I felt the need to write this as there are stickies for proper acclimation on fish and inverts but not much detail on corals. So I provide this, along with maintaining a proper chemistry in the reef.
I hope my years' worth of knowledge are good enough to put newbies in right direction.
If there are any flaws in this write up please notify so it can be corrected.
First thing to remember is: acclimation should never be rushed. Patience is very important in this hobby.
Also some people like to QT their new corals. Some don't.
I personally don't qt. I use a coral dip and move them to the display tank.
There are 3 different methods I've seen in my many years of reef history. i will explain both, thus helping new people to choose the way they like.
FLOATING METHOD
Turn off aquarium lights.
Never open the box in bright light - this can cause stress or trauma.
Float the sealed bag in the aquarium or sump for 15-30 minutes
Don't open the shipping bag at this time. This will allow the water in the shipping bag to adjust slowly to the temperature in the aquarium, while maintaining a high level of dissolved oxygen.
After floating the sealed bag for 15-30 minutes, cut open the bag and roll the top edge of the bag down one inch 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, so in this instance, place the bag containing the coral in a floating plastic bowl or specimen container.
Add 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag.
Repeat this step every four minutes until the shipping bag is full.
Lift the shipping bag from the aquarium and discard half the water from the bag. Float the shipping bag in the aquarium again and proceed to add 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag every four minutes until the bag is full.
Remove the filled shipping bag from the aquarium and discard the water. Never release shipping water directly into the aquarium.
Place the coral on the bottom of the tank while keeping the lights off for the day. Give corals at least 12 hrs before turning lights back on.
DRIP METHOD
this is a more common method people use.
Turn the lights in you tank off.
Always start with floating your purchase for 15-30 min in the sump or aquarium to bring temperature equal to your tank water.
Then cut open the bag and remove as much water that lets the coral just remain barely submerged. Take airline tubing with a ball valve and start a siphon from your main display tank. Let it drip into the bag at the rate of 2-4 drips per second. When the water volume in the bag/bucket doubles, discard half and begin the drip again until the volume doubles once more – about one hour.
After this coral can be transferred to the main tank.
Again place the coral on the bottom of the tank while keeping the lights off for the day. Give corals at least 12 hrs before turning lights back on.
CORAL DIP METHOD
Lots of people (including me) are beginning to adopt this method.
I use CoralRx---so i can explain its method.
Turn the lights in the tank off.
Start off with floating the bag in your sump or aquarium for 15-30 min to bring temperature equal.
Once the temperature is matched then prepare a bucket with 1 gal of your tank water mixed with 20ml or 4 caps full.
Mix it well.
Using a small power head, keep the water moving and place coral in the coral dip. If you do not have a power head, gently shake coral in the coral dip. Keep coral in the coral dip for 5 – 10 minutes. After 5 – 10 minutes, remove coral and discard the coral dip. Do not reuse the coral dip as dead parasites may release toxins.
Rinse coral with clean saltwater and transfer to aquarium. Do not add Coral Rx directly into aquarium.
Place the coral on the bottom of the tank while keeping the lights off for the day. Give corals at least 12 hrs before turning lights back on.
I hope my years' worth of knowledge are good enough to put newbies in right direction.
If there are any flaws in this write up please notify so it can be corrected.
First thing to remember is: acclimation should never be rushed. Patience is very important in this hobby.
Also some people like to QT their new corals. Some don't.
I personally don't qt. I use a coral dip and move them to the display tank.
There are 3 different methods I've seen in my many years of reef history. i will explain both, thus helping new people to choose the way they like.
FLOATING METHOD
Turn off aquarium lights.
Never open the box in bright light - this can cause stress or trauma.
Float the sealed bag in the aquarium or sump for 15-30 minutes
Don't open the shipping bag at this time. This will allow the water in the shipping bag to adjust slowly to the temperature in the aquarium, while maintaining a high level of dissolved oxygen.
After floating the sealed bag for 15-30 minutes, cut open the bag and roll the top edge of the bag down one inch 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, so in this instance, place the bag containing the coral in a floating plastic bowl or specimen container.
Add 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag.
Repeat this step every four minutes until the shipping bag is full.
Lift the shipping bag from the aquarium and discard half the water from the bag. Float the shipping bag in the aquarium again and proceed to add 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag every four minutes until the bag is full.
Remove the filled shipping bag from the aquarium and discard the water. Never release shipping water directly into the aquarium.
Place the coral on the bottom of the tank while keeping the lights off for the day. Give corals at least 12 hrs before turning lights back on.
DRIP METHOD
this is a more common method people use.
Turn the lights in you tank off.
Always start with floating your purchase for 15-30 min in the sump or aquarium to bring temperature equal to your tank water.
Then cut open the bag and remove as much water that lets the coral just remain barely submerged. Take airline tubing with a ball valve and start a siphon from your main display tank. Let it drip into the bag at the rate of 2-4 drips per second. When the water volume in the bag/bucket doubles, discard half and begin the drip again until the volume doubles once more – about one hour.
After this coral can be transferred to the main tank.
Again place the coral on the bottom of the tank while keeping the lights off for the day. Give corals at least 12 hrs before turning lights back on.
CORAL DIP METHOD
Lots of people (including me) are beginning to adopt this method.
I use CoralRx---so i can explain its method.
Turn the lights in the tank off.
Start off with floating the bag in your sump or aquarium for 15-30 min to bring temperature equal.
Once the temperature is matched then prepare a bucket with 1 gal of your tank water mixed with 20ml or 4 caps full.
Mix it well.
Using a small power head, keep the water moving and place coral in the coral dip. If you do not have a power head, gently shake coral in the coral dip. Keep coral in the coral dip for 5 – 10 minutes. After 5 – 10 minutes, remove coral and discard the coral dip. Do not reuse the coral dip as dead parasites may release toxins.
Rinse coral with clean saltwater and transfer to aquarium. Do not add Coral Rx directly into aquarium.
Place the coral on the bottom of the tank while keeping the lights off for the day. Give corals at least 12 hrs before turning lights back on.
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