POLL - Frag plug or coral on rock?

[Pete_the_Puma]

Hi everyone,

I was curious, with acropora frags specifically:

Do you guys usually glue the frag plug to the rock (cutting off the "stalk" obviously)

or

Do you cut the actual acro off the frag plug and glue it straight to the rocks?

I've seen it done both ways and was wondering if there was a clearly superior method and if so, why? What produces faster encrustation and growth?

It feels like keeping it on the plug might produce faster encrusting of the base as it has usually already started a little... on the other hand if you want to be sure to get rid of any possible AEFW eggs you'd want to cut it all off...

 

[Leishman]

Plug comes off as part of QT. I have had AEFW and do not want them again.

 

[FlyPenFly]

I hate the look of a cut down plug on rock even when it fully encrusts. The base will remain looking so artificial.

 

[mannyhernz]

After its ready for display, i usually frag a nice chunk onto rock and place in the display
.while the plug gets mounter on a tile and gets put into grow out.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

If I can I remove frags from the plug and glje directly to the rock.

 

[Backreefing]

I have gotten acropora so well healed and encrusted that it would be distructive to the acropora to remove it from the plug so I just go with it. And the plug makes them so much easier to handle. Like when new put it low slowly work them up . However a 5-6” grow out rock is cool and best of both ways .

 

[Exotic Coral Collection]

I cut off plug, and use glue and epoxy to mount to rock.