Frag plugs

[nurjrk]

So when I buy my frags, I usually take them off the plugs because I don't like the "plug" look. I've been told recently that I should keep them on the plug. What are your thoughts?
Thanks
Jeff

 

[DogueDeBordeaux]

I always remove frag from plug, dip in Bayer, then mount on my own plug.

I think that is best to avoid possible pests (eggs) to remove frag from original plug.

 

[nurjrk]

I always remove frag from plug, dip in Bayer, then mount on my own plug.

I think that is best to avoid possible pests (eggs) to remove frag from original plug.

Why put them back on a plug? Why not just mount them to your rock work?

 

[DogueDeBordeaux]

You can put them on the rock.
I just like to start the frags on the bottom, then move them up to higher light (par).

 

[franklypre]

I have a few pieces that still have plugs, mostly the encrusting monti or fully encrusted acros. If it isn't encrusted it comes off after acclimation right before it's glued to LR.

 

[Kaosinnyc1]

There are purple colored frag plugs that look great , when i cut frags I mount to these , you cant tell there not part of the rock

 

[dkeller_nc]

In the sense that any cutting/breaking/tissue separation opens up the possibility of coral mortality, then there's some risk in removing new coral from a plug.

However, there's many reasons to do so. One's already been mentioned - frag plugs can often harbor nuisance algae, MEN, Aiptasia, etc... A second one is dependent on the origin of the plug. Certain types of plugs are nutrient rich, and will rapidly grow algae that can overwhelm the coral. I personally believe this to be especially true of the Bali maricultured corals - they come on "plugs" that look like concrete. The smaller, thinner commercial ceramic frag plugs are also unknowns as far as composition.

I personally won't buy "frags" on plugs for a couple of reasons (these are just my personal opinions, obviously). The first is aesthetic - I don't want any man-made round object in my tank other than my propeller powerheads. The second is ethics - I don't wish to support "chop shops" that import show colonies and immediately break them up.

 

[tmantaylor18]

unless they are completely encrusted to the plug why would it matter?

 

[footballdude2k3]

They have these 2 new things, you guys should consider them, first, they make these awesome dips that help kill some pests, they cannot kill the eggs, so they came out with this second new thing, it is called a quarantine system, it prevents your tank from getting all of the pests that will destroy your tank, while you continue to do dips to kill everything else.

I seriously do not understand the people that throw away the base of the coral, it takes quite some time for those to encrust on the plug, depending on how encrusted they are to start.

 

[dkeller_nc]

They have these 2 new things, you guys should consider them, first, they make these awesome dips that help kill some pests, they cannot kill the eggs, so they came out with this second new thing, it is called a quarantine system, it prevents your tank from getting all of the pests that will destroy your tank, while you continue to do dips to kill everything else.

I seriously do not understand the people that throw away the base of the coral, it takes quite some time for those to encrust on the plug, depending on how encrusted they are to start.

Unfortunately dips and quarantine does nothing for the algae growth issue, nor the aesthetic issue. There are some of us that simply will not have round ceramic or composite plugs in our reef tanks, period.

 

[OneReef]

I hate plugs, they are ugly and unnatural looking. I try to mount onto the rocks after snapping it off the plug. The good thing about leaving it on the plug for awhile is to move it around to find the best spot for it, then its off the plug.

 

[dowtish]

This comes down to preference. I like to keep frags on frag racks. New ones that I receive and ones that I clip myself. I always dip and inspect the ones that come in on plugs. If they are fully encrusted, I use a magnifying glass to inspect for eggs. But then again all my new frags go into a QT.

But when it is time to be moved to the DT, I just clip the bottom of the plug off and epoxy/glue it down. The coral will grow over it all in time and you will never know it was there.

 

[nurjrk]

Wow, thanks for all the good information.

 

[sirreal63]

I almost always remove them if I get them, though I prefer to buy fresh cut frags. I am in no hurry and prefer the coral to encrust on the rock. There are some corals that it is hard to remove from a plug, encrusting Monti's are a good example, it is difficult to remove them from a plug. Those I inspect and scrub the plug as good as possible.