E-Marco (1 Viewer)

[wierzt]

Does anyone have tips or a good YouTube video for E-Marco 400?

I am having bad luck getting a good bond. First try I waited the 2hr before touching the rocks and they all came apart. These last 3 times I have done a few spots after work and waited 22-24 hours before testing and still have half or more of them coming apart. I am wondering if I have the consistency wrong when mixing.

Thanks

 

[Bullitt519]

You can superglue the structure together, then mix the Marco a little wet so it flows better. At least this is what I did. I then waited a couple days before I moved and another couple weeks before I moved it to the tank so it could gas off good. Whole structure held up during the move.

 

[air_run]

I would suggest using the industrial thin super glue (like Gluemasters thin) method with the MarcoRocks Powder. It is an extremely strong bond within 20-30 seconds. It will literally tear the rock (Cornerstone in my case) apart before the bond breaks. As above, you can use gel super glue (with a quick spray activator), drill holes and use 1/4 acrylic rod and zip ties to hold it together to see if you like it, and then use the MarcoRocks Powder and thin super glue for final bond.

 

[wierzt]

Thanks, I have some thin and gel super glue on the way so if I don't get a good hold tomorrow I'll try the glue this weekend.

 

[wierzt]

Last night's attempt went better. Mixed it a bit more wet and only had one joint not hold. Hopefully I can figure this stuff out, the joints that do hold feel way stronger than the purple epoxy I used on my other tank.

 

[RR-MAN]

E-Marco is great stuff. Yeah just mix it a little wet. I have gigantic/heavy towers currently in my tank some 18” tall.

 

[BigRick]

My whole rock structure in my 36" cube is TBS rock that was only Marco mortared together. Its been over long 10 years and has never broke. It is one huge rock structure.

 

[wierzt]

E-Marco is great stuff. Yeah just mix it a little wet. I have gigantic/heavy towers currently in my tank some 18” tall.

That looks great!
Everytime a joint breaks it makes me rethink if it's really what I wanted...and I've already just stared at the rock on the floor next to the tank for over a month not knowing where I wanted to start.

 

[RickD]

I layered super glue (liquid) combined with reef sand then you can emarco and shape it the way you want. Superglue was very strong like the mortar. Phamily94 showed me his technique and his tank is full of long shelves.

 

[wierzt]

I ended up super gluing the pieces together to hold in place then marco mortar around the glue. Its holding better now, at least enough to move the rocks to the tank for a test fit. Thinking I am going to add a couple pieces for some more height.

 

[Reefahholic]

E-Marco is some tough stuff. Scape the rocks and let it cure for 24-48 hrs, and it will be like concrete. Keep your fingers wet to work with it. Out of the tank of course.

 

[Reefahholic]

This GlueMasters Thin is pretty amazing.

It sets in seconds with sand or crushed rock. You need a sand or almost powder like consistency. Throw it into the crack where you want to bond and then apply the super thin (water like glue), and instantly it dries almost like concrete. You can also cover the mortar with it using sand.



Glue Masters Cyanoacrylate (CA) Premium Thin Super Glue - 8oz Bottle with Protective Cap

 

[wierzt]

My structure on the right ended up coming apart when I started to try to cover the E-Marco with sand/glue. I ended up ordering Aquaforest StoneFix that delivered last night. Their instructions have an X amount of powder to Y amount of water, which I like since I wasnt sure if I was mixing E-Marco too wet or too dry.

 

[Reefahholic]

My structure on the right ended up coming apart when I started to try to cover the E-Marco with sand/glue. I ended up ordering Aquaforest StoneFix that delivered last night. Their instructions have an X amount of powder to Y amount of water, which I like since I wasnt sure if I was mixing E-Marco too wet or too dry.

The E-Marco just needs to have a consistency that’s the best to work with. Kinda like a wet clay texture. Once it dries it’s game over. The rock will break before the bond, but you have to let it set. Stone fix is exactly the same. Both hold like concrete.

Before I covered it with sand:



After:

 

[BigRick]

The E-Marco just needs to have a consistency that’s the best to work with. Kinda like a wet clay texture. Once it dries it’s game over. The rock will break before the bond, but you have to let it set. Stone fix is exactly the same. Both hold like concrete.

Before I covered it with sand:



After:

I just made it like grout and didn't add anything to it, my structure has ben together for a LONG time. I made it one peice so its never leaving or coming apart without a sledgehammer. Needs a minimum 24hr cure. The trick is to make sure you get your rocks wet enough to get a bond and then abosuletly zero movement while curing

 

[wierzt]

The trick is to make sure you get your rocks wet

Ah ok, maybe this was my problem. I was doing this all with dry rock. I will have to try wetting the rocks with a spray bottle before doing any bonding.

 

[Reefahholic]

I just made it like grout and didn't add anything to it, my structure has ben together for a LONG time. I made it one peice so its never leaving or coming apart without a sledgehammer. Needs a minimum 24hr cure. The trick is to make sure you get your rocks wet enough to get a bond and then abosuletly zero movement while curing

Agreed, 24 hrs minimum and don’t move it.

 

[wierzt]

I had better luck after trying BigRick's tip of wetting the rocks. It was the last of the E-Marco that I had.

The Aquaforest StoneFix is not kidding with their 15 minute work time! Following their instructions I thought it mixed a little thin, started drizzling it over the joints I wanted to make and it started thickening and setting up pretty quick. Giving it 24hr and will see how it is holding after work today.

 

[josueS]

I had better luck after trying BigRick's tip of wetting the rocks. It was the last of the E-Marco that I had.

The Aquaforest StoneFix is not kidding with their 15 minute work time! Following their instructions I thought it mixed a little thin, started drizzling it over the joints I wanted to make and it started thickening and setting up pretty quick. Giving it 24hr and will see how it is holding after work today.

Did you get the aqua forest stone fix online or locally

 

[wierzt]

I got it online.

Aquaforest StoneFix 6KG

Overview Quickly bonding, cement-based glue designed for connecting large elements of live or ceramic rock. It does not contain toxic compounds, which makes it perfectly safe for fish and invertebrates

www.championlighting.com