Acclimation Guide

Proper acclimation of new arrivals is crucial for a healthy aquarium. The water they’re packed in differs from your aquarium’s water. Creatures from vast oceans find this change stressful. Temperature, pH, salinity, and other parameters are essential for acclimation. Fish and invertebrates, particularly corals, are sensitive to minor changes in these factors. Gradual adjustments over time ensure successful relocation. The process described below is vital for our livestock guarantee, promising the best prospects for your new aquaria’s longevity and health

Recommended Acclimation Methods

We recommend either of the two acclimation methods explained below, and wish to remind you the acclimation process should never be rushed. Also, remember to keep your aquarium lights off for at least four hours after the specimens are introduced into the aquarium to help them further adjust.

Though not a requirement of our acclimation procedures, we highly recommend that all aquatic life be quarantined in a separate aquarium for a period of two weeks to reduce the possibility of introducing diseases and parasites into your aquarium and to ensure they are accepting food, eating properly, and are in optimum health before their final transition to your main display.

Quarantine Tanks: We highly recommend their use to reduce the possibility of introducing disease and parasites into your aquarium.

Acclimation Guide for Aquariums

Tools Needed:

• Drip Line/ Acclimation Kit
• Stress Guard
• Acclimation steps
• Sterile Container
• Additional water (salt or fresh)
• Scissors/ knife – to open bags

The Float Method & Drip Method. The Drip Method is considered the best for sensitive animals and that is why we recommend this exclusively. We are committed to the health of your animal and have included this guide to help you to do this. Please be present during acclimation to avoid spillage.

Floating Method

1. Turn off aquarium lights.
2. Dim the lights in the room where the bag or box will be opened. Never open the box in bright light – severe stress or trauma may result from sudden exposure to bright light.
3. Float the sealed bag in the aquarium for 15 minutes. Never open the shipping bag at this time. This step allows the water in the shipping bag to adjust slowly to the temperature in the aquarium while maintaining a high level of dissolved oxygen.
4. After floating the sealed shipping bag for 15 minutes, cut open the bag just under the elastic band and roll the top edge of the bag down 25mm to create an air pocket within the lip of the bag. This will enable the bag to float on the surface of the water. For heavy pieces of live coral that will submerge the shipping bag, place the bag containing the coral in a plastic bowl or specimen container.
5. Add 100ml of aquarium water to the shipping bag.
6. Repeat step 5 every four minutes until the shipping bag is at least double the volume of water.
7. Lift the shipping bag from the aquarium and discard half the water from the bag.
8. Float the shipping bag in the aquarium again and proceed to add 100ml of aquarium water to the shipping bag every four minutes until you have at least doubled the volume of water in the bag.
9. Use a net to remove aquatic life from the shipping bag and release it into the aquarium.
10. Remove the filled shipping bag from the aquarium and discard the water. Never release shipping water directly into your aquarium.

Drip Method (this is what we recommend for all our zooplankton)

Introduction to the Drip Method

This method is considered more advanced. It is geared toward sensitive inhabitants such as corals, shrimp, sea stars, and wrasses. You will need airline tubing and must be willing to monitor the entire process. Gather a clean, 10 or 20L bucket designated for aquarium use only. If acclimating both fish and invertebrates, use a separate bucket for each.

Initiating the Acclimation Process

1. Start with Steps 1-3 of the floating method to acclimate water temperature.
2. Carefully empty the contents of the bags (including the water) into the buckets, making sure not to expose sensitive invertebrates to the air. Depending on the amount of water in each bag, this may require tilting the bucket at a 45-degree angle to make sure the animals are fully submerged. You may need a prop or wedge to help hold the bucket in this position until there is enough liquid in the bucket to put it back to a level position.
3. Using airline tubing set up and run a siphon drip line from the main aquarium to each bucket. You’ll need separate airline tubing for each bucket used. Use a plastic or other non-metal airline control valve, to regulate flow from the aquarium. It is also a good idea to secure the airline tubing in place. The Aquatic Live Food Acclimation Kit is a convenient alternative that simplifies the drip acclimation process.
4. Begin a siphon by sucking on the end of the airline tubing you’ll be placing into each of the buckets. When water begins flowing through the tubing, adjust the drip (by tightening one of the knots or adjusting the control valve) to a rate of about 2-4 drips per second.
5. When the water volume in the bucket doubles, discard half and begin the drip again until the volume doubles once more – about one hour.
6. Once acclimated, you can introduce the specimens to the aquarium. Remember, sponges, clams, and gorgonias mustn’t be exposed to air. Using the specimen bag, gently scoop them from the drip bucket, ensuring they remain submerged. Immerse the bag in the aquarium, then delicately remove the specimen. Seal the bag underwater by twisting its opening before taking it out. Dispose of the bag and its water. A minuscule amount of diluted water might enter the aquarium, but that’s fine. Lastly, for live coral, avoid touching their “fleshy” parts to prevent harm.

Crucial Note on Specific Gravity

NOTE: Most invertebrates and marine plants are more sensitive than fish to changes in specific gravity. It is imperative to acclimate invertebrates to a specific gravity of 1.023-1.025 or severe stress or trauma may result. Test specific gravity with a hydrometer or refractometers.

Important Facts

Patience is Key

• Be patient – never rush the acclimation procedure. The total acclimation time for your new arrival should take no longer than one hour.

Critical Precautions

• Always follow the acclimation procedure even if your new arrival appears to be dead. Some fish and invertebrates can appear as though they are dead when they arrive and will usually revive when the above procedure is followed correctly.
• Never place an air stone into the shipping bag when acclimating your new arrival. This will increase the pH of the shipping water too quickly and expose your new arrival to lethal ammonia.
• Keep aquarium lights off for at least four hours after the new arrival is introduced into the aquarium. Most invertebrates and marine plants are more sensitive than fish to salinity changes

Special Considerations for Marine Life

• Sponges, clams, scallops, and gorgonians should never be directly exposed to air. Follow the acclimation procedure, but instead of netting the specimen out of the shipping bag, submerge the bag underwater in the aquarium and remove the marine life from the bag. Seal off the shipping bag underwater by twisting the opening, and remove it from the aquarium. Discard both the shipping bag and the enclosed water. A tiny amount of the diluted shipping water will escape into the aquarium. Don’t be alarmed; this will have no adverse effect on the tank inhabitants.
• In some instances, your new tank mate will be chased and harassed by one or all of your existing tank mates.

Solutions for Tank Aggression

• • Solution 1:A plastic spaghetti strainer (found at your local discount store) can be used to contain a tank bully within the aquarium for several hours until the new arrival adjusts to its surroundings. Just float the perforated plastic basket in the aquarium. Net the tank bully and place in the floating basket for approximately four hours while the new arrival adjusts to your aquarium. Never place the new arrival in this basket; the new specimen must get familiar with your aquarium. By placing the tank bully in a perforated basket, you’ll reduce the stress on your newest tank mate.
  • Solution 2: A perforated plastic lighting grid can be purchased at your local hardware store to cut down the width of your aquarium. This grid may be used to section off a small portion of the aquarium to separate territorial or aggressive fish from the newest tank mate. After the new addition adjusts to the unfamiliar environment, the divider can be removed.

Handling Live Corals

• Some live corals produce excess slime when shipped. After the acclimation procedure is followed, hold the coral by the rock or skeletal base and gently shake the coral in the shipping bag before placing into the aquarium. To avoid damage, please remember never to touch the “fleshy” part of a live coral. Many species of coral will not open for several days after introduction into their new home. Please allow several days for the coral to adapt to the new conditions in the aquarium.