Pros vs Cons: Frag Plugs vs Rubble Rock

revhtree · Jun 12, 2012

Frag plugs are the greatest invention known to the reefing man! Well maybe not but they are pretty cool. :) As cool and handy as they are there are many people who still prefer to use rubble rock to mount coral frags too. There are several pros and cons to using each of these methods and I would like to hear what you believe they are!

Please share your opinion and photos if you have any! ;)

SteezySPS · Jun 12, 2012

I prefer frag plugs on rubble rock. it will cover the frag plug and will be easier to remove.

revhtree · Jun 12, 2012

Why not just place the frag on the rubble rock and no plug?

I use frag plugs and love them. Just wondering.

WesF · Jun 12, 2012

Rubble rock never stays put in the frag tank.

JSemour · Jun 13, 2012

I make my own frag plugs.

In my opinion, they have the best of both worlds. Being textured, very little glue is needed to create a firm connection. The small ones are made by using 3/8" pvc. The cut edges of the pvc must be rounded, or you will never get the plugs out. I've thought about making a silicone mold to make removal easier, I just haven't gotten around to it. In a short amount of time they are practically invisible. The bigger ones are made using mini-cupcake tins, using a dryer mixture so they blend in with the rock easily. This also makes them fall out of the tins easier. I use these ones for large frags, growing of mini-colonies, and things like gorgonians that are easily blown around on smaller plugs.

Here's some pics of them in use.

And some pics showing them completely encrusted over, hidden forever. Every coral in the next two pics was mounted on one of my plugs. Can you see them?

My customers really seem to like the bigger plugs, they always sell out first, regardless of frag size.

All Delight · Jun 13, 2012

I hate frag plugs in my display, it gets under my skin. I even hate buying frags that are mounted to frag plugs. I always hope it was recently mounted so I can remove it easily.

I like frag rocks for the more natural look. And I glue them to my rockscape.

Thales · Jun 13, 2012

I glue rubble to frag plugs. Stay in place better in the frag system, pop em off the plugs when moving into a display.

_sludgefactory · Jun 13, 2012

I usually do plugs or just glue the frags right to the rock. For a while i was making little sockets on my rock out of epoxy that way i could move the plugs around as i pleased. As far as lps i usually like them on plugs so I can build up around the plug with epoxy so it grows over the plug faster and even.

Tank thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81000

LG P999 EaglesBlood 2.8, Trinity ELPmax

mainereefer · Jun 13, 2012

I like the eshopes frag plugs. after the frag grows it comes off the plug super easy and can be sold without a plug or when someone buys a frag they can pop it off the plug to mount in their tank

WesF · Jun 13, 2012

I dont understand why people dislike drag plugs so much.

I just cut the stem off and glue the disc down to a rock. After a while the frag disk is completely covered by the coral and you can't even tell that it ever existed.

FaviaFreak · Jun 13, 2012

frag plugs= great for eggcrate and frag holders

rubble rock= great to blend into an existing reef, more natural

Reefing8EZ · Jun 13, 2012

WesF said:
I dont understand why people dislike drag plugs so much.

I just cut the stem off and glue the disc down to a rock. After a while the frag disk is completely covered by the coral and you can't even tell that it ever existed.

+1, me too..

cdness · Jun 13, 2012

I actually drilled my rock for the plugs so they are easier to move when I need to. I also use plugs for frags I sell as they are a heck of a lot easier to keep in place than the rubble frags. However, where I don't have rocks drilled for the plugs, I surely prefer rubble rock. But it isn't hard to pop off the stem and find a rubble piece to blend it in with if needed.