Acclimatising SPS-Do we need to ?

[AntsReef]

Hi all,
just read on another thread someone advocating that SPS corals do not need to be acclimated except for temp. This got me thinking,do we need to ?
I would be interested in other reefers methods of introducing their corals as I myself have on occasion had to just "dump" large colonies straight in. I worked on the assumption that my LFS does just this after floating the bag for a while.
Obviously in the wild colonies are often exposed to air for long periods and in the U.K. the stress the corals go through during transportation can only be imagined.
Here in the U.K. people seem obsessed with very slow acclimatising their corals(dripping over hours in some cases).
Any thoughts ?
regads,
Anthony

 

[MORAY69]

How fast do ANY changes happen in the wild?

 

[AntsReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7823142#post7823142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MORAY69
How fast do ANY changes happen in the wild?

I would say that the tide coming in and going out exposing and submerging coral is pretty quick in nature's terms.
rgds,
Anthony

BTW I am not advocating either rapid or slow acclimating of corals,just opening up an area for debate

 

[kabal2]

i take them out of the bag for a few minutes, and when they slime some, to the tank they go, but thats just me, never lost a frag following this method

Gabriel

 

[goda]

i stab a hole in the bag and let the bag equalize with the tank

as for the lfs i ge thte stuff from... 1 hour floating then we jus thtrow them right in ... never lost a coral and all seem to open up in a hour

 

[TacoKing]

Stab a hole in the bag? I'm confused. Are you letting water from the LFS get into your tank?

 

[gcarroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7823498#post7823498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kabal2
i take them out of the bag for a few minutes, and when they slime some, to the tank they go, but thats just me, never lost a frag following this method

Gabriel

I have found this to be the best method. Acros slime up to protect themselves. Allow the slime to release from the coral naturally. Don't use the turkey baster to blow off the slime. The coral will release the slime when it is happy.

 

[Dizzyswimmer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7823498#post7823498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kabal2
i take them out of the bag for a few minutes, and when they slime some, to the tank they go, but thats just me, never lost a frag following this method

I do it this way also, seams to work well. I have lost corals after a slow acclamation. But I haven't lost any due to this acclamation.

 

[goda]

yeah i let the water from the bag into my tank... but i trust the water from the coral tanks ( would never add water from the fish tank due to the meds) but i work at that lfs and know the tanks. the worst it has is calurpa outbreaks every now and then

 

[mckeec]

You mean you totally romove them from the water they were shipped in and leave them dry and exposed to the air? This causes a slim build up and once the slim is there in the tank they go. Just looking for clarification. Think I will give it a try. I am one of those doing a long drip. This sure sounds a lot easier.

 

[gcarroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7824441#post7824441 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mckeec
You mean you totally romove them from the water they were shipped in and leave them dry and exposed to the air? This causes a slim build up and once the slim is there in the tank they go. Just looking for clarification. Think I will give it a try. I am one of those doing a long drip. This sure sounds a lot easier.

Yep, that is what I do!

 

[mckeec]

Thanks for the clarification. Gives me reason to make another purchase, got to give this a try.

 

[Cody Ray]

When they slime over they trap water from the bag between them and the slime. As the slime comes off water from the aquarium mixes with the water stored in the slime coating. They pretty much self-acclimate themselves.

 

[goda]

so your adding lfs water to your tank also O_O ( just alot less lmao)

 

[Philwd]

I do the slime up method too.

 

[organism]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7823498#post7823498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kabal2
i take them out of the bag for a few minutes, and when they slime some, to the tank they go, but thats just me, never lost a frag following this method

Gabriel

same here, I float acclimate for temp, then let them sit in the air for a little bit, no adverse effects

 

[CraigG]

Does this "air out to slime" method only work for SPS?

 

[crypticghost]

there is no reason to let them slime up...just pull them from the bag and put them in... I would never put anyones water into my tank. Just float them for a bit for temp reasons, pull them out and put them in...I do this with everything except fish. LPS, snails, anemones, etc. I do not have softies, so I can not speak for those. I have never lost anything using this method... You have to remember the tide receeds and corals (sps mainly, some lps) are exposed to the hot sun and air for hours and then they are covered by water again. Honestly corals are very tough, as long as the water conditions are in good standing...corals can take alot of abuse.

 

[twon8]

any new sps get the water drained from the bag, they are out of the water long enough for me to inspect them and decide where to place them. I never put any water from shipping bags into my tanks. I routinely leave sps out of water for 20 minutes or longer, never had a problem (don't try this with hyndophora, they dont' like it) From here on out though everything will be qt'd, and I suggest everyone do the same.

 

[Jeffie]

I do the same as far as letting them slime before adding them to the tank.

I've also heard that this is a good way to remove red bugs... The sliming will actually push them off of the colonies. Not sure about AEFW but who knows...
So, now I let them slime. Swish them around in a bucket of tank water to remove the slime... Let them sit out again for a while to form another slime coat and them add them to the tank... Seems to work very good. Have not seen any bugs in my tank..Have not lost any frags or colonies with this procedure. Not sure if I have had infested frags before and this has helped or what but I have not seen any bugs or AEFW... Just my experience so far...