DIY acclimation box ideas?

[Devaji108]

so I need to come up with a acclimation box for my system.

for introducing male flashers wrasses. just got one in today with my LA order but will be getting 2 more at some point.

not sure how big the box needs to be and how long you keep the wrasse in there? anyone have thoughts?

anyway seams like it a good DIY project.

here are a cpl quick ideas off the top of my head.

1) acrylic box with holes drilled in for flow in tank with lid of course and hang on side

2) 1/4 netting like the kind we use for screen tops. glued to a frame of some reef safe material.

thoughts?

 

[McPuff]

Just buy a couple of those critter cages, drill some holes in them and float them. They've already got a slotted lid so I imagine they would work quite well.

 

[Rybren]

Just buy a couple of those critter cages, drill some holes in them and float them. They've already got a slotted lid so I imagine they would work quite well.

This is what I use, but I use some ceramic magnets to attach it to the tank.

As for how long to leave the fish in... I'd say it depends.

If the established fish give the new guy a once over and then more or less ignore it, then I release the new one fairly quickly (maybe only a few hours later)

If the established fish show aggression to the new one or are spending the majority of their time hanging around the box, then I leave the new guy in the box until the interest wanes.

When it's time to release the new guy, I just open the lid at lights out and let the fish leave whenever it feels ready. My last addition was a dusky wrasse that stayed in the open box for more than 24 hrs. It would occasionally rise up out of the box to grab a passing morsel of food, but then would re-enter the box.

 

[Devaji108]

thats a good idea guys i'll check amazon for them.
rybren. where do you get the ceramic magnets? you you silicone the in tank ones?
never heard of them. google here i come...

 

[Devaji108]

ah OK now I see I just have always called them magnets guess they are ceramic..lol
I like the rare earth magnets. but this is not something i am going to use all that often so no need to make it pretty or spend to much $$ on..

do you have a pic of how you did your rybren?

 

[Rybren]

I get the magnets at Home Depot for a couple of bucks. I use the 3/4" diameter ones and I epoxy them to the side of the box using 2-part liquid epoxy. You could use a Mag Float or something similar to hold the box, but because there's a ridge where the lid attaches, it isn't that stable.

Most LFS, Petcos, Pet Smart, Wal Marts carry the boxes, they're only a few dollars.

Here's a pic of mine in use...

 

[Devaji108]

^ nice box and flasher too!
thats what I am gonna do. thank for the input

 

[journeyman]

I use the plastic container that you get with strawberries. Suction cups fit right into the slots on the container and it's the perfect size for most small fish.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

 

[McPuff]

Do you have a link for the magnets? They are coated I assume?? This looks like a great box and definitely a popular price!! Nice.

 

[Rybren]

I use these ones https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.38-x-34-ceramic-disc-magnets.1000418119.html

They are not coated, but I've been using them for 6 or 7 years on frags and frag racks without issue. If you're worried, you could always coat them with a 2-part epoxy.

 

[ziggy2]

Do you quarantine the fish before putting them in the box?

 

[McPuff]

I use these ones https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.38-x-34-ceramic-disc-magnets.1000418119.html

They are not coated, but I've been using them for 6 or 7 years on frags and frag racks without issue. If you're worried, you could always coat them with a 2-part epoxy.

I'm probably a bit paranoid so it's good to hear they haven't given you any issues. I would probably cover with epoxy to be safe. I may have missed it but how thick is your glass?

The alternative to using such magnets you've used is to take the suction magnets from old pumps... e.g., Koralia. I've used these for frag racks and other DIY things. It seems like they would probably work well for acclimation box too... just attach with zip ties and you're good to go. Two should be enough to hold the box in place. They are more obtrusive than the magnets you've shown but if you've got them lying around, why not?

 

[breck]

Following

 

[goreef170]

larger fish I use a old sparklettes bottle. Cut off the top and attach about 1/3 of the lid with plastic ties, and start drilling holes. Try and remove much of the burs left by drilling the holes. Add some small rocks inside bottle to help way it down and attach small rock to the cap of the bottle to help keep the lid closed. works great.