Do or do not remove SPS from plugs before mounting to rockwork?

[Patroklos]

Simple question, do you remove the pugs and mount your corals straight to the rock work or simply glue/epoxy then down plug an all.

I just got several frags in for my new tank. My old tank had holes all over the live rock that I could always wedge my pugs into to keep everything hidden. My current rock is bit so accomodating and everything is elevated off the rock and looks bad. They are three birdsnests and a milipora, so don't think I can rely on encrusting to hide the plugs.

So, what would you do, leave them or remove them?

 

[Dog boy Dave]

I always cut the coral and mount to a small rock. I then place the rock where i want it. Makes it easy to move if i need to later. I then put the plug in my frag rack and grow a new coral. I almost always cut them as soon as i get them. Maybe a day or two to rest but if it isnt looking good when i get it it isnt going in the tank anyway so no reason to wait.

 

[neoalchemist74]

I usually just take a pair of cutters and lop off the stubb peice and mount with the frag disc, that way I don't stress the frag and can pry it off and move it if nessicary.

 

[theronsta]

I then put the plug in my frag rack and grow a new coral.

So does that mean you leave some on the plug?

 

[JG1]

I usually just take a pair of cutters and lop off the stubb peice and mount with the frag disc, that way I don't stress the frag and can pry it off and move it if nessicary.

That's what I do

 

[Chris Lakies]

i usually just take a pair of cutters and lop off the stubb peice and mount with the frag disc, that way i don't stress the frag and can pry it off and move it if nessicary.

+1

 

[reefereef]

i have a lot of ora pieces and just take my dremel with a metal toothed cut-off wheel and lop the plug off just below where the encrusting is. seems to work very well for me.

 

[REEF SMAC]

So does that mean you leave some on the plug?

That's what I do. Grow out the plug again in my frag tank, in case the rest of the frag I glued into my DT doesn't do so hot.

There are no plugs in my DT.

 

[A.Rodriguez]

I usually just take a pair of cutters and lop off the stubb peice and mount with the frag disc, that way I don't stress the frag and can pry it off and move it if nessicary.

+2 , I think is the better way .

 

[150er]

i usually cut off the frag plug and glue into the rock, especially get from Unknown source ( just to prevent some unwanted FW live underneath the foot).

And I don't like the look of round, coral encrusted base, so unnatural for me.

 

[njreefermadness]

I usually use a bit of mighty putty (aka WaterWeld at home depot) and leave it on the plug. I can usually find a crevice or hole in the rock to stick the plug in and putty around the disk of the plug.

Hope that helps.

Herb

 

[allsps40]

I usually just take a pair of cutters and lop off the stubb peice and mount with the frag disc, that way I don't stress the frag and can pry it off and move it if nessicary.

I do this if I can. If not them I use frag putty to glue the plug to the rock. I hate frag plugs, like the discs better.

 

[panic]

i usually cut off the frag plug and glue into the rock, especially get from Unknown source ( just to prevent some unwanted FW live underneath the foot).

And I don't like the look of round, coral encrusted base, so unnatural for me.

x2. The plug or rock that your frags come on are a great place for AWFW eggs to hide. They will live through a dip. Cut that frag and throw away the rest... it'll grow back

 

[fanandy8]

I usually break off the piece above where it's encrusting the plug if it is, leaving some on the plug or disc. Then use epoxy and superglue to attach the SPS piece to the rockwork. I then put the plug or disc on my frag rack to grow out. Doing it this way, I have a back up in case I lose one or after the small bit that's left on the plug grows out I can sell that.

 

[gablett]

I also take it off the frag plug since I think it looks better and allows it to be more stable and encrust on the rockwork easier.

 

[flamron]

x2. The plug or rock that your frags come on are a great place for AWFW eggs to hide. They will live through a dip. Cut that frag and throw away the rest... it'll grow back

+1 - and QT the piece that you are keeping for 6 weeks or so. I gotta go find a dead horse so I can kill the AEFW in my tank with it.... :debi:

 

[FiReC]

if you have ever had aefw from frags wipe out your system ... chopping bases is the only way to go!