Sensitive invert acclimation question

[roper512]

I've read on multiple places that you should never let certain inverts touch air.. I've also read that you should never let any of the original packaging water to enter your tank..

So how does one do this? How do you get your acclimated invert to the tank without letting any of the bagged water in? Seems like the only way is to have some get in there since netting the invert could possibly kill it..

I'm also talking as if this were using the drip acclimation method in a 5 gal bucket.

Thanks

 

[WaterKeeper]

Hi Roper,

It is mainly sponges that cannot tolerate exposure to the air. Most others specimens kept in the hobby can withstand brief exposure.

One of the things we preach is to use a Q-tank before adding anything into your display. If you do this then there is no real reason to avoid adding the specimen, water and all, for the quarantine period. This would mean you would simply open the sponge's bag underwater.

 

[roper512]

Hmm okay. So stuff like my cleanup crew (snails, small hermits, brittle star and tiger tail cucumber can be exposed to air briefly while i transfer them from bucket to tank?

 

[Lv2_play]

yea

 

[MiddletonMark]

Most will not suffer much, but a few [like the sponges WK mentioned] don't do well exposed.

For all livestock I'd go along with Waterkeeper's QT advice. Having had a few reef pests ... it's worth it, something I've instituted.

Either way, for most inverts I try to acclimate them slowly.
Float in the sump to get to temp, then often I'll set up a drip from the tank into a bucket [after checking the LFS's/etc salinity vs. mine]. If it's a big difference, I'll let it take a while [hour or so]

I try to keep my air-exposure time to a minimum, but it's better than adding LFS/etc water to your tank.