Keep frag plugs?

dib · Jun 5, 2014

Wondering if people normally keep a new frag on the plug or pry them off and put them onto rock. What's the best way

Sacohen · Jun 5, 2014

I think most will pop them off, but If I can get the frag to stay in the rock work with the plug on I will leave it.

Pete polyp · Jun 5, 2014

I think people have noticed faster growth when they remove the plug. Another reason people are cutting them from the plug is so that no eggs from pests will be transferred if they're on the plug

TJ's Reef · Jun 5, 2014

With all the 'Hot Topic' threads out now on pests and what not the consensus seems to be remove coral and dip/QT before placing into your Display Tank and discard the plug. I toss my 'discarded' plugs into a small container of vinegar water to clean/sterilize rinse and dry for reuse. Aesthetically I will always remove most all Corals from plugs before going into DT.

Cheers, Todd

dib · Jun 5, 2014

Pry them off and just super glue them to a piece of rock?

Pete polyp · Jun 5, 2014

dib said:
Pry them off and just super glue them to a piece of rock?

If you can that would work well. Superglue has its issues if you try to do it underwater. If you can remove the rocks for a few minutes it would work much better. Using epoxy underwater will work well too. Just be sure to use the right epoxy, like jb welds water weld

TJ's Reef · Jun 5, 2014

SG Gels work very well under water if you follow some simple guidelines, first having a good clean place in mind on LR by cleaning off area with a dedicated toothbrush (not your's or your wife's/girlfriend's) dab the clean flat end of Coral with a towel (paper or cloth) to dry and place a nice sized bead of gel on end. using wet fingers helps protect the Coral tissue. By hand lightly push on and off a couple/few times while twisting it a bit to transfer some of the glue to LR. Remove Coral from water and place another bead of glue then repeat the process except leaving and holding Coral in place for 10-15 seconds to firmly attach. Tadah !

Cheers, Todd

Pete polyp · Jun 5, 2014

I always make one heck of a mess with Superglue gel when I try to use it underwater. I will have to give that method a try. The problem I have is that it will instantly harden on the outside once it touches water. It makes a Superglue bubble if that makes sense.

skinz78 · Jun 5, 2014

I always remove my frags from the plugs if I can, I think looking at plugs glued or just stuck to LR is kind of an unnatural eye sore.

Pete polyp · Jun 5, 2014

Yep, they're awful ugly

TJ's Reef · Jun 5, 2014

Pete polyp said:
I always make one heck of a mess with Superglue gel when I try to use it underwater. I will have to give that method a try. The problem I have is that it will instantly harden on the outside once it touches water. It makes a Superglue bubble if that makes sense.

Pete, you can use that 'super glue bubble' to your advantage especially for larger pieces needing more glue. By adding a bead then placing into water to react giving you that 'bubble' remove and add another bead on top of the bubble and repeat process until you have a desired amount in total. Then back up to original procedure in mounting, this will allow you to apply fairly large amounts of glue with dripping or running down your fingers or Coral.

Cheers, Todd

Acro · Jun 5, 2014

I let my frags grow over the plug in the frag rack. Once they do I observe them very closely then move them to appropriate places based on their color