There are many different reasons why you may use hot glue on aquarium decorations. Maybe a part of the decoration fell off and you need to reattach it. Or, your aquarium may be very volatile, and you need to hot glue the aquarium decoration to the ground in order to keep it standing up. We have also seen some creative people hot glue aquarium decorations on the side glass, to give a cool hanging effect. Hot glue fits perfectly in your aquarium because it has a clearish white color that will fit in with anything. Whatever you use hot glue for, it is important to know whether it is safe to have hot glue in an aquarium.
Can I use hot glue on aquarium decorations?
Yes, it is 100% safe to use hot glue on aquarium decorations. The ingredients of hot glue areethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyolefins, polyamides and polyesters, all of which are safe in an aquarium. Hot Glue is just a really hot plastic that eventually hardens. Once it is a solid plastic, it is just like any plastic ornament you already have in your aquarium. However, using a hot glue on aquarium decorations might not be as easy as it looks.
While hot glue is very adhesive in the air, it is not as strong under water. Therefore, if you’re going to use hot glue on aquarium decorations, you should take the following steps:
Make sure to clean the surface that you are going to put the glue on. You should try to make it as smooth as possible, and if you can you might want to sand it down so that it fits the two pieces together.
Try to only put hot glue on two surfaces that are the same material. For example, plastic on plastic, glass on glass, etc.. This is because two items that are made from different material will probably not hold together for a long time underwater if they are made from different materials.
Make sure to give an adequate time for the hot glue to dry before putting it back in the tank. We recommend allowing 30 minutes for the hot glue to dry. During this time, you should make sure the two pieces that your are gluing together are being firmly pressed up against each other.
Right after you apply the hot glue, wipe off any of the excess glue. This will help prevent any cracks from forming underwater and penetrating the adhesive.
How long does hot glue last underwater?
This obviously depends on the two items that you are gluing together. However, if they are properly glued, hot glue can last underwater for years.
