Fijicrete cure times
 

How long does it take Fijicrete to fully cure with dry rock out of water?

I'm building an arch and using fijicrete one connection at a time but am worried to move it until it's fully bonded.

Curing period is only few minutes as its best to have the rock somewhat wet.
While curing don't move the rock at all as a hairline crack will run FiJicrete useless for that seem.
Keep in mind that fijicrete is a bonding agent not a building agent meaning its never recommended to build a full aquascape with FijiCrete as focal point as joining then try to move such aquascape as it will break on those focal point.
I have and many others did outside a tank aquascape but small enough with plenty of fijicrete to withstand the shock of moving.
For bigger or intricate designs we always recommend using acrylic rods and fijicrete.

I sugest you play with some fijicrete and test its durability and breaking point.

FijiCrete hardness is best at 24 hrs underwater or on dry.
Have yourself a friend to help you place the aquascape in the tank.
For such designs as fijicrete is not a bonding agent but a structural I sugest using plenty of it on the rock work.
Hope that helps.

Fijicrete cure times
 

Well my first test joint broke on me :(. I let it sit for about 6-8hours before I tried to move it to bond the next joint. I think I'm going to need to used a heck of a lot more to make this work..

Am I asking to much of it or did I just not use enough?


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I think you're going to have to build that inside the tank. I don't think you'll be able to move that in one piece.

Most yes but I would like to get the main arch solidified as one piece

With the contact area there, and the leverage force, I doubt that's going to happen.

Geez... the mods here are such Debbie Downers! I think you may need to go with Eli's suggestion and use some acrylic rods.

Ex mod. Anyway, nothing against the product, maybe I used it wrong, but after several failed attempts, I gave it away and used gravity to build my rocks :)

Jason used it though, and built some nice structures, which we were able to move from the table to the tank without them exploding. So it can work.

I have 3 rocks together in the span. So it "would be nice" to solidify it. Maybe a try a huge chunk of it in the crack and hope for the best. I fear rocks would break if I drill with a hammer drill.

I've tried the drilling too, left with rubble :) I really suck at rock work, so I just pile stuff up and hope gravity remains constant.

I built my stucture with fijicrete and moved it after, but I used zip ties to hold it until it was cured then cut most of them off. I left a few zip ties hidden in the rock work for insurance and also there is an arcylic rod supporting some of it. When I drilled my rock I used a masonry bit and used a regular half inch drill and went really slow and let the bit do the work. I tested drilling the rock on a few extra pieces before i did my main structure.

So no hammer drill but masonry bit?

Did you peel the rock apart. Put fijicrete in beteeeen and rebuild it or zip tie then shove fijicrete into all the cracks that connect?

Same experience here....threw it in the garbage



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Not trying to be a hater but seen multiple structures fall apart months after in tank not sure if it was used right.

Aside from cement that takes ages to cure and be tank safe is there epoxies (2 part) or anything that is solid and strong and reef safe? Like gorilla glue 2 part epoxy?

Reef safe epoxies are all garbage for rock aquascaping. They never cure to the same hardness as the rocks and are way pricier to scale over an entire project.

Waterweld from Home Depot worked really well for me. Strength is 900 psi

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Albert's right on price. They are roughly $10 per small tube lol

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Fijicrete between rocks then zip tie it and add more fijicrete to the joint and let cure for 24 hours before moving to display. I built mine in rubbermaid tub and filled it with water after to keep rocks live with minimal dieoff while it cured. And yes just masonry bit in a regular drill.

I'm building mine with dry rock.. (just dipped the edges to get it wet where i was trying to bond it) Does this have to cure under water? ... is it not working because its air drying?

Probably best to shoot Eli a message or give him a call.

Just gave him a call.. hes going to shoot a video for me later wooo!


Its possible it may have moved to soon? maybe the dog nicked it? who knows.. I'm going to try again tonight on the desk, and not touch it for a day or two.. then do a new join.. wait a day or two.. hopefully this works.

Awesome, Goodluck with the build.

So in my new slightly smaller arch I made some fijicrete putty and shoved it into the crack beteeeen the rock and the ground. Hopefully this will create a smooth base and prevent any movement

after picking up another few bags of fijicrete (thanks Eli!)

I have learned that the secret to this stuff is work quick then dont touch it for a while.. and when i say I while i mean 6 hours to over night ideally.. And only do one joint at a time..(at least when using it out of water). I have been trying to do one connection a day.

Its been a bit of a slow process but i think i have my structure almost there.
Let me know what you guys think or if you have any tips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tF3EuzktKE

Looks good, glad you got it figured out

my pleasure.
at the right side arch I would be careful as it seems you have little Fijicrete or looks separated.
otherwise looks good and get some help to have your aquascape moved into place.