To Frag plug or not to Frag plug

[Nick C]

Hello All!!

So there is a lot of debate on the forum of leaving corals on plugs, mounting them to rock rubble, or just removing a base completely.

What is your opinion? I Don't currently have any coral in my tank but plan on getting some this week. And i want to start out on the right foot and make it consistent. It wouldn't harm coral to glue it directly to my rock would it? Are there any downsides of this?

My rock is pretty white so plugs wouldn't be too much of an eye sore for now, but i don't know what best practice would be. Also what tools would you recommend for getting them off plugs? I've seen scalpels, heard of screwdrivers, I don't want to damage them so it makes me nervous.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I personally try to remove corals from their frag plugs before they go into my tank - even if I am putting them on a frag rack (I just transfer the coral a new, clean plug).

When I put them on rock, I glue them directly to the rock unless it is encrusted onto the plug, then I cut off them stem and glue the remaining disk directly to the rock.

 

[Nick C]

I personally try to remove corals from their frag plugs before they go into my tank - even if I am putting them on a frag rack (I just transfer the coral a new, clean plug).

When I put them on rock, I glue them directly to the rock unless it is encrusted onto the plug, then I cut off them stem and glue the remaining disk directly to the rock.

what kind of tools do you use to remove them from frags?

 

[coral-boss]

I try to remove them from the plug, I use bone cutters and they usually pop off pretty easy

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

what kind of tools do you use to remove them from frags?

I can normally pop them off by hand as they are usually held down by super glue. If I can't I use "coral cutters" from Aquavitro. Fortunately for me, I got them for free from a friend; they're not expensive though.

 

[Nick C]

I can normally pop them off by hand as they are usually held down by super glue. If I can't I use "coral cutters" from Aquavitro. Fortunately for me, I got them for free from a friend; they're not expensive though.

Something like this?

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-5-sps-coral-bone-cutter.html

I have something like that that i use to cut finger nails haha.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G2VHXFZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Instigate]

Something like this?

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-5-sps-coral-bone-cutter.html

I have something like that that i use to cut finger nails haha.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G2VHXFZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Those would be fine. I have some from a "frag kit" but I find myself using wire cutters some times. The super glue releases plenty easy in my experience. I hate seeing plugs in the tank so I try to always pop the plug off before I dip then glue the frag onto a small piece of rock rubble. I use wire cutters to shape the rock into a shape that will sit in a frag rack like a plug but not look like hell when I go to mount it.

 

[Dsnakes]

I remove and glue to the rock if possible. If already encrusting the plug I will just clip the stem. Not noticeable for long

 

[Nick C]

Those would be fine. I have some from a "frag kit" but I find myself using wire cutters some times. The super glue releases plenty easy in my experience. I hate seeing plugs in the tank so I try to always pop the plug off before I dip then glue the frag onto a small piece of rock rubble. I use wire cutters to shape the rock into a shape that will sit in a frag rack like a plug but not look like hell when I go to mount it.

So why do you choose to use a frag rack instead of directly placing them on your scape?

Also i assume you leave it on the rubble when you do go to mount it?

EDIT: Also, What do you dip them in? I've watch some videos. The people that pop them off tend to do it in the salt water acclimation, pop it off, dip it, then put it back in the acclimation before putting it into the tank.

 

[Nick C]

I remove and glue to the rock if possible. If already encrusting the plug I will just clip the stem. Not noticeable for long

I like this, so you remove them, place the glue on the scape, then just put the coral in the glue? The whole process just seems strange to me haha. Like i get that's how it goes, just kind of different.

 

[Instigate]

So why do you choose to use a frag rack instead of directly placing them on your scape?

Also i assume you leave it on the rubble when you do go to mount it?

EDIT: Also, What do you dip them in? I've watch some videos. The people that pop them off tend to do it in the salt water acclimation, pop it off, dip it, then put it back in the acclimation before putting it into the tank.

I QT coral and inverts for 45 days so it's helpful to have them on the homeade plug. Also I might not know exactly where I want it in the DT and might move it around a little bit before I gule it.

 

[Dsnakes]

I like this, so you remove them, place the glue on the scape, then just put the coral in the glue? The whole process just seems strange to me haha. Like i get that's how it goes, just kind of different.

I actually place the glue on the frag then place on the rock in the tank with large tweezers and hold until it’s set enough to let go. This is the product I use.

It sets quick, so have your mind made up before you stick it in the water

 

[Nick C]

I actually place the glue on the frag then place on the rock in the tank with large tweezers and hold until it’s set enough to let go. This is the product I use.

It sets quick, so have your mind made up before you stick it in the water

I can't image it takes too much glue then if you are just putting it on the Frag... Okay my next question, What about putting coral in sand? IE if i had a Zoa frag that i wanted just in the sand, or some LPS. Would you just kind of bury the whole plug in the sand or still remove it and glue it to sand?

 

[Nick C]

I QT coral and inverts for 45 days so it's helpful to have them on the homeade plug. Also I might not know exactly where I want it in the DT and might move it around a little bit before I gule it.

This is true. Unfortunately i don't have the proper space setup for a QT tank I'd have to put it in the garage and i don't think i could maintain a stable temp with it in there. When it comes to Fish what i have done is acclimate, freshwater dip, then into the DT they go.

 

[Dsnakes]

I can't image it takes too much glue then if you are just putting it on the Frag... Okay my next question, What about putting coral in sand? IE if i had a Zoa frag that i wanted just in the sand, or some LPS. Would you just kind of bury the whole plug in the sand or still remove it and glue it to sand?

Depends what critters you have in the sand, my conch will knock over frag plugs that I set in the sand. I will glue the frag to a heavier piece of rubble rock.

If your sand is free of bulldozers, just stick the plug down in the sand.

 

[Surfandturf]

So I usually have the shop cut the stem off of the plug. If is is something that has a base like a frogspawn, then I just pop it off the plug and glue it to the scape. Acros can usually be popped of the frag plug easily. The same cannot be said with palys, zoas and entrusting montipora. One thing to remember is that your goal is to reduce as much stress the coral goes through as possible. Also, if you cut it, dip it in Iodine. I think that's what people use. Been awhile since I dragged. A long while lol.

 

[Instigate]

So why do you choose to use a frag rack instead of directly placing them on your scape?

Also i assume you leave it on the rubble when you do go to mount it?

EDIT: Also, What do you dip them in? I've watch some videos. The people that pop them off tend to do it in the salt water acclimation, pop it off, dip it, then put it back in the acclimation before putting it into the tank.

I used the dip that Two Little Fishes makes, Revive is the name. But now I use Bayer Complete Insect Killer.

 

[Nick C]

So I usually have the shop cut the stem off of the plug. If is is something that has a base like a frogspawn, then I just pop it off the plug and glue it to the scape. Acros can usually be popped of the frag plug easily. The same cannot be said with palys, zoas and entrusting montipora. One thing to remember is that your goal is to reduce as much stress the coral goes through as possible. Also, if you cut it, dip it in Iodine. I think that's what people use. Been awhile since I dragged. A long while lol.

So Zoa's don't come off plugs very easy?

 

[Nick C]

I used the dip that Two Little Fishes makes, Revive is the name. But now I use Bayer Complete Insect Killer.

Haha like... The stuff you buy to spray on your garden?

https://www.amazon.com/Bayer-Advanc...&sr=8-5&keywords=bayer+complete+insect+killer

 

[Instigate]

Haha like... The stuff you buy to spray on your garden?

https://www.amazon.com/Bayer-Advanc...&sr=8-5&keywords=bayer+complete+insect+killer

Lol yep.

So Zoa's don't come off plugs very easy?

Depends on if they're growing on the plug or not. If it's just a small rock glued to a plug it's the same as any coral that hasn't started to encrust onto the plug. But if they're growing on the plug I tend to just cut the plug up.