Super Glue is safe for aquariums if you work with cyanoacrylate superglue. 

It is a common worry that Super Glue may be harmful to aquariums, especially to the aqua space, but here is what you need to know:

• Super Glue becomes inert when it comes in contact with water
• It dries as fast as 15-45 seconds, and once it is fully dry, it doesn’t release fumes that could be toxic for fish, plants, or the water 

We recommend only getting the glue in contact with the water, fish, and living aqua plants and corals after the adhesive have fully dried. 

If you want to learn more about using super glue safely for your aquariums, keep reading. 

Super Glue And Aquariums: What You Need To Know

Super Glue is a cyanoacrylate-based glue. 

Thanks to the formulation of this adhesive, super glue dry very fast. 

This makes it an easy go-to adhesive for quick fixes. 

Super Glue has a positive reaction when it comes in contact with water or moisture. It causes it to cure faster. 

Once cured, this adhesive becomes completely inert, making it safe for aquariums, including plants and fish. 

When Super Glue is inert, it won’t release any toxic fumes. The bond will be fully crystallized. 

Here is what you can use super glue for in your aquarium:

• To secure coral pieces to reef 
• To glue plants to rocks or wood pieces 
• To glue different items together, such as driftwood, rocks, plants, and other aquascape elements 
• To help with very small repairs 
• To keep down heater wires 

What To Look In Glue Before Using It For Aquarium

If you are wondering what aspects glue should have to make it safe but also effective for aquariums, here are the features that are important to look for:

• An ideal drying property 
• Safe for fish, plants, and coral (safe to use underwater)
• Water-resistant (including salt water if that’s the case)

How To Use Super Glue For Gluing Plants To Rocks

Before you get to the part where you glue the plants to the rocks, you need to do some preparation. 

Once you have selected the rocks for your aquarium, clean them thoroughly. 

You can wash them in warm soapy water to remove debris, dust, or other stains. Let them air dry to dry them with a clean cloth or towel. 

Now, you also need to prepare the plants. 

If they are synthetic plants, clean them thoroughly with warm soapy water and dry them well. 

If you want to glue living plants to the rocks, gently dry the roots. Grab a paper towel and gently dab the water and moisture off the roots without squeezing or twisting.

Now you are ready to glue. 

To glue plants to rocks for your aquarium with super glue, follow these steps:

1. Apply the super glue to the rock, enough to cover the surface onto which you will glue the plants
2. Gently press the roots onto the glue 
3. Keep the roots secured in place for about 5 minutes or until the glue fully dries
4. Let the glue fully cure for 24 hours
5. After 24 hours, place your new decor in your aquarium

For a more natural look, sprinkle sand to cover up the glue after the glue dries and the plant is secured in place. 

You can follow these steps to glue plants to driftwood with super glue. 

Even if super glue dries very fast, it will still need about 24 hours to cure fully. 

If you want more flexibility and a more controlled application, use the gel version of super glue. 

We don’t recommend adding any decorative items back in the water before the 24 hours of curing are up. 

Pro Tip: when you glue plants to rocks, use tweezers to hold the plants instead of holding them with your fingers to avoid getting glue on your fingers. 

How To Use Super Glue For Tank Glass Repair

If you were wondering whether you can use Super Glue to fix some glass chips in your aquarium, the answer is: yes, you can.

The process to do so is very easy. 

Follow these steps:

1. If you need to glue on the inside of your tank, empty it completely 
2. Let the tank air dry, or use a clean rag to dry it
3. Apply a generous layer of super glue to the needed spot and let it dry
4. Allow the glue to cure for 24 hours before you re-add the water and everything else 

Regardless if you need to fix chips on the inside or outside of the aquarium, clean the spot first, then make sure it is fully dry before you apply the glue to it.

Conclusion

Cyanoacrylate-based superglue is safe for aquariums. 

Don’t try to glue different elements inside the water. Do the gluing outside the aquarium, and don’t just wait for the glue to dry (seconds), but also fully cure (24 hours) before you add the items back in the water that carries the glue.