Tips on Acclimating, NEED ADVICE!!!

[staticxtreme]

I need some tips on proper acclimating, I lost 6 crabs, and 4 turbosnails over the last 3 weeks because of improper acclimating, I was wondering if anyone else has some good tips on this.

Thanks

[NaperFisher]

what i would do is....

i have one of those plastic contraption that the local LFS have...You know that thing where they put the fish before they put the fish in the plastic bag...anyways..i put the bag in the tank for about 30 minutes for temp acclimation..then i pour the water and fish/Inverts in the plastic contraption..and then pour 1 cup of tank water...let it sit for about 15 minutes....then repeat and wait another 15 minutes...then i repeat it for another 15 minutes..all in all....i acclimate them for about 45 minutes..i still lose some..im guessing bad stock..my ratio is 2 out of 10 dies...

[Anemone]

this is the way i do and havent lost a thing,
float the bag in the tank for 30 for temp acclimation, pour the livestock in a 5gal bucket (do fish and inverts seperate) and take a small tubing and start a siphon, about 8drops per second is good, then usually you wait till the water has quadrupled but to be on the safe side i keep acclimating till the bucket is full, it will take from 1-4 hours depending on how much water is needed to quadruple the original water from the bags. then using a small cup or net transfer the livestock i said small cup or net because you do not want the water from the bucket in your tank

sorry it might be vague but www.saltwaterfish.com has that acclimation guide, ive been using it all the time and i havent lost a thing

[Travis]

The drip method as Anemone described is one of the best ways to acclimate. On a side note, I wouldn't allow the LFS's water into your tank. Have some water prepared so you can replace the water used with new.

[nightOwl]

My first few crab and snails encountered the shock of water change too quickly as well. I have the regular airline tubing with knots on the end I start the suction then let them drip into the same bag from the pet store that was floated for about 15-20 mins and sits in my sump to stay at constant temperature. My drip rate is about 3-5 drips a second. Once the bag is 3/4 full i dump about half the water ( not in the tank) and then repeat the process. I do that two to three times then net the fish and put it in the tank and dump the rest of the water. Process takes about 1hr - 1hr 30 min, but I have yet to loose a fish, invert, or coral using this method. Remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hope that helps,
Henry