TA Two Part Epoxy... What a Let Down!

[viperfish]

I have a tendency to use quite a bit of reef glue. I use it for sticking rocks together and sticking frags to plugs. I have never purchased the Tailored Aquatics because the stuff is way more expensive than most of the other brands. My usual brands are the DD Aquascape which comes in two sticks (the best I have used by far), and the Tunze which is very similar and works well also. I have even gone to Home Depot and bought the Plumbers two part stuff for six bucks, it works OK under water but I found it sets too quick, gets way too hot very quickly, and just doesn't have the stick that the others have. Yesterday I am fresh out of reef glue so I go out and drop $22 on a stick of this TA stuff thinking it must be good for that price, what a letdown! THIS STUFF IS EXACTLY LIKE THE CHEAP HOME DEPOT STUFF! I couldn't believe it, it comes in the same tube, has the same awful smell when you open it, is hard to mix, sets too fast, and gets really hot in the nanosecond that it takes to harden! The only difference is the colour. I have two HD sticks that I have been avoiding because of how poorly it works, now I guess I have a third. Needless to say I am turned off, and upset that I am out the money. I just have a couple of words of advice for Tailored Aquatics; keep the price down, there are far superior products out there for half the price, and guys, if you're going to re-brand something, at least do it with a quality product!

[dreef]

I agree about D&D by far the best putty i have used.

[Blue World Aquariums]

It's matter of opinion and personal preference. Personally, I think the DD stuff sets too slowly, lol. I prefer the Tailored or Two Little Fishies (it's the same stuff).

[kien]

Originally Posted by SpencerGS

It's matter of opinion and personal preference. Personally, I think the DD stuff sets too slowly, lol. I prefer the Tailored or Two Little Fishies (it's the same stuff).

I'm with you :-) I've tried the DD and TA and prefer the TA as it sets at about the right time for me to use it. By the time I'm kneading the epoxy I already know exactly where I want the frag/coral so I expect it to be ready right away and harden quickly after I've set it in place. When I tried the DD I had to knead it and wait.. and wait.. and wait.. oh.. I'm still waiting.. Set it down, go for a potty break.. is it ready yet? But I understand how that can be a benefit to some people so as you said, it is all a matter of personal preference I think. Also, when I tried the DD sticks I ended up with about an inch left of one of the sticks which means I totally suck at guessing lengths.

[lastlight]

Sure wish I knew exactly what kind I currently have. It's a generic tube of green/white stuff. dries white, doesn't get too hot really and does make quite a smell and mess your fingers up. I'm accustomed to how it works and like it tho and I'll need to buy another stick soon. It's 4 years old but that doesn't seem to have affected it's performance.

[Ron99]

I use regular epoxy putty (bond aide brand) which is $10 for a large tube and probably does at least 50 frags. I combine it with super glue. The putty molds to the rock etc. and the cyanoacrylate forms the bond.

[lastlight]

Yeah I've tried a few types of glue to bond frag direct to rock and no luck so far. Now I use frag-gel-putty-gel and have success 100% of the time. don't need much putty at all either.

[Myka]

I've been swearing at my tube of Tailored Aquatics putty all day today! It has taken me 2 hours to set 6 corals! It doesn't stick worth a darn!