Ugly Frag plugs

[TonapahNorth]

I don't like the way the frag plugs look in the tank. Big round mushrooms sticking up off my rocks. :squigglemouth:

Are there alternatives?

I'm thinking of cutting them from the plug and gluing them on my liverock. Any thoughts on this? Pros and cons?

I'm new to the hobby.

Thanks for the info.

Tona

 

[jgraz]

I cut all plugs off. Whether encrusted or not. Less chance of getting unwanted visitors.

 

[clownfitch]

For sps I take the frag off of the plug and adhere it to a piece of rubble or directly to the rock work. If the coral is attached to a small piece of rubble which is in turn glued to a plug I break it off the plug and adhere it to a piece of rubble or directly to the rock work. I don't remove softies if they have grown directly to the plug. In that case I just wait it out and watch them over grow the plug. Just my two cents. Either way make sure you dip your new coral before putting it in your tank.

 

[TonapahNorth]

Thanks


Tona

When all is said and done, there is too much said than done. - Grandpa

Tonapah's-IM38-build https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135783

 

[3Twinklets]

I take a pair of bolt cutters and cut off pieces I don't want.

 

[glb]

I pop corals off the plugs easily by putting a knife between the glue and the plug. Works every time and never hurts the coral.

 

[TJ's Reef]

Yes, one of my biggest pet peeves in our hobby is looking at a beautiful Reeftank..... then seeing all those ugly plugs. I personally remove all coral frags from plugs and when I make frags use 1x1" tumbled travertine mosaic tiles (144 for around $6-8) These are very easy to cut with nippers and glue directly to LR.

Cheers, Todd

 

[kuyatwo]

I drill my rock and use thrive frag plugs

 

[Fin]

I too always cut my SPS frags off of the plugs. I refuse to have them in my tank. If the frag has encrusted, I cut it off as close as I can to the base and put the remaining part of the frag in my frag rack. It seems to me that the encrusted plug grows even faster, since it has already encrusted. Then you have a free frag to trade later down the road. I glue the cut frag directly to the reef structure, or to a large piece of rubble rock and then place it in a secure location.

I have seen those Thrive plugs on the internet and I would probably be willing to drill and install as shown above.

 

[TonapahNorth]

Great info for us noobs. Thanks for sharing.

I'll have to get better at it. I cut a chalice off the plug by putting a knife between the glue and the plug. It popped off fine but my glue job didn't hold well and the chalice has ended upside down in the sand two nights in a row. I'll get better. I felt like I used a ton of gel super glue. Maybe if I glue to a better looking frag, I'll be happier.

As for drilling, do you drill while your rock is in the tank?

As for placement of chalices, do they need to be horizontal to the bottom of the tank or can they be angled along the rock structure?


Tona

When all is said and done, there is too much said than done. - Grandpa

Tonapah's-IM38-build https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135783

 

[Reefcreators]

What if your frags came on plugs with color in the crown say purple to match the coralline algae in your tank?

 

[ohio reefer]

What if your frags came on plugs with color in the crown say purple to match the coralline algae in your tank?

My lfs only sells purple frag plugs. Looks just like my coralline.

 

[JMSKI333]

I used to hate the plugs, but after a few months the plug is either covered with coralline or encrusted by the coral. You'll never know they were there after awhile.

 

[Waterchange]

Same as above....I pop everything off. I use a razor blade

 

[Eienna]

You guys should have seen the first time I popped a coral off the plug! It went flying and landed on the tank lid XD I can laugh about it now because it was apparently unscathed by the experience.

 

[Waterchange]

I wish more ppl would just glue onto a piece of rock rather than a plug

 

[Eienna]

I wish more ppl would just glue onto a piece of rock rather than a plug

Most people would take them off the rock anyway - it's a great hiding place for pests.