Acclimation of new Corals and water parameters

[Spyderturbo007]

Just a quick clarification. If I follow the Floating Method of acclimation you have listed, do I finish the acclimation process and then perform the dip in CoralRx? Or do I just match temperature, mix up the CoralRx with my tank water and throw in the coral? I just want to make sure before I do something stupid.

Does this method depend on the salinity of the LFS? I know they run their fish tanks at 1.020, but haven't bought any coral from them so I'm not sure what they use in that case.

 

[Dr. Reef]

Just a quick clarification. If I follow the Floating Method of acclimation you have listed, do I finish the acclimation process and then perform the dip in CoralRx? Or do I just match temperature, mix up the CoralRx with my tank water and throw in the coral? I just want to make sure before I do something stupid.

Does this method depend on the salinity of the LFS? I know they run their fish tanks at 1.020, but haven't bought any coral from them so I'm not sure what they use in that case.

i would just float the coral bags in ur sump or main tank for 15-30 min to bring temps equal. then take a bucket with ur tank water mix it with coralrx and put the corals in it for advised time according to the dip manufacturer. after dip give them a bath in regular tank water without coralrx. then straight to tank on the lower end with medium flow medium light.
This will all change if salinity is too far apart from ur tank to shippers.
if salinity difference is more than 0.003 then do a short drip method(30 min) before dip.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

Thanks bnumair. I checked the stores salinity and they had it at 1.025 which is where I keep my tank. I floated the bag for awhile, and then did the recommended 5 minute dip in CoralRx. It did begin to get covered in what looked like slime but after about 2 hours in the tank that went away.

It looked pretty good last night and had started to open up a little by the time I went to bed. Lets just say it looked a lot better than it did when I pulled it out of the dip. I cut back the lights to only two of the T5's for today and will add the other two in the next few days.

 

[Dr. Reef]

slime is common in corals when stressed or dipped. it should go away soon after.. but i strongly recommend everyone to dip their corals.
good luck and happy reefing.

 

[AC2020x]

Hey,

I have two questions about this.

1. With Coral RX, you said yes to all corals, no to anemones. What about clams?

2. I was wondering if you could explain or have a link that explains why and how ammonia begins to build and what happens to PH once you open a bag and it comes it contact Iwith fresh air. I believe I've heard things along the line of raising ammonia when the water hits fresh air. I've also heard it can help to dissolve some oxygen into the water?
If you could help explain this that would be great.

Thanks,
-AC

 

[greech]

Because the bag is sealed (gas exchange is limited to the air space in the bag) pH is going to be lower which results in ammonia being present in the shipping bag as harmless ammonium. Once the bag is opened, fresh air is introduced causing the pH to raise and ammonium becomes ammonia (toxic).

Great thread! I would add that once temperature acclimation is completed, the actual time required to match the bag water to your tank water is pretty much dependent on SG being matched. I have received many corals that required only a small amount of water acclimation because SG was almost spot on.

More information on coral dips would be a great addition to the thread as well. For example, some people use lugols which is not something I would suggest for SPS (unless you like brown sticks ).

 

[MJB Tanks]

Been looking for a write-up like this as well...I've just started adding corals to my tank. Thank you!

 

[Dr. Reef]

I am greatful to everyone for their good comments and kind words, this used to be a sticky but RC is in process of redoing the new hobby section so it got dropped off. Anyways i will still continue to answer and write new findings as they come along.
Please feel free to add on to anything that you can share so people can get the knowledge they seek. After all i dont know everything lol.

 

[AZBigJohn]

I am thinking of getting a sponge; how do you change this process with items that cannot be exposed to air at all? Obviously there is going to be some exchange of tank water, but how do you keep it to a minimum without risking air exposure?

 

[greech]

Float the bag in the sump to tank to temp acclimate. Get a container to put the bag in. If there is enough water in the bag to keep the sponge under water once you dump the bag water and sponge, great. If not, add enough of your tank water to make up the difference. Open the bag in the container and put the sponge and bag water in the container all at once.

I do not think dipping a sponge is going to work but at least take a close look and blow some water at the sponge with a turkey baster to see if anything comes off. Make sure you suck and squeeze enough water though the buster to remove the air in the baster before you blow it at the sponge. Once you are ready to move it To the display, hold the container right above the tank and quickly transfer the sponge to the tank.

 

[Dr. Reef]

I agree its best to temp acclimate first then open bag or place bag contents in a container. Add tank water in small quantities every 3 min. Till bag or container fills all the way then remove most water leaving just enough for sponge staying submerged. Do the water filling every 3 min all over again. Keep this practice going few times with 30 min total time.
Then take the bag or container directly into the main tank and release sponge under water.

I have reef gentle acclimate box which makes such acclimation easy. Tank water comes from top and old transport water leaves from bottom. Exchange takes place at equal same rate u set drip for.

 

[Trailermann]

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