To deplug or not?

[Eienna]

I'm really thinking my leptastrea frag would grow out best off its plug, but I'm scared to try taking it off. It's healthy now and I REALLY don't want to kill it. What happens if the frag breaks into pieces? Will the pieces be okay?

 

[Eienna]

Uhhhh...anyone else?

 

[Rookie J]

I pull all my plugs. If the coral has started to grow around it I clip off the stem with cutters. Pieces of a plug should be fine. A lot of them are pressed sand.

 

[Velodog2]

Same. If it has encrusted and some of it stays on the plug I put the plug in the back of the tank and regrow the frag. I HATE ORA plugs! Except that maybe sometimes encrusted corals don't stick to them as well. But they are nearly un-cuttable except with power tools!

 

[Eienna]

I pull all my plugs. If the coral has started to grow around it I clip off the stem with cutters. Pieces of a plug should be fine. A lot of them are pressed sand.

I meant if the frag itself breaks up...

 

[ReefRMadness]

If the frag breaks then glue a piece to ur rock and put the other piece on plugs for resale. Itll be fine. Itll be like fragging it on accident if it breaks

 

[mfinn]

I use a sharp wooden handled wood chisel to remove corals off frag plugs. 1-1/2 wide and a wood handle enables you to get the direction of the blade in a postion that it just pops the coral off the plug.

 

[Eienna]

Okay...I'm super-nervous about whether it'll be okay, but the deed is done. The leptastrea is now off the plug and glued onto the rock. I'll drop in some updates over time.

 

[k2parkstar]

Okay...I'm super-nervous about whether it'll be okay, but the deed is done. The leptastrea is now off the plug and glued onto the rock. I'll drop in some updates over time.

Everyone has told you it's fine. Corals are tougher than newbies realize. They are pulled from the ocean, shipped around the world, cut into pieces, glued to plugs, shipped more, dipped in chemicals(bayer, revive, coral rx)...you get the point, your coral will be fine off the plug, after all they don't grow on plugs in the ocean

 

[Eienna]

Everyone has told you it's fine. Corals are tougher than newbies realize. They are pulled from the ocean, shipped around the world, cut into pieces, glued to plugs, shipped more, dipped in chemicals(bayer, revive, coral rx)...you get the point, your coral will be fine off the plug, after all they don't grow on plugs in the ocean

True...I'm just afraid of having damaged it in the process...especially since it flew a couple feet and landed on the tank canopy. XD

 

[mfinn]

True...I'm just afraid of having damaged it in the process...especially since it flew a couple feet and landed on the tank canopy. XD

lol
I have done that several times.
Talk about panic.

 

[Eienna]

lol
I have done that several times.
Talk about panic.

Well, it appears to be fine and dandy. Opened this morning as usual and devoured some bloodworms. ♡

 

[Eienna]

It's not at full extension just now because it's still digesting a nice meal of bloodworms. ♡

I like first time experiences where nothing dies XD

 

[k2parkstar]

I was once unpacking some frags at the kitchen sink and dropped a frag of ppe cyphastrea down the disposal. I fished it out, it had dish soap on it, I rinsed it with some salt water, dipped it and put in my tank, and it was fine. That experience about 2 years ago let me know that coral is much hardier then we think....for the most part

 

[Eienna]

I was once unpacking some frags at the kitchen sink and dropped a frag of ppe cyphastrea down the disposal. I fished it out, it had dish soap on it, I rinsed it with some salt water, dipped it and put in my tank, and it was fine. That experience about 2 years ago let me know that coral is much hardier then we think....for the most part

Wow XD