Here are some easy acclimation procedures for newly arrived saltwater fish. To
reduce any additional stress on your saltwater fish you should turn off all the
lights on the tank before introducing the new fish. The following quick
steps need to be followed and completed within one hour of delivery..
1. Float the
unopened bag in the display or quarantine tank for fifteen minutes to
equalize the water temperature in the shipping bag.
2. Open the bag
by cutting it just below the metal staple and add one cup of aquarium
water into the shipping bag.
3. Wait five
minutes before you add another cup of aquarium water. Repeat these
steps every five minutes until the shipping bag in filled.
4. Remove half
of the water in the shipping bag into a waste container. Add another
cup of aquarium water and wait five minutes before you add another cup.
5. When the
shipping bag becomes filled the second time, you can then safely net the
fish and place it into your tank.
6. Discard both the shipping water and the water in the waste container.
7. Leave the fish with the lights off for the rest of the day to
allow it to settle into its new environment.
Acclimating New Clams or Corals
To reduce any additional stress on your newly arrived clams, invertebrates and live corals you should
turn off all the lights on the tank so animals can slowly acclimate to your lighting environment. Light acclimation is a very important
part of acclimating any new coral or clam. We recommend that you place
the coral or clam in the bottom part of the tank (be careful that the
new invert. doesn't become covered with sand) and over the next two
weeks slowly acclimate it to your lighting by gradually moving the animal into its final position in the aquarium. You can follow the same
acclimation procedures above or use the following drip method. Some
corals may slime during shipping which is natural part of there
reaction to shipping or acclimation. The following easy steps need to be followed and completed
within one hour.
1. Float the
unopened bag in the display or quarantine tank for a fifteen minutes to
equalize the water temperature in the shipping bag.
2. Open the bag by cutting a small hole in it just below the metal staple.
3. Take an
airline hose and attach a airline control valve at one end. Place the
other end in the display or quarantine tank
and adjust the valve so you get one drop per three seconds.
4. When
the bag is filled you should close the valve, remove the hose from the
shipping container and discard half of the water in a waste container.
5. Place
the airline hose back in the bag and continue to drip the aquarium
water into the bag.
6. When
the bag is filled you can then discard both the shipping water and the
water in the waste container.
7. Place the coral in the lower part of the tank and leave the
lights off for at least three hours.
