You’ve invested valuable time and money researching the habitat requirements of the fish and corals you wish to house. Naturally, you want to protect this investment by executing a proper acclimation process once the specimens arrive at your door.

The purpose of acclimation is simple: the water that the fish or invertebrates are packaged in has a different temperature, pH, and salinity parameters than your aquarium. Fish, and especially invertebrates, are very sensitive to even minor changes in these parameters, so proper acclimation is the key to ensuring their successful relocation.

Unlike fish and invertebrates, drip acclimating corals can kill them! Corals will arrive with a certain amount of die-off in the bags, and drip acclimating from your tank water will spike the ammonia levels in the water and stress or kill the coral. Also, remember that new corals are not acclimated to your tank lighting.

To properly acclimate your fish, corals and invertebrates to your reef aquarium, follow the steps below.

Acclimating Corals:

• Turn off aquarium lights.
• Dim the lights in the room where the shipping box will be opened. Never open the box in bright light. Severe stress or trauma may result from sudden exposure to bright light.
• Float the bags in your sump or display tank for about 20-30 minutes until the temperature is equal to your tank water.
• While we exhaust every effort we can to keep all of our systems pests free, we will never suggest that someone not, at least dip and carefully inspect new coral arrivals. Even if it’s just going through the motions from a “reliable” source, the core of our philosophy is never to make an exception no matter from where your coral comes. Adhere strictly to this principle, and you will keep your systems pest free, just as we believe we have done for our own. Place the corals in a bucket with your tank water and dip your corals using your preferred coral dip solution as recommended by the manufacturer. We recommend coralRx for dipping corals.
• At this point, the specimens can be transferred to the aquarium or quarantine system. It’s important to make sure corals are getting at least moderate water movement upon introduction to the system.

Every reef aquarium system and types of equipment used are different, so you must acclimate corals to your tank lighting to prevent any shock, stress or trauma by following the steps below.

•  Place the coral in an area of your reef aquarium with low lighting for 5 days.
• After 5 days move the coral a little higher for another 5-7 days.
• Then place the coral in the desired location.

Acclimating Fish & Invertebrates:

• Turn off aquarium lights.
• Dim the lights in the room where the shipping box will be opened. Never open the box in bright light. Severe stress or trauma may result from sudden exposure to bright light.
• Carefully empty the contents of the bags (including the water) into the buckets, making sure not to expose sensitive invertebrates to the air. Depending on the amount of water in each bag, this may require tilting the bucket at a 45-degree angle to make sure the animals are fully submerged. You may need a prop or wedge to help hold the bucket in this position until there is enough liquid in the bucket to put it back to a level position.
• Using airline tubing, set up and run a syphon drip line from the main aquarium to each bucket. You’ll need separate airline tubing for each bucket used. Tie several loose knots in the airline tubing, or use a plastic or other non-metal airline control valve, to regulate flow from the aquarium. It is also a good idea to secure the airline tubing in place with an airline holder.
• Begin a syphon by sucking on the end of the airline tubing you’ll be placing into each of the buckets. When water begins flowing through the tubing, adjust the drip by tightening one of the knots or adjusting the control valve to a rate of about 2-4 drops per second.
• When the water volume in the bucket doubles, discard half and begin the drip again until the volume doubles once more – about one hour.
• At this point, the specimens can be transferred to the aquarium. Sponges, clams, and gorgonians should never be directly exposed to air. Gently scoop them out of the drip bucket with the specimen bag, making sure they’re fully covered in water. Submerge the bag underwater in the aquarium and gently remove the specimen from the bag. Next, seal off the bag underwater by twisting the opening, and remove it from the aquarium. Discard both the bag and the enclosed water. A tiny amount of the diluted water will escape into the aquarium; this is not a problem.

NOTE: Most invertebrates are more sensitive than fish to changes in specific gravity. It is imperative to acclimate invertebrates to a specific gravity of 1.023-1.025 or severe stress or trauma may result. Test specific gravity with a hydrometer or refractometer while acclimating.

Important Facts

• Be patient! Never rush the acclimation procedure. The total acclimation time for your new arrival should take no longer than one hour.
• Always follow the acclimation procedure even if your new arrival appears to be dead. Some fish and invertebrates can appear as though they are dead when they arrive and will usually revive when the above procedure is followed correctly.
• Never place an airstone into the shipping bag when acclimating your new arrival. This will increase the pH of the shipping water too quickly and expose your new arrival to lethal ammonia.
• Keep aquarium lights off for at least four hours after the new arrival is introduced into the aquarium.
• Most invertebrates are more sensitive than fish to salinity changes. It is imperative to acclimate invertebrates to a specific gravity of 1.023-1.025 or severe stress or trauma may result.
• Sponges, clams, scallops, and gorgonians should never be directly exposed to air. Follow the acclimation procedure, but instead of taking the specimen out of the shipping bag, submerge the bag underwater in the aquarium and remove the marine life from the bag. Seal off the shipping bag underwater by twisting the opening, and remove it from the aquarium. Discard both the shipping bag and the enclosed water. A tiny amount of the diluted shipping water will escape into the aquarium. Don’t be alarmed; this will have no adverse affect on the tank inhabitants.
• In some instances, your new tank mate will be chased and harassed by one or all of your existing tank mates. A printed picture of a larger fish can be used to calm down the aggressive behaviour against newly added fish. Download and print an image of a bigger fish of the same species as the newly added fish. Using tape place it on one side of the aquarium facing in. We recommend using a perforated acclimating box where you can place the new fish inside and place it in your tank. This will give time to the new fish to recover in peace. After the new addition adjusts to the unfamiliar environment, release the new fish in the aquarium.
• Some live corals produce excess slime when shipped. After the acclimation procedure is followed, hold the coral by the rock or skeletal base and gently shake the coral in the shipping bag before placing into the aquarium. To avoid damage, please remember never to touch the “fleshy” part of a live coral. Many species of coral will not open for several days after introduction into their new home. Please allow several days for the coral to adapt to the new conditions in the aquarium.