6 Best Glues for Driftwood in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Adding driftwood to your aquarium adds décor while giving your fish places to hide and rest. It’s no wonder that this wood is such a popular choice among fish owners for creating aquascapes. The problem is that the pieces of wood can sometimes be too small.

Other times, they float to the top of the tank. You could craft a few pieces together to form a larger structure while giving your fish something fun and entertaining to swim through. But how can you attach driftwood pieces together? Can you stick pieces of driftwood to glass?

Our reviews include six types of glue you can safely use on driftwood in your aquarium. Your beautified fish tank is within reach.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 6 Best Glues for Driftwood

1. Seachem Flourish Glue — Best Overall

Our best overall choice for driftwood glue is Seachem Flourish Glue. This gel is used for attaching moss and other aquatic plants to driftwood and other surfaces, including gravel. It can be used underwater and is suitable for fresh or saltwater tanks. Seachem is a versatile glue that helps add beauty to your tank and dries within seconds.

We like the metal tube packaging of the glue, but there are a few reports about the tubes leaking if you set them down while they’re open. The biggest complaint about Seachem glue is that it dries white. If it dried clear, it would be less noticeable. Overall, it’s the best choice for your fish tank adhesive needs.

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2. Instant Ocean HoldFast Epoxy Stick — Best Value

Our best driftwood glue for the money is Instant Ocean HoldFast Epoxy Stick. The epoxy is non-toxic and safe for all fish and other animals, including reptiles. The surfaces you’re putting this on must be dry before using it. Just rub some of the product between your fingers until it turns white, and you’re ready to use the adhesive on whatever item you like.

It takes 7 minutes for this epoxy to start to harden and 30 minutes before it’s fully dry. It dries white, however. The good part is that you can scrape, sand, or drill the dried epoxy until it suits your needs.

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3. RA AquaTech Aquarium Glue — Premium Choice

Our premium choice is RA AquaTech Aquarium Glue. Four tubes come in the package, which is a good value. While the glue is fast-drying, it hardens instantly when it touches water. The manufacturer states that the glue dries green, making it an ideal choice for gluing plants to surfaces like driftwood.

Other reports say that the color is closer to turquoise. RA AquaTech glue will bond after holding the glued piece to a surface for 20 seconds. While it may not be strong enough to hold pieces of driftwood together, it’s ideal for gluing plants or moss to your driftwood’s surface.

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4. Guoelephant Aquascape Glue

The Guoelephant Aquascape Glue dries black, enabling it to blend in with the surroundings and not be noticed by anyone admiring your aquarium. It’s suitable for fresh and saltwater use and can be applied underwater. It works well to attach plants and decorations to rocks and driftwood in your tank.

It’s not toxic to any aquatic animals or plants. You receive two tubes of glue in this package, and the product’s shelf life is 12 months. Guoelephant glue can attach items to driftwood, but it also works well for corals, shells, moss, and stones.

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5. Landum Aquarium Glue

The small tube can be misleading, but a little goes a long way with this Landum Aquarium Glue. Landum’s adhesive turns to a gel consistency in the water, so you have a little time to place things where you want before the glue dries completely. It will also dry on your fingers, so wearing gloves is recommended.

It works on various underwater decorations, including coral and stone, and doesn’t harm aquatic plants. It’s also a good option for attaching moss to driftwood. There are a few reports of white spots appearing on the glue as it dries, but they are said to disappear over time.

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6. The Original Super Glue Gel

The Original Super Glue Gel is a perfect choice for aquariums. Not only does it start to cure the second it touches water, but the gel is a little thicker than regular Super Glue and easier to manipulate on surfaces. This is also a good choice for porous surfaces.

It bonds within 30 seconds and is handy to have on hand for things outside of the fish tank, too. There are reports of frustratingly hard-to-open packaging, but once you open it, there are 12 tubes of glue inside. If you like to change your aquarium decorations around regularly, this pack will give you enough glue to work with for a while.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Glues for Driftwood

Strategically placing your decorations in your aquarium is a delicate process, and walking by later to see that they’ve all come loose and are floating around the tank can be frustrating. Weighing or tying them down may work in the short term, but a more permanent solution is to glue them.

Finding the perfect glue for your aquarium depends on your needs. Regarding driftwood, you need an adhesive that’s easy to work with and flexible enough to fit the wood’s crevices and pores.

Super Glue Gel

This is great for driftwood because, unlike thinner glues, it won’t run and make a mess. You can shape the gel to the surface you’re using. With driftwood, the gel can easily be maneuvered over the contours and shapes of the branches.

It has a cyanoacrylate base, which is safe for aquatic animals. It’s also a cheaper option than some other adhesives. Super glue gel usually dries white, which is important to know if you don’t want it showing between the adhered surfaces.

Silicone

Silicone glues aren’t always aquarium-safe, so it’s essential to check that the one you choose is non-toxic to aquatic life. Silicone adhesives are chosen for their flexibility once dried. They still provide a strong hold and, most dry clear, which is an appealing feature.

You can also choose silicone adhesives that dry in different colors to match your décor. Silicone glue should be fully dry before you submerge it in water.

Epoxy

An epoxy adhesive has a clay consistency and is easy to use underwater. It appeals to people who want to decorate without taking everything out of their tanks and waiting for them to dry. That process can be daunting.

Epoxy is also easy to shape and mold, and you can create caves and steps to entertain your fish. To use epoxy, rub a bit of it in your fingers to soften and activate it. Then, place it where you need it, and let the decorating begin!

Doesn’t Super Glue Hurt Fish?

Dried Super Glue does not release chemicals into the water. It’s waterproof once fully cured, making it a popular option for aquarium use. A 100% cyanoacrylate glue is safe for aquatic animals once dry.

Conclusion

Our overall best choice for driftwood glue is Seachem Flourish Glue. We like the low price and its ease of use. It’s long-lasting, so you won’t have to glue down your decorations continually. For the best value, we like the Instant Ocean HoldFast Epoxy Stick. The clay-like substance is easy to mold to whatever surface that you choose. We also like that you can create caves and steps out of this product to give your fish new entertaining places to swim and hide.

We hope that our reviews gave you a few ideas so you can start decorating the aquarium of your dreams.

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Featured Image Credit: you sheng, Shutterstock