How to 100% avoid adding pest algae from frag plugs etc.

[Scorpius]

So my last tank many years ago I bought zoanthids from a frag swap and me being the new reefer I was just added the frag plug and all to my system. Yeah, turf algae sucked.

My question is this. How in the world do you get zoanthids 100% off completely from the frag plug or rock rubble they are attached to without damaging them. I've tried in the past with knife blades and just trying to pull them off with little luck.

I'd like to add some zoanthids only IF I can get them completely off their plug so I can avoid ruining my new system that took me an entire week to setup.

 

[NanoDJS]

The struggle is real !!!!Ninja fragging for life !

 

[gdubs]

I've had success using a razor blade and lifting one side. Once you get a side lifted, you can peel them off. Of course this only works with larger frags (covering the entire plug). It's tougher with just one or two zoas on a frag.

 

[Scorpius]

I've had success using a razor blade and lifting one side. Once you get a side lifted, you can peel them off. Of course this only works with larger frags (covering the entire plug). It's tougher with just one or two zoas on a frag.

Especially when they're smaller ones. Guess I'll just be super picky what I add.

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

Get a work blade or a scalpel and cut them off the plug and glue them to the new plug.

 

[flyline]

I’ve done what Mario suggested in the past worked for me

 

[Dkeller_nc]

OP: This might be the wrong approach if you want to absolutely keep anything bad out of your system. Specifically, zoas can have more than pest algae on the frag plugs. Specifically, zoas can harbor zoa-eating nudibranchs that are actually attached to the zoas themselves. Potentially, they can also harbor unrelated coral pests such as red bugs or flatworms.

It's a decision all of us have to make at some time or another, but if you've a large tank where treating all of the coral in it for pests would be impossible or impractical, it may be worth your while to set up a 20 gallon coral quarantine tank.

 

[Scorpius]

Get a work blade or a scalpel and cut them off the plug and glue them to the new plug.

I'll have to look for a sharper and thinner blade.

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

I'll have to look for a sharper and thinner blade.

Something like this would work

Disposable Scalpels High-Carbon Steel Blades, Plastic Graduated Handle, Sterile, Individually Foil Wrapped, Box of 10 (Disposable Scalpel #10)
Remember to always dip your corals tho

 

[uhgster1]

H202, hydrogen peroxide. I don’t know about other coral, but it doesn’t phase zoas. I take my plugs or rocks and soak them for a few minutes until I see the bubbling. Then I place them in the water. No rinsing. It decimates any algae present. The zoas close up tight so it doesn’t affect them. They usually open right up after a few minutes back in the aquarium. If you’re leary grab a less valuable zoa or paly and try it. I soak my utter chaos, hornets, everything.

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

H202, hydrogen peroxide. I don’t know about other coral, but it doesn’t phase zoas. I take my plugs or rocks and soak them for a few minutes until I see the bubbling. Then I place them in the water. No rinsing. It decimates any algae present. The zoas close up tight so it doesn’t affect them. They usually open right up after a few minutes back in the aquarium. If you’re leary grab a less valuable zoa or paly and try it. I soak my utter chaos, hornets, everything.

I do the same

 

[billwill]

Straight hydrogen peroxide, or 3 to 1 or 5 to 1 with water?

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

I do 50/50 on high end and 100% in **** I don’t mind upsetting too much but when I do 100% I only keep it there for max 3mins

 

[Scorpius]

I do Bayer dip, but I'll add the hydrogen peroxide to my arsenal.

 

[Anthony Cusumano]

I always use a coral dip for pests. When should I do the h202 dip for algae? Before or after coral dip?

 

[uhgster1]

H202 for algae 100% strength for about two minutes then rinse and put back in the aquarium. If there’s any residual it’ll disperse in the aquarium and help with any you might have in there too.

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I also do 100% 3% peroxide on the plug out of the tank. One minute and the algae is toast.

Also works on sps frags, but I’m very careful to keep the peroxide OFF the sps skin. Use a dropper and only go 30s.

 

[brandon429]

frag plug removal wo touching the coral, from the bottom up

get wire cutters and begin cutting from the bottom up, destroying the plug right up to the bottom of the frag attachment. you can either leave that in place, less surface area to sterilize, or finish it with precision scrapes and razor cuts. I was able to get xenia left with only a bb sized attachment glue area with this bottom wire cutter technique.

 

[NightManCometh]

I've seen people use a chisel/exacto knife tool to frag colonies. They cut straight into the plug or rock