to" on youtube but still can't find anything with what super glue leaches out into the water. Glueing plants instead of tieing them down sounds SO much easier but I don't want to harm anything inside the tank.

Hi Salzabar,

I have done this for several years. A couple of years ago fishloverRon did a short "how to" article in Northwest Aquaria about using Superglue Gel (Cyanoacrylate) and how it works. Here is a 20 gallon I set up 3/1/13 with Microsorum pteropus (java fern) 'Needleleaf' attached to Malaysian driftwood with Gorilla Glue Gel; if you look closely you can see the white 'blotches' on the driftwood where the plants are attached.

Right after attaching:
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One week later:
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Did I really write it up Roy? Heck, man, I learned it from you! It must have been when I did several months of the Aquarium Tips articles. Good ol' GSAS newsletter!

I've also heard Krazy Glue is aquarium safe. This is the first I've heard that Super Glue works too...

Hi Gizmo,

Any of the 'super glue' that has Cyanoacrylate as the active ingredient should do the job; the 'gel type' doesn't run down your hardscape like the non-gel types.