BantyRooster97
Valuable Member
so I'm just beginning on the SPS journey and I'm about to get my first frag. It has encrusted the entire plug, should I still remove it?
SPS encrusting plug, still remove?
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BantyRooster97
Valuable Member
Should I cut the bottom post part, for a lack or better words, off of the top portion of the plug?
What about dipping it? Won't the plug hold onto the Bayer? I don't want to introduce that into my tank ( as much as I can keep from it)
What about dipping it? Won't the plug hold onto the Bayer? I don't want to introduce that into my tank ( as much as I can keep from it)
tyler1503
2500 Club Member
If you're worried about bringing small amounts of dip into the display, take out a cup of tank water and rinse the frag in it before putting it into the display.
You can leave the bottom part of the plug on or remove it, it's up to you. It may be easier to place it if you leave it on though
You can leave the bottom part of the plug on or remove it, it's up to you. It may be easier to place it if you leave it on though
ksfulk
Working back towards clean
I would still remove it. The coral will continue to grow, even if its cut, but you will remove almost all chance of bringing nuisance algae/pests/eggs/bugs into your system by clipping the coral and remounting it fresh. If its just on the top of the plug, you can often use a straight razor blade and get most of the coral off with minimal effort (but watch your fingers!) but any exposed rock, plug etc would be a chance for something to sneak through.
As for the dip, anytime you are using a dip, you should be double rinsing (ie two seperate containers of saltwater (usually from the tank that the corals are going into)). I swish my corals after the dip for three to five minutes in the first container and a minute or two in the second. Ive never lost a coral to a dip related incident.
cnseekatz
Well-Known Member
Unless you have great little holes in your rock that the plug can seat snugly into, I'd remove it. For me, SPS never really gets comfortable until it's been glue down somewhere and can't be moved.
BantyRooster97
Valuable Member
@smh254 so you wind up with 2 frags, clever.
The main concern is eggs or critters. This being the first SPS I am getting, I don't want to start off by introducing unwanted guests. Plus, I've read that the plugs absorb the dips, so double whammy not wanting the plug. (not to mention I don't like the way they look).
However, the frag is growing very well, it is probably 2"-3" tall and has its base has covered the entire plug.
Can I cut/shave the encrusted portion off of the plug and glue that? Or am I better off cutting the frag off above the encrusted portion and starting with a new base to glue down on my rocks?
thx
The main concern is eggs or critters. This being the first SPS I am getting, I don't want to start off by introducing unwanted guests. Plus, I've read that the plugs absorb the dips, so double whammy not wanting the plug. (not to mention I don't like the way they look).
However, the frag is growing very well, it is probably 2"-3" tall and has its base has covered the entire plug.
Can I cut/shave the encrusted portion off of the plug and glue that? Or am I better off cutting the frag off above the encrusted portion and starting with a new base to glue down on my rocks?
thx
The one time I decided to leave the plug on due to encrusting, I got AEFWs. Cut the plug off. The stick will grow again.
Ashish Patel
2500 Club Member
Pest lay eggs at the base of the corals so they can have food at their disposal. Dips will not kill eggs. so unless you are getting corals that you know are 100% or close to clean then just break it off. I know this is not fun or practical but your better of doing it now than learning the hard way as most of us reefers do.
If the coral is completely encrusted on the plug maybe you can use a magnify glass and inspect the plug and brush accordingly. Alot of ppl dip plugs and put them in the tank I don't think you will be the first to have a problem assuming you have multiple buckets for rinsing.
If the coral is completely encrusted on the plug maybe you can use a magnify glass and inspect the plug and brush accordingly. Alot of ppl dip plugs and put them in the tank I don't think you will be the first to have a problem assuming you have multiple buckets for rinsing.
2Wheelsonly
Valuable Member
I don't know what it is but if I place a plug in my tank the coral sitting on it takes forever to grow but once I rip it off and glue directly to the rock it grows very fast in comparison.
After getting an egg past my dip process and infesting the tank with AEFW I won't ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever allow a plug into my system; no matter who it came from. AEFW is one of those "I'm quitting the hobby" problems I wouldn't wish on anyone.
After getting an egg past my dip process and infesting the tank with AEFW I won't ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever allow a plug into my system; no matter who it came from. AEFW is one of those "I'm quitting the hobby" problems I wouldn't wish on anyone.
Totally agree with above post. Same thing happened here, left a nice encrusted coral on a plug, paid for it dearly with the AEFW. Never again...they all get cut free from the plug, dipped, doubled rinsed, then glued onto a fresh plug. Granted you've lost a nice part of the coral but it's much better than fighting off AEFW that are now destroying your other corals!
Sabellafella
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Very wise question! Up to you, if its encrusted down the sides, id just clip the frag plug stub off and attach to your rockwork. If your dont feel comfortable (like i do usually) just clip it off, should be fine.
Macdaddynick1
Valuable Member
What you can do is this. Dip the coral in Bayer. Inspect the frag plug for eggs if you don't see any after the inspection that is a good sign. Cut off the stem from the frag plug, and cover everything with an even level of superglue. This will seal any eggs or algae, but make sure to cover everything evenly. You can even cover the coral base by 1 mm to make sure.
BantyRooster97
Valuable Member
So the consensus is cut it off. Do I cut it off above the coral base or do I try to trim the encrustation off and keep that too?
Sabellafella
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Try to clip as close ti the plug as you could
Scorpius
2500 Club Member
With all the issues with pests I've had recently my #1 rule is never add a frag plug from someone else's system into mine. No matter how well you inspect sooner or later you WILL miss something. I always cut the coral off the frag plug no matter what. I find too that a freshly cut coral encrusts faster onto your rock work than growing off the frag plug.
If you haven't already buy some Bayer.
If you haven't already buy some Bayer.
That's exactly what I do. If it's something valuable, I'll halve the plug.
I had a coral vendor telling me there are some SPS if you cut them off a plug, if encrusted, can wreck havoc and may not survive. He also said not to dip the same day as receiving,since the coral is already stressed from shipping, just put it in a QT, and if I decide to dip do it the following day. If that's the case wouldn't the QT be pest infected if the coral had a pest? Cut it off the plug down the line? I received, cut the encrusted coral off the plug, and dipped in Bayer the same day. Two corals browned, I contacted the vendor, he said the cutting and dipping stressed the already stressed from shipping corals.
