Hold Fast/frag putty...anybody use this stuff?

[CD]

Just bought some "Hold Fast" (bonds live rock, corals, plants, etc) and was wondering if anyone has ever used this stuff? It is a putty like substance that you squish up in you hand until it is warm, then you can use it to attach frags to your rock *underwater* so you don't have to yank out a chunk of your aquascape to attach a frag. Sounds like a great way to go, but I just want to see if any of you guys have ever used this stuff, and what your experience was...like it? Hate it? Any adverse effects?

Wendy

[GaryP]

It depends on how fresh it is. It has a shelf life. I've had mixed results with it. I usually prefer to use super glue.

Gary

[reefer]

i've had great success using aquaputty, i don't use superglue gel anymore. my sps corals grow over it, completely covering it.

[beareef19]

I prefer the putty over superglue, as reefer said it grows right over it and superglue has a tendancy to burn the frags and they never seem to grow onto the rock it is attatched to, just my opinion


Barry

[CD]

Thanks, guys!!

It's good to hear that you've had positive results with this stuff...great concept, IMO, as affixing frags to rubble size rocks gets to be a PITA (glue never seems to hold all that well), *and* after all, I'd rather have the frags growing on the aquascape rocks rather than the rubble chunks.

Thanks again!!
Wendy

[GaryP]

Maybe I can get you guys to show me the trick to getting this stuff to work. I can never get it to stick. I end up getting P'ed off and going back to superglue every time I try to use it after a frag falls off and I have to dig it out of the rockscape. Its not that cheap and every time I get some I end mad at myself for throwing another $10 away.

Gary

[MikeDeL]

Dont feel too bad Gary I can never get super glue to work for me.
Is this hold fast a one part putty or two part epoxy? I use the two part. When that stuff is cured its on there forever. Im not too sure I like that.


Mike

[CD]

GaryP-
Well, after using this stuff on some of our cap frags, an acro colony, and some of the smaller frags we had just stuck into an appropriate sized hole in the rock prior to buying the Hold Fast, I'd have to say all in all I'm pleased. Especially in attaching the nice size cap frag we had...was able to position it *perfectly* with this stuff! It seems to stick better after brushing off the attaching surfaces with a tooth brush, or attaching it to rock without any type of growth on it. Once it hardens, it's THERE for the duration. Also, with this particular brand, there is a VERY thin coating of some sort of soft plastic that you have to peel off, or it won't stick to *anything*. Next time you are in Austin, and feel like stopping in to check it out, let us know...you are welcome at our house anytime!! :)

Mike- I read the entire package that it comes in, and it doesn't say % of epoxy to putty, so I couldn't tell you. It's "Hold Fast" by Aquarium Systems - a Marineland company.

Wendy

[Brett Wilson]

The two part (green outside, white inside) is available for a MUCH cheaper price at HomeDepot and it is the same product. I think it's called aquamend or something... it's the only green one.

[Brett Wilson]

Here it is:

http://images.mec.ca/media/Images/Products/Paddlesports/4007123s.jpg

[CD]

Thanks, Brett!!

We'll give that brand a try once we run out of the Hold Fast. COOL!!

Wendy

[matt]

If you have a skimmer, using the epoxy will make your skimmer completely useless for several days IME. It does something to surface tension in water to make skimmers go nuts, like producing 20 times more foam. The one time I used the reef epoxy I could not use my skimmer for almost a week after. Something to consider if you use a skimmer for filtration.

[Brett Wilson]

Matt, to avoid/reduce that I use gloves when neading the epoxy and dicard them before I put my hands in the tank. it's the loose stuff you get on your fingers that sets off the skimmers... Also you need to make sure and work it together really well before using it.
It;s been a while but I was planning on using it again soon... I'll post here how it goes :)