Why do you have a tank full of plugs

[Rob&Gab]

All my encrusted SPS get cut at the base anyway and I throw the encrusted part in the trash. To many pests hide at the base. I would rather wait the 3 weeks for it to encrust again then to chance it

Duke do they really? i am starting to get into SPS for a while now i never knew that i thought a good inspection and dipping will remove them can they live under the base aswell? or no like if there is a little gap between the plug and the base of the SPS

 

[duke62]

Rob the base is ground zero for pests and the eggs. They will lay their eggs under the coral at the base and you wont even see them on inspection. Learned the hard way last year. Cut off the coral and throw the base away. It will grow back in no time. Not worth it. Dipping only does so much

 

[Rob&Gab]

i never really knew that. i mean i herd you say that before in a different thread. But why the base? how do you no its not on the middle or top of the coral or under branches?

 

[duke62]

I even cut 1/4 inch of a frag that isnt encrusted no matter how big it is. If it survives great if not oh well. I never use the person frag plug. I attach it to a newe plug

 

[duke62]

AEFW wont lays eggs on the skin of a acro. The eggs cant attach. It need to be on a bare spot or on the plug. They will crawl under the base and lay them inside. Its easy to spot a egg cluster on the branches of the acropora by just looking for a bare part of the coral

 

[Rob&Gab]

Oh wow. is there a certant ammount you should take off from the base?

 

[duke62]

I cut it 1/4 of an inch from the base then dip and then QT and dip once a week for a month to 6 weeks if I feel it has a pest

 

[Rob&Gab]

wont that stress them too much with all that dipping? or do you use some type of dipp?

 

[duke62]

Havent lost a coral yet. They lose their color but it comes back in a few week. Dont matter as long as your tank is stable and po4 and no3 is low

 

[Geraud]

Great tip Duke. Indeed encrusting will be the first thing they do anyway!

 

[SI-Reef]

I have to say I'm new in the hobby and was not sure how to remove them of the plug.
afraid I may damage the coral

 

[basiab]

Thanks for all the info.

 

[Ariel110G]

I don?t like the plug look, what I don?t mind is to start with small frags but not on a plug, on a small piece of live rock, and then just let it grow and spared, but I?ll buy sometimes a nice size of colonies as well.

 

[Geraud]

I have to say I'm new in the hobby and was not sure how to remove them of the plug.
afraid I may damage the coral

If you can find a reefer close to you they can show you how to do it, otherwise there are videos around.... and of course the demonstrations at the Frag Swap!