First Corals coming! How to remove from plug/dip?

[LordNecro]

Hey so I'm getting my first corals tomorrow! 13 frags to be exact. Since these are my first corals I'm planning to do a light acclimation cycle using the reefled50. Should I do it for 1 week or 2 weeks? Also, should I leave the frags in the sandbed for a week and then move it to where I want it to be or can I just put it where I want tomorrow since the light will be lowered but flow won't be. Also, I plan to use coral RX pro dip. Will it be ok if I use a smaller amount of water compared to the gallon stated in the directions? Do I just mix the dip in the water and shake the frag in it for a few seconds and let it rest for 5-10 minutes? Also can I use freshly made saltwater or do I have to use water from the aquarium? How should I remove the frag from the plug? Thanks for any answers you can give!

 

[sp1187]

what type of corals?

 

[LordNecro]

what type of corals?

A mixture of lps and softies. 3 torches, 2 blastos, 1 shroom, 4 zoas, 1 goni, 1 hammer and a scoly

 

[Zionas]

Whoa! Nice!

 

[LordNecro]

Whoa! Nice!

Thanks!

 

[sp1187]

scoly won't be on a plug.
shroom and zoas cut the post off. won't be able to do much more then that.
torches and hammers should be able to break the glue that was used to attach them to the plug.
same if they are blasto welsi.
blasto merletti's are kinda fragile. cut the frag post and possibly trim the frag plug back.

someone else will have to reply to the dipping questions.

 

[LordNecro]

scoly won't be on a plug.
shroom and zoas cut the post off. won't be able to do much more then that.
torches and hammers should be able to break the glue that was used to attach them to the plug.
same if they are blasto welsi.
blasto merletti's are kinda fragile. cut the frag post and possibly trim the frag plug back.

someone else will have to reply to the dipping questions.

Thanks so much! Yeah, I have a fragging kit with bone cutters and a scalpel so planning to do as you mentioned, either removing the glue or trimming to plug.

 

[sp1187]

Thanks so much! Yeah, I have a fragging kit with bone cutters and a scalpel so planning to do as you mentioned, either removing the glue or trimming to plug.

I should probably get a kit. I hate plugs.

 

[Idaho Lone Wolf]

Here is how I would do it: Mix one gallon of RX dip using tank water (why shock your corals using multi different waters). Why mix less? It's only a gallon. Dip your coral per instructions on the RX bottle/box. Since you are acclimating the light using the fixture, go ahead and place the corals where you want them and light acclimate over a 2 week period. It is important to place corals depending on their lighting needs. I just carefully cut away any excess plug from around the coral and glue/epoxy it into place on my live rock. The coral will grow and cover any remaining plug. You also need to be aware of water flow needs for each of your corals. Test and adjust weekly your Calcium, Alkalinity and magnesium. Water quality and water flow is just as important as lighting. Hopefully, you are putting the corals in a maturely cycled tank. Most people like to see coraline algae growing before starting to add corals. Good luck.

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

Hey so I'm getting my first corals tomorrow! 13 frags to be exact. Since these are my first corals I'm planning to do a light acclimation cycle using the reefled50. Should I do it for 1 week or 2 weeks? Also, should I leave the frags in the sandbed for a week and then move it to where I want it to be or can I just put it where I want tomorrow since the light will be lowered but flow won't be. Also, I plan to use coral RX pro dip. Will it be ok if I use a smaller amount of water compared to the gallon stated in the directions? Do I just mix the dip in the water and shake the frag in it for a few seconds and let it rest for 5-10 minutes? Also can I use freshly made saltwater or do I have to use water from the aquarium? How should I remove the frag from the plug? Thanks for any answers you can give!

Your led is pretty weak already, leaving them on the sand bed for 3 days should be plenty. I’m sure majority of these corals are in same or higher par. Not sure on the dip as I use the regular coral rx but I do dip for 5 minutes along with gently blowing on them with a turkey baster. I use tank water for the dip. I use my aquasaw for plugs but mostly just cut the plug part off and glue the disc to the rocks.

 

[LordNecro]

Here is how I would do it: Mix one gallon of RX dip using tank water (why shock your corals using multi different waters). Why mix less? It's only a gallon. Dip your coral per instructions on the RX bottle/box. Since you are acclimating the light using the fixture, go ahead and place the corals where you want them and light acclimate over a 2 week period. It is important to place corals depending on their lighting needs. I just carefully cut away any excess plug from around the coral and glue/epoxy it into place on my live rock. The coral will grow and cover any remaining plug. You also need to be aware of water flow needs for each of your corals. Test and adjust weekly your Calcium, Alkalinity and magnesium. Water quality and water flow is just as important as lighting. Hopefully, you are putting the corals in a maturely cycled tank. Most people like to see coraline algae growing before starting to add corals. Good luck.

The only reason is that I have a 20-gallon nano and I just did a water change this Saturday and do it every Saturday. So for me to get one gallon of tank water for the dip I probably have to do a small water change and use the gallon or so I take out. I don't really have an accurate way to measure water as right now I do it all by pitcher and do 8 scoops which is about 3 gallons lol. Yup so I'll put it where I have them planned while using the light acclimation schedule. Tested my parameters Sunday and everything looks good. Alk: 7.8, Cal: 410, Mag: 1320-1400 and Phosphates at 0.05. I'm planning to test again before the next water change. But I was told for nanos weekly waterchanges should be enough to replenish. Yup I cycled for a month and tank is 7 weeks old already with 3 fish and cuc.

 

[DeniseAndy]

As far as dipping, RX is fine. However, to prevent more pests I would make sure you scrub any left over plug with a toothbrush. I also use Lugols and Flatworm Exit on all new corals. Soak for a good 10 minutes and then spray with turkey baster over and over. I also usually qt mine, but many do not.

Couple tips: With the scoly especially, make sure to sort of make it mad before removing it from water. Get it to gently close up really well. This will avoid any tearing of the flesh when moved out of water. This goes for all fleshy corals.
Do not panic when things take time to adjust. Unless things are disintegrating, give them time. On the bottom is good and gradually move to where you want them to be.

Good luck!! Those sound awesome! Pictures when they get happy.

 

[LordNecro]

Your led is pretty weak already, leaving them on the sand bed for 3 days should be plenty. I’m sure majority of these corals are in same or higher par. Not sure on the dip as I use the regular coral rx but I do dip for 5 minutes along with gently blowing on them with a turkey baster. I use tank water for the dip. I use my aquasaw for plugs but mostly just cut the plug part off and glue the disc to the rocks.

Thanks! Yeah I know my led is not that strong, but should definitely be enough for lps and softies. I'm not planning any sps for this tank at all.

 

[LordNecro]

As far as dipping, RX is fine. However, to prevent more pests I would make sure you scrub any left over plug with a toothbrush. I also use Lugols and Flatworm Exit on all new corals. Soak for a good 10 minutes and then spray with turkey baster over and over. I also usually qt mine, but many do not.

Couple tips: With the scoly especially, make sure to sort of make it mad before removing it from water. Get it to gently close up really well. This will avoid any tearing of the flesh when moved out of water. This goes for all fleshy corals.
Do not panic when things take time to adjust. Unless things are disintegrating, give them time. On the bottom is good and gradually move to where you want them to be.

Good luck!! Those sound awesome! Pictures when they get happy.

Thanks for the tips! Will keep it mind to get the scoly to close up so it wouldn't hurt the flesh. Yeah, I know that they need time to adjust and will be keeping a close eye on them!

 

[DeniseAndy]

Looks pretty good. Make sure to feed coral food and the scoly. In a new tank, they need some extra support of food. The shroom depending on kind may like the more shaded area too.

 

[LordNecro]

Looks pretty good. Make sure to feed coral food and the scoly. In a new tank, they need some extra support of food. The shroom depending on kind may like the more shaded area too.

Thanks! Yeah I have reefroids and red sea ab+ already. That pic is pretty old during the cycling phase, not sure how to take pictures right now since my lights are really blue so all my pictures are really blue without messing with the lights and upping the whites. I'm getting a mythical corals electus shroom, but I'm pretty sure that area should be ok

 

[Nanorock1970]

I don't have much to give but I cut my plugs back close to the frag and place them in my tank. Give them a few weeks to see if you have a good spot. Then I gel super glue them in place.

 

[LordNecro]

I don't have much to give but I cut my plugs back close to the frag and place them in my tank. Give them a few weeks to see if you have a good spot. Then I gel super glue them in place.

No problem I'll take as much advice as I can get! Yeah I'm planning to see how the frags like their spot first before super glueing. Probably going to play with my mq10 power and settings for flow.

 

[Nanorock1970]

I messed with my flow for a while. I have the Current USA wave pumps and lights on my tank. I tried different angles and height with adjusting my flow power and rate. I use my shrooms as kind of my guide to how much flow cause I don't want to blow them around to much..Both pumps in my tank are about 3-4 inches down from the top at the back of my tank. 1 blows straight across at the other one and the opposite one is angled slightly up at the water surface.

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

Congrats on the new additions! Sounds like an awesome line up!

I use coral RX (not the pro) and always just dip them in the water they arrive in (2-3 cups at most and more than less follow the instructions after that using a turky baster to blow the water around. After the dip I take time to inspect each coral each coral for vermatid snails, aptasia etc and super glue over them, check the bottom of the container to see what pest fell of and then I personally put the corals into a really cheap/minimalistic QT tank for a few weeks where I get to see what critters made it through the dip.

This allows me to make sure nothing gets in my tank without wanting it or if I identify a pest it makes it easier to deal with than in the DT and eaiser to keep removing the corals for continued dipping if I have to try and brake somethings life cycle. Its also helped prevent a few kinds of underiaboe algae from getting into my Dt as I can see what stuff develops on the skeleton and adress it with some oeroxide and a Q tip, making sure it doesn’t comeback before going into the DT.

This have saved my but on more than one occasion.