Removing the frag plug plus ID

[Shilpan]

Hey guys! I'm back and I was happy to find all my fish alive on my return haha my family took care of my tank well.

So I recently bought some soft coral frags off a fellow reefer. Could anyone identify this one?

And secondly, do you guys remove frag plugs immediately? Can I and how do I do this? Or do I need to wait till this coral is bigger before doing that? The frag is glued on and I don't like the look of the plug haha

 

[jay0705]

Excellent to see you back. Secondly no idea lol. I always thought they left the coral on it and let it grow over and cover the plug

 

[lmforbis]

Tank is looking good.

I agree the frag plugs are not very good looking. I haven't been removing them in mt tank. My hope is the coral will over grow it and it eventually visually disappear. I have occasionally gotten frags that have come off the plug in the shipping process or I have accidentally knocked them off then I just glue them to the rock.
I think I'd wait to remove the plug until I was sure the coral liked its spot. Much easier to move it if it is on a plug than if it is glued directly to the rock.

 

[one-fish]

Welcome home mate....I was hoping all was well when you returned.

 

[Shilpan]

Hello everyone! I hope you guys are all well

Ahh ok I see, I guess I'll be patient and see if it overgrows, if it doesn't then at least it'll be larger and safer to remove off the plug.

Thanks guys! Haha actually it's funny I got coral growth and mushrooms reproducing while I was gone but not while I'm here. And I realized that's because I always have my hands in the tank and move things around too much so the corals never settle

 

[Shilpan]

Hey One-Fish!

Yeah only thing was a snail died (shell hidden in the rocks) and there was something mild cyano bloom. But I siphoned it up and it never came back thankfully.

My CB shrimp is massive now haha

How is your tank?

 

[lmforbis]

He probably ate the snail.

 

[2quills]

I usually leave them on the plug to make sure I'm happy with the placement. Eventually it will over grow the plug and or the plug will develop some color to it and not be so noticeable.

 

[florida joe]

Without a clear picture that coral could be one of many types of tree coral or even a Gorgonians. As for removing the plug, that depends on how adventurous you are. This is one method I have used. Remove the coral to a small shallow container. Position the coral so that just the plug is out of the water. Us a dermal tool and cutting wheel and remove four sections of plug around where it is attached leaving only the small attached area attached

 

[Shilpan]

Hey 2quills you changed your profile picture!

Thanks Joe, I think I might wait I
To see if it grows over and if it doesn't I'll try your technique

 

[2quills]

To me it looks like your quintessential finger leather coral. Or at least that's what I always refer to them as.

I've said the same thing after the last two times I went out of town and came back. Looks like stuff is growing faster simply cause you aren't seeing it every day lol.

 

[one-fish]

Hey One-Fish!

Yeah only thing was a snail died (shell hidden in the rocks) and there was something mild cyano bloom. But I siphoned it up and it never came back thankfully.

My CB shrimp is massive now haha

How is your tank?

Hey sorry had one of those days..Tank is doing well I think it's starting to balance out Chaeto is growing well phosphates are down no GHA all good improvements since we talked last...Very Pleased in fact have ordered a red banded goby and red pistol shrimp from my LFS waiting for them now. Glad everything work out for ya.. hell I think I've lost a couple snails due to the hermits

 

[Shilpan]

Good to hear you sorted that out one fish!