frag disc question

[pascal32]

I have been taking the standard BRS frag discs (Oceans Wonders) and mounting SPS to them with no prep. dry plug, superglue, mount frag and put it away.

I was looking around and saw some intermittent suggestions to cure the discs, though most mentioned DIY plugs. went to the oceans wonders site and they said they ship wet (mine arrive dry as can be). they also mention only adding 1 plug per gallon per day. I just added about 30 at once on my 20 gallon frag tank connected to the main system.

Should I be soaking these? thinking ceramic might be easier

 

[dadoftwins]

Good question , Not sure but i was going to do about 40 discs myself in the next few days,

 

[pascal32]

I might have underestimated the number of plugs I put in...

 

[Brent Thomann]

I use oceanwonders plugs. Half of the time when I get them they come wet. I always put them in ro/di water right away and every month I'll change the water out. Once a week or so I'll add some of the plugs to my tank. Before doing this method I was getting algae grow on the plugs right away when adding directly to my tank.

Its a good idea to do this with any plug/disk even if they clam it do be cured.

 

[gmneil]

20 ar so plugs should be ok, what happens is they raise the ph of your water if not fully cured, a couple wont make a big difference, i have put upward of 50 + at a time in my system and never had a problem.

 

[cardiffgiant]

When I buy new plugs I cure them in the tank of my toilet for a month or so. I just put them in an onion bag (the red mesh ones) (without any onions) close it with a zip tie, and hope that none of my friends is still immature enough to give me an 'upper tanker'.

I've also added a couple to my sump each week ever since I've been making frags. IMO, I don't think that a small number of plugs will significantly impact a large established system, but a concentrated high ph might adversely impact small frags.

 

[Brent Thomann]

When I buy new plugs I cure them in the tank of my toilet for a month or so. I just put them in an onion bag (the red mesh ones) (without any onions) close it with a zip tie, and hope that none of my friends is still immature enough to give me an 'upper tanker'.

I've also added a couple to my sump each week ever since I've been making frags. IMO, I don't think that a small number of plugs will significantly impact a large established system, but a concentrated high ph might adversely impact small frags.

Hey firemen Ben, I was doing that for a long time but found Phosphate leaking off the plugs from soaking in regular tap water. I would get algae growing on the plugs when I would go to use them right away after soaking behind toilet for months, even if I had them in my sump for a week prior to using. Since I started soaking in ro/di water I haven't had the same issue, could use the plugs right away.

I just throw the all the plugs or disks I buy in a 5 gallon bucket, rinse with tap water a little and then soak in ro/di water. Every so often (2 weeks to a month) I replace the ro/di water.

If you just adding the plugs to your sump you won't experience the algae grow because no light. I'm sure the phos leaks off of them in to your tank though.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Wow, good call. I'm going to be moving mine out of the upper tank and into a bucket of RO right away!

 

[gmneil]

yeah the ro is definately a better call, thats how i cure mine, you dont want all the things in tap water being absorbed by a plug that you are putting a freshley cut coral onto.

 

[block head]

upper deckers... :spin2:i'm semi retired