Should frags be removed from their plug or attached rock?

[Miller535]

I have had saltwater tanks for almost a decade, but am trying my first crack at keeping coral. I bought a toadstool and a duncan from Blue zoo that is supposed to be here on Saturday. On watching videos on dipping, I see many people (including BRS) recommend removing a frag from it's attached plug or rock. With hard corals like acros this seems straight forward. But how would I do this with a soft coral like a toadstool? And the duncan for that matter, thanks.

 

[Jvalle]

I leave plug just cut off the extension and glue the remaining disk to the rock. Thx

 

[Billdogg]

I have removed some plugs if it makes placing the coral easier. I have also left some on if it makes my life easier. The important thing to do is inspect it carefully for any attached pests.

 

[code4]

I never removed the plugs when I began. Then I found a nasty aptasia had gotten into my tank via a plug I did not remove. The nasty little thing was between the plug and the coral! Thankfully it was in a quarantine tank and I was able to deal with it. If you have not found out how to remove them from the plugs before they arrive I hope you are able to quarantine them before putting them into your main tank. I did cut a zoa off a plug. Just used a sharp blade and slid it between plug and coral. Then was able to inspect it and glue it to a clean plug. Good luck.

 

[Miller535]

I am afraid of missing some kind of egg inspecting it (especially since i do not know what I am looking for), or some baby aiptasia or something. I am thinking about putting them in a 10 gallon tank I have with a HOB and a heater and a old black box light.

 

[Miller535]

I also saw where someone said it was possible for the frag plug or rubble to absorb the dip. I intend to dip in coralRx then bayer.

 

[Chrille26]

The first couple of corals I bought I just dipped and placed straight in the tank.
That made it possible for Vermetid snails, Aiptasia and Bubble algae to make it into my tank so from now on l remove as much of the plug as possible without damaging the base of the coral, then I carefully inspect the remaining piece before placing it in my tank.

 

[Miller535]

The first couple of corals I bought I just dipped and placed straight in the tank.
That made it possible for Vermetid snails, Aiptasia and Bubble algae to make it into my tank so from now on l remove as much of the plug as possible without damaging the base of the coral, then I carefully inspect the remaining piece before placing it in my tank.

So you basically hack away at the plug as much as you can without cutting the coral?

 

[Chrille26]

So you basically hack away at the plug as much as you can without cutting the coral?

Yes thats how I have done it. The guy I bought most of the corals from just placed the coral in some reefcement so its quite porous and easy to just carefully chisel the frag out off.
I havent tried to do the same to classic fragplugs but I probobly would use a sharp razorblade carefully under the base in that case.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I remove the frag from the plug when dipping and put it on a fresh new plug afterwards.

When I’m ready to mount the coral to my rockwork (usually weeks later) I generally remove it from the plug and glue it directly. The exception would be for very large and encrusted colonies. For those, I’ll snip off the base and glue the plug directly to the rockwork.

 

[Kellie in CA]

I can't stand the look of plugs, so I always remove them before placing new corals on the rock.

I usually dip the coral, scrub the plug with a toothbrush and put it at the bottom of my tank for a few days to acclimate. When it's time to place, I try to pop the frag off of the plug. If that doesn't work, I will use my cutters to remove as much plug as I possibly can without hurting the coral.

 

[Miller535]

How long do I have to work on it out of water?