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

[LordNecro]

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.

Thanks! Yeah while doing my research before getting my tank I see a lot of people recommending QT tanks for both coral and fish but I decided not to get one :/. Hopefully the dip gets rid of all the bad pests. I’m getting most of my frags from the same seller who dips before shipping as well so idk if that helps.

 

[DothanReefer]

1. Sweet coral selection!!

2. ALWAYS dip your corals - ive seen soooo many flatworms fall off during dipping that im convinced. Depending on where u ordered from, they may be "cleaner" than other places. Dip exactly per bottle instructions.

3. I use a wood-shaving kit I got on Amazon for like $7. Its great to get zoas off plugs. All others, I usually just use bone cutters/hardware store bolt cutters to remove as much plug as i can. The less of the plug that goes into your system, the better chance you have avoiding pests like nuisance algae or aptaisia.

4. Ive always put them on the sandbed for a day, then slowly worked them to desired location (I run G5 Radions that could burn them up, and I don't like the "acclimation mode".

5. I use superglue, just a couple drops to hold it in place. No more. Just in case you end up needing to move it. And, pro tip, you may need to work the frag back and forth in twisting motion to get the glue "bubble" to break under water and grab hold of the rockwork. I usually do.

5. Take it slow, and enjoy your new pets. May take a few days for them to open fully and be happy.

Good luck and Happy Reefing!!

 

[DothanReefer]

Thanks! Yeah while doing my research before getting my tank I see a lot of people recommending QT tanks for both coral and fish but I decided not to get one :/. Hopefully the dip gets rid of all the bad pests. I’m getting most of my frags from the same seller who dips before shipping as well so idk if that helps.

Just FYI, dipping does not kill aptaisia or algae in most cases. Definitely doesn't kill ich/velvet parasite eggs. May want to find out if the seller had fish in the grow-out tank so you'll know if you need to be on-watch for these things with your current fish.

 

[LordNecro]

1. Sweet coral selection!!

2. ALWAYS dip your corals - ive seen soooo many flatworms fall off during dipping that im convinced. Depending on where u ordered from, they may be "cleaner" than other places. Dip exactly per bottle instructions.

3. I use a wood-shaving kit I got on Amazon for like $7. Its great to get zoas off plugs. All others, I usually just use bone cutters/hardware store bolt cutters to remove as much plug as i can. The less of the plug that goes into your system, the better chance you have avoiding pests like nuisance algae or aptaisia.

4. Ive always put them on the sandbed for a day, then slowly worked them to desired location (I run G5 Radions that could burn them up, and I don't like the "acclimation mode".

5. I use superglue, just a couple drops to hold it in place. No more. Just in case you end up needing to move it. And, pro tip, you may need to work the frag back and forth in twisting motion to get the glue "bubble" to break under water and grab hold of the rockwork. I usually do.

5. Take it slow, and enjoy your new pets. May take a few days for them to open fully and be happy.

Good luck and Happy Reefing!!

Thanks so much for this reply! So first, thanks! I really love the look of torches. My selection was based on basically what I thought looked really nice lol. May try acans/SPS in general later on in another tank. 2. Yup I know dipping is a must, why I bought the dip before I actually had my tank setup. Was just wondering if it was ok to do something different from the directions. 3. Just decided to get a fragging kit as cant really go to any stores since corona sucks in NYC. 4. I’ll probably just do that then. Was only hesitant since I don’t really like putting my hands in the tank m, even with my shoulder length gloves. And finally thanks so much again! Definitely know to go slow, I waited two weeks before adding another fish besides my clown lol. Going to wait a week or 2 more before adding another. Can’t wait to see my tank grow!

 

[DothanReefer]

Thanks so much for this reply! So first, thanks! I really love the look of torches. My selection was based on basically what I thought looked really nice lol. May try acans/SPS in general later on in another tank. 2. Yup I know dipping is a must, why I bought the dip before I actually had my tank setup. Was just wondering if it was ok to do something different from the directions. 3. Just decided to get a fragging kit as cant really go to any stores since corona sucks in NYC. 4. I’ll probably just do that then. Was only hesitant since I don’t really like putting my hands in the tank m, even with my shoulder length gloves. And finally thanks so much again! Definitely know to go slow, I waited two weeks before adding another fish besides my clown lol. Going to wait a week or 2 more before adding another. Can’t wait to see my tank grow!

I went waaaaay too fast!! I'm no cowboy but I'm holding onto this thing by the last thread of my rope!! My tank got water in late March, see most recent YouTube video here:

Waterbox 100.3 Episode 2

You'll do great!! Just take it slow, thats what I wish I'd have done. Now, I have corals I don't want and nowwhere to put them. Just bought them on various Iivesales and now, tank is morphing away from their care needs...

 

[LordNecro]

I went waaaaay too fast!! I'm no cowboy but I'm holding onto this thing by the last thread of my rope!! My tank got water in late March, see most recent YouTube video here:

Waterbox 100.3 Episode 2

You'll do great!! Just take it slow, thats what I wish I'd have done. Now, I have corals I don't want and nowwhere to put them. Just bought them on various Iivesales and now, tank is morphing away from their care needs...

The tank looks great! Yeah in the beginning I wanted to go super fast, though my cycle would only take a week like advertised with bottle bacteria but nope took a month.

 

[DothanReefer]

The tank looks great! Yeah in the beginning I wanted to go super fast, though my cycle would only take a week like advertised with bottle bacteria but nope took a month.

Thanks for kind words. Still got work to do with placing corals tho! I think i already need a bigger tank!

I ended up using Fritz Turbo 900 and Dr Tims. I had first two clowns in within 36hrs! Never had ammonia spike. I got lucky there. One of the best tools I've invested in is my Seneye Reef. Its great!!! And the PAR meter, it has definitely saved me from frying some corals!! Lol

 

[Buckster]

I dip the coral frags in the gallon with Coral RX as per instructions. When I introduced a single frag I did cut back to 1/2 gallon with half the recommended Coral RX (I'm sure I could have used 1/4 the amount between water and dip). I have a small pump that will circulate the water for 5-10 minutes instead of using a turkey baster. I'm usually closer to 10minutes because I get busy doing something else - so it might be best to ask siri to set a timer. I then take the frags out of solution and rinse in another container of tank water before placing in the DT.

 

[customdyna]

I use the RX dip and leave them in for about 10 minutes and then give the coral a good shaking to help flush out pests. I also wondered what people were doing with the plugs and how to cut them off without hurting or damaging the coral.

 

[DothanReefer]

I use the RX dip and leave them in for about 10 minutes and then give the coral a good shaking to help flush out pests. I also wondered what people were doing with the plugs and how to cut them off without hurting or damaging the coral.

I've used it all...scissors, bone cutters, wire cutters, bolt cutters. Best tool in my bag for this....$15 wood chiseling kit off Amazon. Works every time. Just chisel the frag out off the plug. Go around the coral, pressing into plug, then push it into/under coral base....and plop! Coral freed...no harm.

 

[customdyna]

I've used it all...scissors, bone cutters, wire cutters, bolt cutters. Best tool in my bag for this....$15 wood chiseling kit off Amazon. Works every time. Just chisel the frag out off the plug. Go around the coral, pressing into plug, then push it into/under coral base....and plop! Coral freed...no harm.

Do you keep the frag and plug under water while you separate them?

 

[DothanReefer]

Do you keep the frag and plug under water while you separate them?

No, haven't had to do that. Maybe I should have on a few pieces but, I haven't lost anything yet doing it out of the water. Just examine and know where you're going to cut/insert beforehand so that the frag is only out of the water for minimal amount of time.

 

[sixline]

Be careful handling the hammer and torches and cutting away the plug. Those skeletons are pretty fragile.

I use a wood-shaving kit I got on Amazon for like $7. Its great to get zoas off plugs.

What do you do with them then? Can you just glue a zoa directly to your rockwork?

 

[DothanReefer]

Be careful handling the hammer and torches and cutting away the plug. Those skeletons are pretty fragile.



What do you do with them then? Can you just glue a zoa directly to your rockwork?

Yep. Superglues pretty easily if you have a tiny piece of frag plug still attached to the coral.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

I believe that part of the reason for using a full gallon is to dilute any toxins that might come off a stressed coral or from dying pests. When I've received new corals I just made it a water change day since like you, my system isn't very big.