aclamation?

[lroo67]

how long should i take to aclamate ? some soft corals ? polyps and shrooms.

[fishfreek]

Use the same drip acclomation method you use for fish on your corals. When in doubt acclomate as slow as possible.

[Pineapple House]

I agree, the longer the better. I would do it for at least an hour or more. This was copy and pasted from another BB:

You will need:
1. Small, inexpensive air pump with small air stone.
2. 8-10 Feet of clear vinyl airline tubing. (3/16 X 1/4 is a good size)
3. Scissors or knife
4. 2 Buckets (1 gallon buckets for small orders or 5 gallon buckets for large orders)

Acclimation Instructions:

1. First, you will need Clear Vinyl Airline Tubing. This can be found in the plumbing department of Home Depot, Lowes, or a local hardware store. Find the size that is 3/16” X 1/4”. 3/16 is the inside diameter and 1/4 is the outside diameter. If you need to ask, simply ask for Clear Vinyl Airline Tubing and you will find a number of different sizes in that section. You will need 8-10 feet of the 3/16 X 1/4, which will cost about $1. Yes, that’s all. The Air Pump is an item that can be found in most Wal-Marts in the fishing tackle section as a "Bubble Saver" or "Bubble Box". These pumps are inexpensive, run on batteries, and can be conveniently clipped onto the side of the bucket.

2. When your order arrives be sure your aquarium lights are off and that you open the box in a dimly lit area. Next, place all of the bags – or as many as will fit at one time – into your aquarium. Leave them floating without being opened for 20-25 minutes. This will allow the water temperature in the bag to become the same temperature as the water in your tank.

3. It is very important that you do not mix the water from the fish bags with the water from the invertebrate bags. They should not be acclimated together. It is very important you split the fish and invertebrates into 2 separate buckets and that the containers have never been used for cleaning floors, washing your car, etc. We suggest you use brand new buckets.

4. Now that your bags are floating, rinse off your Clear Vinyl Airline Tubing in fresh water to remove any dust, etc. The airline tubing will be used to move water from your tank down to the bucket in a slow dripping process. First, you will need to find a small rock of some sort in your tank and attach it to one end of the tubing with a rubber band. Once it has been attached, place the rock into your tank. The rock is used to help keep the tube submerged. Place the other end of the tube into the bucket on the floor. If you have excess tubing you may cut it away. Just be sure you have enough to easily reach from the tank to the bucket. You will then need to tie a knot in the tubing. This will allow you to slow down the rate of flow once the siphon is started. Tie the knot closer to the bucket side of the tubing. About a foot from the end will work well.

5. After 20 minutes have passed you can begin the process of cutting the fish out of the bags and into the bucket. If you only have a few items, or just to get started, you can tilt the bucket 45 degrees to one side. This will allow water to accumulate so the items will be completely submerged. Once you have cut a number of them into the bucket there will be enough water so you can lay the bucket flat again.

6. Use a scissors to cut a large opening toward the top of the bag. Be sure it is large enough for the fish to exit the bag. Pour both the fish and water from each bag into the bucket. Remember, only do the fish OR the invertebrates. Do not do them at the same time or in the same bucket. We suggest you start with the fish.

7. After you have cut them all into the bucket, to the novice it may appear that they are not doing well. This is totally natural. The fish are in shock and will be just fine. While you may not be used to receiving fish in this manner, these fish have traveled far to reach you and are very tough. There is nothing to be concerned about. If they are acclimated properly they will do well in your aquarium.

8. Once all of the fish OR invertebrates (whichever you have decided to do first) are in the bucket, you will need to plug in the small air pump you purchased. Place the air stone into the bucket with the items. It should be producing small bubbles. This will keep the water aerated during acclimation. Now place your mouth on the low end of the Clear Vinyl Tubing and suck on it until you see the water from inside the aquarium pass over the edge of the aquarium in the tubing. Obviously, remove your mouth before water reaches your end. The water should be moving from the aquarium down the tubing and into the bucket. At this time you will need to tighten the knot you made earlier until the water is literally dripping in a fast motion into the bucket.

9. The drip should be quick and steady, but it should not be a steady stream of water, or a slow drip, but somewhere in-between. 6-8 drips per second will work well. The airstone should be kicking out little bubbles, the water should be moving down the tube into the bucket with the items in it, and your aquarium lights should be off. You will now need to allow the water to drip from your tank into the bucket for approximately two hours (be sure you have enough water in your sump, or continue to add water into your sump). You will need to keep an eye on the bucket from time to time to be sure the tubing doesn’t move outside of the bucket and start spilling on your floor, and that the water does not begin to overflow over the sides of the box once it starts filling up. This process is allowing the slow transfer of pH and salinity to take place. By doing so, your new inhabitants are being eased into their new surroundings. You will find this process will greatly increase your success.

10. While the dripping takes place you can also keep an eye on the fish or invertebrates, but do not push them, or move them around with your hand or objects. They are in shock and it takes time for them to acclimate. So, even if after the two hour period they are still lying on their side and breathing hard they are not dead or dying. Once the two hour time period has elapsed it will be time to place the items into your tank. Do so gently with a net. They may still need to recover in the tank and may float to the bottom of the tank continuing to breathe hard. Again, this is nothing to be alarmed about. If this occurs, simply leave them alone and as long as they aren’t harassed they should be fine and recover nicely. Once all items have been placed into the aquarium you should turn off all powerheads and continue with the lights off for three hours. Once that time has passed you can turn on your lights and powerheads again.



11. NOTE: Be sure the air conditioning or heat is not blowing directly onto the bucket. You want the temperature in the bucket to be the same as the temperature in your tank at the end of the 2 hours. Also, it is VERY important that the amount of water in the bucket quadruple over the 2 hour time frame. If the amount of water has not quadrupled after 2 hours of dripping you will have to wait until it has done so. To the contrary, if it appears too much water is going into the bucket and the amount of water will quadruple in less than 2 hours then you should slow the speed of the drip.



Graham

[lroo67]

Thanks once again pineapple h.

[RazerCorals]

Personally I don't believe in acclamation for my tank to another one of my tanks. I feel that I keep my water almost the same.

But when going from fish store to your tank. I would do it. IMPORTANT! turn of lights on tank to releave stress on the fish.

[Pineapple House]

Watchman,

Acclamation is essential for moving one of your tank mates to another aquarium. Even the slightlest change of pH, temperature, or Salinity could be result in death, esspecially towards the more sensitive invertibrates and fish. I highly doubt that your water quality is exactly the same.

Graham

[BigFish]

unless you connect all of your tanks, but you probably dont.