Atoll Vanadium Frag Plugs for Reef Aquariums

Slow-Release Vanadium. No Daily Dosing.

Atoll Vanadium Frag Plugs are a slow-release source of vanadium designed specifically for reef aquariums. They gradually release vanadium into the aquarium, helping maintain our target concentration of 8–10 ppb without daily liquid dosing.

Why Vanadium?

Vanadium is a naturally occurring trace element found at approximately 2 ppb in natural seawater. Although relatively little vanadium is incorporated into the coral skeleton, much higher concentrations have been measured within living coral tissue and its symbiotic algae.

Atoll targets moderately elevated vanadium levels of 8–10 ppb, which we have found supports fuller expansion and a healthy appearance in LPS corals.

In the aquarium, vanadium is found in detritus. This may help explain why LPS corals can develop exceptional expansion in mature, nutrient-rich reef aquariums. Atoll Vanadium Frag Plugs provide another approach: maintain available vanadium while keeping nutrients and detritus under control.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should vanadium be in a reef tank?

Natural seawater contains approximately 2 ppb vanadium. Atoll recommends maintaining approximately 8–10 ppb when using Atoll Vanadium Frag Plugs.

What does vanadium do for corals?

Vanadium is accumulated within living coral tissue and symbiotic algae and is believed to be involved in biological processes. Its exact role in coral or zooxanthellae (the algae inside your coral) is not fully understood. In our reef systems, we have observed improved LPS expansion when maintaining elevated vanadium.

Does vanadium increase LPS coral expansion?

Atoll has observed fuller, more “puffy” LPS expansion when maintaining vanadium at approximately 8–10 ppb. The most noticeable difference can be seen in Acans. In a low-vanadium environment, Acans often remain tighter to the skeleton, whereas at higher vanadium levels, they can expand significantly larger.

How do I dose vanadium in a reef aquarium?

Add 1 Atoll Vanadium Frag Plug per gallon of aquarium water. The plugs gradually release vanadium and should be replaced approximately every three months.

Do I need to test vanadium?

While not required, we recommend periodically measuring vanadium using ICP-MS testing, particularly when first establishing the appropriate number of plugs for your aquarium. In our coral culture systems, we have maintained vanadium as high as 35 ppb without observing any negative effects.

Can I use the plugs for coral frags?

Yes. Atoll Vanadium Frag Plugs are designed for both maintaining vanadium and fragging, so corals can be mounted directly to the plugs while they gradually release vanadium into the aquarium.

We recommend soaking the plugs before using them for fragging. When a dry frag plug is glued and immediately placed underwater, tiny air bubbles can escape from the porous plug and push uncured super glue toward the coral. This can potentially damage a fresh frag, particularly SPS.

Pre-soaking the plugs in your sump also allows a biofilm to develop, which may help reduce algae growth when the plugs are later moved to your frag rack. When you're ready to use one, simply dry the top of the plug with a towel before applying super glue.

In our heavily stocked coral propagation systems, where Atoll Vanadium Frag Plugs are used extensively, we have observed vanadium levels stabilize around 25–35 ppb without apparent negative effects. Our recommended target for typical home reef aquariums remains 8–10 ppb.