Frag Plugs Not Ideal For Attaching To LR...How To?

BigEZ77 · 03/26/2016, 08:49 AM

My first three corals were on live rock rubble from my LFS which were very easy to mount onto my LR. I just received an online order of frags which are all on plugs. There's not acceptable holes in the rock where I want to put some of them and I don't want to pull rock out to drill (don't want to mess with my aquascape). Wish they were just flat pieces without the plug that sticks out the bottom. Is there a fairly easy way to break off the end piece without damaging the frags so I would just have the top disc that they sit on remaining? Just the disc would be way easier to glue to my LR. Any other suggestions are also welcome.

Also, I've currently had them on a frag rack in the tank for about a week. Should I leave them there for longer before attached to LR?

Thanks,

Russell

homer1475 · 03/26/2016, 09:11 AM

I use a pair of wire cutters to cut the plug end off, then superglue(loctite super glue gel) the disk to my rocks

nmotz · 03/26/2016, 09:12 AM

What kind of corals? I usually try to scrape SPS off the plug myself, but that's just me. Otherwise I take a hammer and a screwdriver and just chisel off the long part of the plug so that its flat before mounting. That does take some care though.

As long as the corals seem like they are behaving normally it should be ok to mount them. But remember that each position in the tank gets different light and flow so choose your locations carefully based on the type of coral.

BigEZ77 · 03/26/2016, 09:34 AM

Thanks both. They're zoas, palys and shrooms. Think I'll try homer's approach.

homer1475 · 03/26/2016, 10:36 AM

Yeah all my zoas, and palys that came on plugs I treated this way. Now after a couple months growth, I can't even see the disk anymore.

CStrickland · 03/26/2016, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigEZ77

Thanks both. They're zoas, palys and shrooms. Think I'll try homer's approach.

Is it the kind where there's a little hard thing stuck to a big plug? For those I just wiggle a flat screwdriver under the edge of the little hard thing and gently twist. It pops right off the plug. Usually just superglued on. They seem to spread better when there's not a huge cliff to grow over at the edge of the plug and you can place them much easier. Plus I've noticed some frag plugs grow algae well, like they've absorbed phos or something - it's annoying when tufts of gha or bryopsis sprout up and start competing with a new frag.

It's not a bad idea to save plugs for future use though. It's much easier to maneuver and transport tiny bits of coral when they have a handle. I bleach, scrub, dry, and hoard them

Hunter1998 · 03/26/2016, 11:44 AM

I had a local guy hook me up with this, going to be my zoa garden. He made it with Amaco (I believe that's what it's called) he also does domes for single plugs, thought I had a pic on my phone of the island piece but I don't. Here is a picture of the dome though

Hunter1998 · 03/26/2016, 11:47 AM

There is a hole in the center where the plug sits in. I realize this isn't exactly what you were looking for but thought I'd share anyway. I'll post a pic of the zoa island later today if your interested

Hunter1998 · 03/26/2016, 11:49 AM

Here it is had it in my Facebook instant messenger. This was the pic he sent me showing me what it looked like after it was done

Hunter1998 · 03/26/2016, 11:51 AM

Pop the plug out frag it or whatever you decide to do put in new plug and repeat.

tg1966 · 03/26/2016, 03:02 PM

I only use small rock rubble when making frags. Never bought a frag plug. Never will. This hobby would be a much better place if frag plugs were banned from being used/sold. Who wants to glue such an unnatural eye sore to rock work in their tank? If you buy frags on those ugly things you may want to cut the coral off and glue directly to your rock work.

rags111875 · 03/26/2016, 03:38 PM

i ditto the earlier reply.
i use wire cutters. very little effort and it pops off.
I then use crazy glue and epoxy to attach the disc to my rock

brianr24 · 03/26/2016, 04:58 PM

I do exactly what Strickland said. And I agree with TG.

BigEZ77 · 03/26/2016, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter1998

Here it is had it in my Facebook instant messenger. This was the pic he sent me showing me what it looked like after it was done

Very cool idea.

Hunter1998 · 03/26/2016, 09:29 PM

It's in the tank now but this was the only pic I had at the time I posted. I'll be adding my first designer zoas/palys on monday

gone fishin · 03/27/2016, 08:39 AM

FWIW I use my dremel to cut the plug.

BigEZ77 · 03/27/2016, 09:14 AM

I'm gonna use the wire cutter approach. Can I do this in the tank or should I transfer the frag to a different container with tank water and do it in that?

BigEZ77 · 03/27/2016, 12:14 PM

Done, did it in the tank, the end pieces break off super easy with wire cutters. Used Cg Coral Glue...very easy. First time appears to be a success! Thanks for the help.

Laredotx1987 · 03/29/2016, 08:05 AM

Thats the way to go, ill cut the stick part of the frag plug.

Laredotx1987 · 03/29/2016, 08:06 AM

Nice DIY rock , easy to put your new frags

03/26/2016, 08:49 AM	#1
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	Frag Plugs Not Ideal For Attaching To LR...How To? My first three corals were on live rock rubble from my LFS which were very easy to mount onto my LR. I just received an online order of frags which are all on plugs. There's not acceptable holes in the rock where I want to put some of them and I don't want to pull rock out to drill (don't want to mess with my aquascape). Wish they were just flat pieces without the plug that sticks out the bottom. Is there a fairly easy way to break off the end piece without damaging the frags so I would just have the top disc that they sit on remaining? Just the disc would be way easier to glue to my LR. Any other suggestions are also welcome. Also, I've currently had them on a frag rack in the tank for about a week. Should I leave them there for longer before attached to LR? Thanks, Russell

03/26/2016, 09:11 AM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I use a pair of wire cutters to cut the plug end off, then superglue(loctite super glue gel) the disk to my rocks __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

03/26/2016, 09:12 AM	#3
nmotz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: FL, USA Posts: 1,433	What kind of corals? I usually try to scrape SPS off the plug myself, but that's just me. Otherwise I take a hammer and a screwdriver and just chisel off the long part of the plug so that its flat before mounting. That does take some care though. As long as the corals seem like they are behaving normally it should be ok to mount them. But remember that each position in the tank gets different light and flow so choose your locations carefully based on the type of coral. __________________ Mantis shrimp are the best! Current Tank Info: 20L Peacock mantis shrimp tank

03/26/2016, 10:36 AM	#5
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Yeah all my zoas, and palys that came on plugs I treated this way. Now after a couple months growth, I can't even see the disk anymore. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

03/26/2016, 03:38 PM	#12
rags111875 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 454	i ditto the earlier reply. i use wire cutters. very little effort and it pops off. I then use crazy glue and epoxy to attach the disc to my rock __________________ New house, Out of hobby for a few years. Larger tank. Purchasing and Researching...

03/26/2016, 09:34 AM	#4
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	Thanks both. They're zoas, palys and shrooms. Think I'll try homer's approach.

03/26/2016, 11:44 AM	#7
Hunter1998 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 112	I had a local guy hook me up with this, going to be my zoa garden. He made it with Amaco (I believe that's what it's called) he also does domes for single plugs, thought I had a pic on my phone of the island piece but I don't. Here is a picture of the dome though

03/26/2016, 11:47 AM	#8
Hunter1998 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 112	There is a hole in the center where the plug sits in. I realize this isn't exactly what you were looking for but thought I'd share anyway. I'll post a pic of the zoa island later today if your interested

03/26/2016, 11:49 AM	#9
Hunter1998 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 112	Here it is had it in my Facebook instant messenger. This was the pic he sent me showing me what it looked like after it was done

03/26/2016, 11:51 AM	#10
Hunter1998 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 112	Pop the plug out frag it or whatever you decide to do put in new plug and repeat.

03/26/2016, 03:02 PM	#11
tg1966 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 55	I only use small rock rubble when making frags. Never bought a frag plug. Never will. This hobby would be a much better place if frag plugs were banned from being used/sold. Who wants to glue such an unnatural eye sore to rock work in their tank? If you buy frags on those ugly things you may want to cut the coral off and glue directly to your rock work.

03/26/2016, 04:58 PM	#13
brianr24 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: P.A. Posts: 256	I do exactly what Strickland said. And I agree with TG.

03/26/2016, 09:29 PM	#15
Hunter1998 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 112	It's in the tank now but this was the only pic I had at the time I posted. I'll be adding my first designer zoas/palys on monday

03/27/2016, 08:39 AM	#16
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	FWIW I use my dremel to cut the plug. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

03/27/2016, 09:14 AM	#17
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	I'm gonna use the wire cutter approach. Can I do this in the tank or should I transfer the frag to a different container with tank water and do it in that?

03/27/2016, 12:14 PM	#18
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	Done, did it in the tank, the end pieces break off super easy with wire cutters. Used Cg Coral Glue...very easy. First time appears to be a success! Thanks for the help.

03/29/2016, 08:05 AM	#19
Laredotx1987 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Laredo Tx Posts: 54	Thats the way to go, ill cut the stick part of the frag plug.

03/29/2016, 08:06 AM	#20
Laredotx1987 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Laredo Tx Posts: 54	Nice DIY rock , easy to put your new frags