How do you acclimate new SPS frags to your tank?

[Ryan15236]

I am interested in hearing how all of you guys acclimate your new SPS frags for life in your display tank. I would be interested to hear if you guys drip acclimate them, dip your new frags, what dip you use, QT them, or any other techniques. What methods have yielded best results as far as pest extermination and coral survival. Do you employ light acclimation by placing on sand bed or frag rack near the bottom? Please share your methods and reasoning behind them.

 

[Smoke_N_Reefer]

Float em, dip them in Bayer, rinse twice and into the tank they go

 

[CoralNerd]

Don't forget to remove the existing frag plug before dipping and then putting on a new plug.

 

[a.browning]

Always straight into the tank, sometimes after a dip depending on the source of the sps.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

QUARANTINE.

I'm currently battling aptasia, AEFW, byropsis and asterina starfish in my 40 gallon QT.

You never know what might be lurking on a frag.

 

[natas]

if I get mine locally I float them then I drip acclimate them for 30 mins. They then go to a dip. After that they go to the tank.

I am always paranoid when getting frags from large ALK swings. Sometimes I get frags from someone who runs 10-11DKH and I am at 8.

If I get a frag overnight shipped I don't float the bag. I start drip acclimation immediately then go to a dip.

Forgot to add, I do start my frags low on the frag rack and move them up 1 inch every few days before putting them to the final destination.

 

[Ryan15236]

Good stuff guys. Also maybe some stuff worth noting and something's I am interested in. Do you guys remove frag plug? Do you replace with new plug, mount to rubble, mount directly to rock? Also do you mount the frag vertically or horizontally to whatever it is being attached to? Noticeable different grow rates? Also which turns into the best looking colony?

 

[nemodan]

I take the plug, Unless it is very well encrusted in it.

I glued them as I want, they will growth accordingly, example in pictures :

SAME CORAL

Horizontal ( see sand below, is an upside down picture)


Horizontal again (picture from the side) see encrusted section at the right.


VERTICAL


When I glue the corals horizontal (did it twice with 2 different acros) they tended to growth like a hand and when glued vertical more like a tree or similar shape (all depends on the coral).

Bottom line .... I glue them where I want them.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

always straight into the tank, sometimes after a dip depending on the source of the sps.

+1, but I only get very small frags, so that I can examine their tissue with a magnifying glass. I also always remove frag plugs and never buy a frag attached to a rock.

 

[Wonton Soup]

Whatever I purchase from a single store all gets combined into a tupperware container large enough to hold everything with the water from each bag.
Then I add about a cap full of Bayer Complete insect killer and use an air pump to bubble and keep the water moving for about 20 minutes.
Then I just rinse them with a cup of saltwater and in the tank they go.

It's a process that has worked great for me.

 

[panhandler01]

What is the best way to get them off of the old plug?

 

[DiscusHeckel]

What is the best way to get them off of the old plug?

I use a stanley knife.

 

[JB NY]

For acropora, just take them out of the bag, leave them out for 2-3 minutes (I have done 5 minutes many times too), then put them in to their new tank, or dip them.

I have done this on literally hundreds of frags over the last 10 years, I have never had a problem doing this. acros are regularly exposed to the sun and the air in the wild during low tide.

 

[Ryan15236]

Wow I am surprised at how many people do not drop acclimate the corals. I seem what you all are saying though for sure. You guys are making great points and giving some good info. Also something that I would be interested in hearing is do you guys start your frags low on a frag rack or sandbed and move up slowly or just go ahead and put them in the spots you want?

 

[nemodan]

Wow I am surprised at how many people do not drop acclimate the corals. I seem what you all are saying though for sure. You guys are making great points and giving some good info. Also something that I would be interested in hearing is do you guys start your frags low on a frag rack or sandbed and move up slowly or just go ahead and put them in the spots you want?

Most do the light aclimatation. I have never done it. I just glued where I want the frag to be.

As most, I arrive at home with the frag, let the bag in the tank to get temperature, then dip, wash and directly to the spot. Not drop or light aclimatation.

 

[watchguy123]

I start with inspecting for pests. Remove frag from plug with bone cutters. Dip wth 10 ml bayer in 1/2 cup of bag (original water) water for 5-8 minutes. Rinse in large fresh tank water container. Glue to new plug and place on frag rack for a week or so. Frag rack is at side of tank so kind of medium strength light. Then after about a week, off the plug and glued on rockscape. I usually ask seller about position in terms of lighting and flow. But often my choice of placement is based on available real estate and color scheme that I want. Sometimes, albeit rarely, a coral frag does not agree with my placement and a compromise is reached via relocation. I have not temp acclimated nor drip acclimate in many years. It is not a bad idea, safer is always better but I have not thought it to be problematic. Regardless, the kinder one is to the new frag, the more likely it will reciprocate with color and growth. I will sometimes skip the frag rack and go directly to rockscape but I think it is better to watch acclimation in display on the frag rack.

 

[b7fig]

Float them, dip them, stick them

 

[Eastone]

For acropora, just take them out of the bag, leave them out for 2-3 minutes (I have done 5 minutes many times too), then put them in to their new tank, or dip them.

I have done this on literally hundreds of frags over the last 10 years, I have never had a problem doing this. acros are regularly exposed to the sun and the air in the wild during low tide.

I use this method too. My reasoning is that in exposed conditions, SPS will produce a thicker slime coat to keep hydrated, which is then gradually shed by water flow in the tank, and allows the coral to slowly adjust to changes in water parameter.

 

[Trailermann]

I start with inspecting for pests. Remove frag from plug with bone cutters. Dip wth 10 ml bayer in 1/2 cup of bag (original water) water for 5-8 minutes. Rinse in large fresh tank water container. Glue to new plug and place on frag rack for a week or so. Frag rack is at side of tank so kind of medium strength light. Then after about a week, off the plug and glued on rockscape. I usually ask seller about position in terms of lighting and flow. But often my choice of placement is based on available real estate and color scheme that I want. Sometimes, albeit rarely, a coral frag does not agree with my placement and a compromise is reached via relocation. I have not temp acclimated nor drip acclimate in many years. It is not a bad idea, safer is always better but I have not thought it to be problematic. Regardless, the kinder one is to the new frag, the more likely it will reciprocate with color and growth. I will sometimes skip the frag rack and go directly to rockscape but I think it is better to watch acclimation in display on the frag rack.

Why do you remove a new frag from its plug before dipping? If your coral frag is quite small, how can you move it to a new plug (or rockscape) without manhandling and damaging it?