Whenever there comes a need to repair your aquarium, the first thing that comes to mind is using super glue.
But is this the right thing to do?
What if solid chemicals present in the glue spread inside the aquarium & you end up with your aquatic pets dying inside it?
It’s okay to have these thoughts in your head. But believe me—when using Krazy Glue, you will not harm your aquarium or your aquatic pets living inside it.
Still, if you’ve any doubts, I’ll try to clear them by the end of this post. Let’s get started:
Krazy Glue Ingredients
The only ingredient in Krazy Glue is ethyl cyanoacrylate.
This is a clear, colorless liquid. It polymerizes by exposure to moisture and ultraviolet light.
When the glue polymerizes, it forms a firm bond that is relatively insoluble—Krazy glue work by being applied to the surfaces being joined.
The glue forms an adhesive film on both surfaces; they undergo rapid polymerization due to water on the surface when they come into contact. This creates a powerful bond between the two surfaces.
Krazy Glue can glue glass, ceramics, and other hard materials. A number of medical applications include suturing skin incisions and bonding teeth crowns.
However, the glue and glass bond under UV light tends to lose adhesive strength over time.
Krazy Glue Dry Time and Removal
- Applying a small amount of Krazy Glue to the tape is more manageable. On the other hand, superglue is applied with a needle that is difficult to control.
- Drying time is 10-30 seconds, instead of hours for super glue.
- The strength of the connection is similar to that of super glue.
- Krazy Glue can be removed with water, while super glue cannot be washed off.
- Krazy Glue dries clear and does not leave a residue on the surface. Super glue leaves white stains on some surfaces.
Is using Krazy glue harmless to your aquariums?
There are many people who use Krazy glue to fix things in their aquariums.
It is the most common way of fixing leaks, mending cracks, and even helping to attach decorations to the wall of a tank.
One of the questions that many people ask is whether it is safe.
Some people say that superglues like Krazy glue forms toxic fumes, and when they are put in an aquarium, they can harm the fish. However, others claim that it’s okay to use.
Well, it depends on the type of super glue you’re using.
And in the case of Krazy glue, it’s considered a relatively safer option to use in home aquariums.
That’s because this glue contains a particular ingredient known as Cyanoacrylate.
This ingredient does not react with water and therefore does not release any toxic fumes into the fish tank.
So, the Krazy glue will not become toxic even if it’s wet so that you can use it normally. Just wait for the curing (drying) time and then use it in your tank.
4 Reasons Why Krazy Glue Is Aquarium Safe?
Many commercial glues aren’t safe for fish for aquarium maintenance.
However, Krazy Glue is one of the few types of adhesives that doesn’t harm your aquarium or your aquatic pet living inside it.
Easy-to-use
It’s a very convenient and easy-to-use adhesive.
Krazy Glue is suitable for repairing a broken object, securing corals, and attaching plants.
Doesn’t Contain Harmful Chemicals
Krazy glue works perfectly inside an aquarium because it’s made of non-toxic Cyanoacrylate that doesn’t leach any harmful chemicals into the water.
It doesn’t contain latex or other harmful compounds that can be hazardous to the fishes and aquatic life inside your tank.
Provides the strongest bond on maximum aquarium surfaces
The sealant is strong enough to bond with most surfaces and materials commonly found inside an aquarium environment.
The sealant creates a tight seal that keeps water from leaking outside the aquarium, which makes it an excellent option for fixing leaks in aquariums.
Becomes Inert After Coming in Contact With Water or Moisture
This sealant is designed to be used underwater because it becomes inert when it comes in contact with water or moisture.
This means you can use this glue on your aquarium without worrying about hazardous chemicals getting released into the water.
Where To Use Krazy Glue In Aquariums?
Aquarium Decorations
Are you tired of the decorations getting loose from their stands or hooks?
Do you find it annoying when you set up all the beautiful decorations inside your aquarium and then later see them floating around?
If yes, then Krazy glue is your solution to this problem.
You can use it to fix these decorations inside your fish tank.
Just put a bit of gel on the hook or stand and attach the decoration there firmly.
It will stay in place without worrying you until you want to change its location again.
Repairing Cracked Equipment
There are many things in your aquarium that can break, crack, or get damaged.
Tanks, lights, filters, and decor are some of them. Aquariums are often made from glass, plastic, or acrylic.
These materials are prone to cracking when put under stress.
When equipment breaks, you have to repair it quickly before it causes a bigger problem.
So, you may fix them using the Krazy glue to make your home aquarium look good again.
Bonding Live Rocks
You can use Krazy Glue to attach two live rocks to create an underwater mountain or rock formation in your aquarium.
This provides hiding places for the fish, making them feel more comfortable than swimming in open water.
Growing Coral Frags
When you want to grow coral frags, please place them in your aquarium and apply a drop of Krazy glue on them.
Make sure to use a small amount of glue as too much of it can result in a chemical imbalance in the water, which is not suitable for the corals.
Creating Artificial Coral Reefs
You can also use Krazy glue to create artificial coral reefs inside the aquarium.
Just pick up some PVC pipes of different sizes from a hardware store and glue them together using this super adhesive.
How to Remove Krazy Glue?
Thanks to the strong chemicals found in Krazy Glue, it gets hardened as soon as you apply it in your home aquarium.
Even though it won’t harm your fish in any way, you may have a hard time removing it.
So, in that case, you should use another strong chemical called Acetone.
Note: Apart from removing hardened Krazy Glue, Acetone is used to remove nail polish and various hardened compounds.
Now, follow these steps to remove Krazy Glue in the right way from your fish tank:
- First, open the acetone bottle and add the chemical into a container.
- Now take a Q-Tip and use it to apply Acetone to the glue’s surface.
- Next, apply pressure on the hardened surface to remove Krazy glue from your fish tank.
- Do this until every residue of the adhesive is removed.
- Once done, use fresh water to rinse the remaining Acetone from your aquarium and dry the surface carefully using a towel.
That’s it. You’ve successfully removed the Krazy Glue from your home aquarium.
Krazy glue Alternatives For Your Home Aquarium
Gel Super Glue
Gel superglue cures more slowly than traditional super glue, which gives you more time to adjust the position of your decorations before it sets.
It also has a thicker formula, so it won’t drip or run as easily when applied to vertical surfaces.
This makes it ideal for gluing rocks and driftwood together.
JB Weld WaterWeld Epoxy Stick
JB Weld is an epoxy putty with many uses outside of the aquarium hobby, too — it can even be used to fix leaks on cars and pipes!
It comes in a moldable stick form, making it easy to apply to uneven surfaces like rocks and driftwood.
Two Little Fishies CorAffix Coral Frag Glue
Another cyanoacrylate glue dries clear and works well in wet and dry conditions.
It comes in a small bottle with an applicator tip, which makes it easy to use once you’ve applied it to your rock or other structure in the tank.
The formula is thick, so it is relatively easy to control where you apply the glue.
When used for fragging corals, this will allow you to position the coral exactly where you want it without sacrificing adhesion strength.
Tamiya Extra Thin Cement
Unlike most of the other adhesives on our list, this model cement is used to bind together plastic components without melting them in the process.
It works well for any plastic, but it’s not suitable for metal, wood, or clay.
An aquarium application can be used to bond acrylic sheets together or repair leaks in plastic pipes and aquarium heaters.
The solvent-based formula dries quickly and produces a nearly invisible glue line that won’t distort transparency after drying.
Reef Rax Epoxy Putty Stick
The putty stick is perfect for bonding objects with irregular shapes, such as live rock or driftwood.
You can also use wet or dry sand with the putty stick, allowing you to create exciting designs with sand and rock for your aquarium.
This adhesive is waterproof and non-toxic, so you have no worries about using it in your tank.
Aquascape Epoxy Resin Gel Glue
This epoxy resin glue can be used to fix equipment, repair rocks, and even glue plants to your aquascaping material like wood or stone.
You’ll get 15 grams per tube, which is enough to repair many small items around your tank.
It’s the best choice if you want to glue plants to items like wood or rock with a solid bond that will last longer than other options on this list.
It takes about an hour to cure, but you only need one part of the two-part formula to get started!
Just wet the area where you wish to place the plant and add some of the gel to it.
Gorilla 100 Percent Silicone Sealant Caulk
This is a silicone-based adhesive that creates a flexible seal when it dries.
It takes 24 hours to cure fully, but this allows plenty of time to position decorations properly before they harden in place.
It comes in a tube with a narrow tip for precise application and dries clear so it won’t detract from the appearance of your tank.
This is a mold-resistant formula that keeps working even if submerged in water for extended periods of time.
Silicone Sealant Adhesive 100% RTV
This 2-part silicone adhesive is very easy to use.
All you have to do is squeeze equal amounts into a container and mix them together until they’re thoroughly blended.
It forms an excellent seal and doesn’t have a strong odor so that it won’t upset sensitive fish or plants.
BON-10 Glue
This glue is a cyanoacrylate adhesive that creates a strong bond when it dries.
It can be applied in wet or dry conditions, and it’s entirely waterproof, so you won’t need to worry about leaks if you use it underwater.
API Aquarium Sealant
This is a silicone sealant that comes in either black or clear varieties.
It cures in 24 hours, but won’t be aquarium-safe for 48 hours after application.
It has a low odor and is non-toxic once cured, so it will quickly become safe to use in your tank.
The formula is thick, making it suitable for keeping larger decorations in place.
Parting Thoughts
Krazy glue is indeed safe to use in your home aquarium. Besides, with the steps mentioned in this post, you can easily remove the glue applied to your aquarium’s surface.
Still, if you’re skeptical of using Krazy glue, you can switch over to 10 Krazy glue alternatives.
That’s all for now.
If you need any help in setting up your home aquarium, feel free to reach out at [email protected]