methods for sps acclimation?

[jdyer88]

ok guys, everyone acclimates their new frags to water conditions, but how about to light? If you were to get a new sps frag and you dripped it in or floated and added water, could you put it into the display tank under intense lighting such as mh, or do you start it low and move it up, or ....?
I had a nice stylo growing like a weed in my frag tank (which is tied into my main system so the water is the same) under t5's....when I moved it to my dispaly tank under mh, it took about 6 hours for it to completely die and leave me with the dreaded pure white lump of calcium. The only thing I can think of is the change in light. There is good flow in both tanks. I am worried about frags that are shipping next week too...after being in the dark for a day (shipping), will my 250w mh be to intense? Should I change the photoperiod for a while?

 

[wfournier]

My routine might be a little unorthodox but I simply dump the frag with the water it came in into a container add some Revive, let it sit for a few minutes and then take the frag out and put it in the tank. No drip etc. Generally I'll put frags in a lower light area to start but not always. I haven't lost anything to this other than a lokani which I shouldn't have dipped (lesson learned there).

 

[Cgreene]

I float the bag for around 15 to 30 minutes depending on how off the temps were and then throw it in. The only frag I had a problem with lighting was a Favia that came from a guy that only had PC light and being put in my 6 T5's was a kinda shock to it. Had to tuck under a rock where it only was hit by 2-3 bulbs and then slowly move it out over the next few weeks and now its fine. To me it just depends on what light the frag was under before you received it.

 

[keithrett]

For frags I usually just temp acclimate for 15-20 minute, mix some tank water with revive and dip the frag, then into the tank it goes. With frags I usually just place them where I want them in the tank. The only time I drip/light acclimate my sps is when they are larger colonies.

 

[Steve Wright2]

I prefer to acclimatise to my lighting

I start all frags and colonies on the sand bed
leave them there for a couple of days and then move up to mid level for another couple of days
after that they get placed where I want them to be

I also use magnetic frag racks to same purpose, start it very low on front glass
and then after a couple of days, gently move the frag rack upwards a few inches to about mid level
This method is ideal for me once the reef is getting populated as it provides space at levels under the lighting, that may not still be vacant on the rockwork

Steve

 

[jdyer88]

thanks guys...I will take all of this into consideration...seems like if the frag is going to make it, its going to make it

 

[chr15_8]

For my sps I dip them in coralRX and leave out of water for 5 mins. Then place onto the sand bed and slowly move them up to the position i want them.

Haven't lost one yet.

 

[mnchartier]

I follow this for my newly acquired corals. I don't drip unless the water is far off from my tank. I only acclimate my lights using window screen three layers and remove a layer each week.

1. Remove the coral from the plug or rock the coral came attached to.
2. Add 3 gallons of tank water to your clearly marked and an carefully cleaned treatment vessel.

(Note: If you use a different quantity of water, be certain to adjust dosages accordingly)

3. Place pump and heater in treatment vessel (do not plug in yet).
4. Arrange your freshly purchased corals in the treatment vessel being careful to keep them clear of the heating element and the pump intake and output.
5. Start pump (not heater) and check that your corals are not being blown around, rearrange corals and pump if necessary.
6. Fire up the heater (double check it is set to proper tank temps)
7. Remove an Interceptor® tab from the bubble pack, and using your blade, CAREFULLY cut it into four approximately equal pieces (it is not necessary to be exact here, just get it as close as you can). Pack three of these four pieces in an airtight container for future use. Crush the remaining piece using the implement of your choice, take your time, and grind it fine.
8. Add the powder you just made to the treatment vessel. This stuff does not like to dissolve easily, so use a plastic mixing stick of some sort to ensure it mixes in, and does not just stay on the surface or stick to the sides of the bucket. This may take a few minutes.
9. Set your timer for five hours and forty five minutes.
10. When the time has elapsed, measure out the Betadine® at 3ml per liter of treatment water. Three gallons will take 34ml.
11. Set your timer for 15 minutes.
12. When the time has elapsed, remove your corals from treatment container, rinse with clean tank water, and place in tank

 

[allsps40]

I float my bags for 15-20 minutes dip and put in the tank. I put new frags on the frag rack and acclimate them to the light, find out where they like to be. Larger mini colonies go on the sand bed for a few weeks.

 

[smokey30]

I take the frag off of whatever it came mounted to and chuck it (dont want to get red bugs again), take my tupperware container and put the new frag and the water it came with in. Then I drip acclimate for about an hour. I fill up another container with tank water and some crushed intereceptor and mix it till its disolved. I take the frag(s) and do a dip in some revive then into the interceptor mix for an hour. Then I will mount the coral to the plug or rubble dip it in a cup of rodi for a few seconds then in the tank it goes. I start them on the sand bed then see how things go and move up