LOLI 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.
There's always a chance that it won't survive, even if left on the plug, and not dipped. That is the chance you want to take, no single coral is worth the hassle. Bayer is usually very gentle, besides brown coral is not such a big deal, it will eventually color up if your tank is in a good condition.


