Frag plugs look very strange!

SirKevinD · Mar 6, 2014

So I am fragging and orange digitata and pull the mom from the rocks. I go to break off the old putty and the frag plug breaks. Inside the frag plug, it feels hard like rock but its colored orange/brown. What is this? Just a multicolored plug or this an algae inside?

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1394087537.840328.jpg

Rob&Gab · Mar 6, 2014

if i remove my glue from some plugs sometimes, i see this as well. would love to tag along.!

Thesmallerthebetter · Mar 6, 2014

i see it on maricultured plugs too...always thought it was rust?

Genesis Corals · Mar 6, 2014

Glad someone finally asked...hopefully someone can answer this mystery.

Rob&Gab · Mar 6, 2014

like if i glue a frag down to the plug and remove the frag off the plug with the glue it always has that color mark. ive been wanting to know for some time now just ignored the question lol! thanks for bringing this up. Hope someone can pass along with a answer or something leading to one!

SirKevinD · Mar 6, 2014

I was thinking maybe it was just the saltwater reacting with something that the plug was made from but you never know. Better safe than sorry! Bump!

mic209 · Mar 6, 2014

I've been wondering the same thing

Genesis Corals · Mar 6, 2014

Afternoon bump!

gooch · Mar 6, 2014

Is that an aragonite plug? My guess is it is an impurity in the cement used to make them. Possible metals. I have heard of concrete plugs rusting in the past but that was a long time ago.

Genesis Corals · Mar 6, 2014

gooch said:
Is that an aragonite plug? My guess is it is an impurity in the cement used to make them. Possible metals. I have heard of concrete plugs rusting in the past but that was a long time ago.

I agree that any plug made of aragonite is going to have impurities, but why is the red only under the super glue or inside the plug itself when you break it open or cut the bottoms off? I would think if it was rust that is would show on the outside of the plug, but I am just guessing here. Maybe someone who works around rust has a good explanation to that.

stylaster · Mar 6, 2014

maybe some sort of chemical reaction between the superglue and the aragonite.... Interested in knowing myself. Cause this doesnt happen when you pull superglue off of live rock or a coral skeleton

Genesis Corals · Mar 6, 2014

stylaster said:
maybe some sort of chemical reaction between the superglue and the aragonite.... Interested in knowing myself. Cause this doesnt happen when you pull superglue off of live rock or a coral skeleton

Good observation, your right it doesn't happen with the LR in our tanks when you pull the superglue off. However it also happens when you break the frag plug not just where there was superglue, so I don't know if super glue has anything to do with it like I used to think.

Thesmallerthebetter · Mar 6, 2014

Genesis Corals said:
Good observation, your right it doesn't happen with the LR in our tanks when you pull the superglue off. However it also happens when you break the frag plug not just where there was superglue, so I don't know if super glue has anything to do with it like I used to think.

my thought is that there are impurities (metals) that oxidize inside the plug and the super glue removes a thin layer of the surface material exposing the oxidation? not sure tho

GoingPostal · Mar 6, 2014

Interesting, I have chopped off the bottoms of frag plugs several times after they've been in tank awhile and never had discoloration like that.

cultivatedcoral · Mar 6, 2014

I've seen this problem with plugs too. Broke a plug off and in the middle it was completely rust colored so it was not due to a reaction with the glue because it was inside the plug.