How do you hide a frag plug?

pseudorand · Dec 14, 2020

The pic below is of a the reef putty I used to mount a zoa frags. The zoas are quite happy with it. They're facing the light and doing nicely.

I'm not happy with it. It's terribly ugly. I figured it would get covered in coraline and such, and it probably eventually will, but it's been months and no visible progress.

How to you mount frag plugs in DT without making an eye sore? Do you cut off the bottom part that goes through the egg crate in a frag tank? If so, what do you use to keep them in place? Just glue?

gentlefish · Dec 14, 2020

In my current setup I predrilled holes in the rocks for fags. This is after a tank crash. I felt it may be useful in the future if I could just forcefully lift a frag to relocate a colony. Outside of this I try to find a hole in the rock, but also may directly epoxy a stag onto a rock. I have made rocks that custom hold a plug, just to epoxy this into the tank. I have not been very successful in removing the stalk of the frag though.

excell007 · Dec 14, 2020

i put them on rocks with holes in them, if no such location exist I will cut the bottom with a dremmel.

kenchilada · Dec 14, 2020

So many jokes...

Zoa_Fanatic · Dec 15, 2020

Plugs beak pretty easily. I chop the bottom off mine sometimes using wire cutters. But most of the time I’ll find a hole in the rock the plug stem fits in and glue it there. Once they get covered in coralline I think they look pretty cool just chillin in random spots in my tank.

pseudorand · Dec 15, 2020

excell007 said:
i put them on rocks with holes in them, if no such location exist I will cut the bottom with a dremmel.

if you cut the bottom how do you get your stay where you wanted to? I've had little luck with super glue staying for very long.

Idoc · Dec 15, 2020

pseudorand said:
if you cut the bottom how do you get your stay where you wanted to? I've had little luck with super glue staying for very long.

You cab still use some putty like on your original plug picture, just put some directly under the plug and attach to the rock. Or use super thick superglue.

Zoa_Fanatic · Dec 15, 2020

pseudorand said:
if you cut the bottom how do you get your stay where you wanted to? I've had little luck with super glue staying for very long.

What kind of glue are you using? I usually just glue the stem into rocks myself but I got some new zoa a week ago and the guy I got them from suggested this approach. I’ve been glueing the disc to a flat rock I have. Like it’s totally flat. I use the locktite gel control super glue. I can’t get stuff to come off after i put it down if I use a lot even I want it to.

excell007 · Dec 15, 2020

pseudorand said:
if you cut the bottom how do you get your stay where you wanted to? I've had little luck with super glue staying for very long.

I use coral glue, which is actually a very thick super glue.

AquaBiomics · Dec 15, 2020

Ideally I remove them from the plugs altogether. Plugs are for fragging and transporting, I try to keep them out of my tank. A razor blade can usually slide right under the frag, unless its super encrusted.

In that case, I cut off the stem and glue it to a rock.

The secret to super glue isnt what kind you use, all the gel glues are the same despite the 20-fold range of prices. The secret is to put glue directly on the rock with your finger, then more glue on the frag, then push the frag onto the glue spot. The difficulty with superglue is it doesnt stick to slimy biofilm covered surfaces well, so by rubbing it directly onto the rock with your finger you can get a good seal.

southerntnreefer · Dec 15, 2020

off the pugs and onto rubble rock that matches the types of rock i used in my aquascape.

boacvh · Dec 15, 2020

I use both. A little bit of putty and supeglue on top and bottom of the putty.

sp1187 · Dec 15, 2020

non issue if zoas grow well in your tank. they will cover the plug and the rock it's attached to. I cut the stem on some, others I don't, just for the height difference of like sized zoas.