Fish & Invert Acclimation Guide

Fish and Invert Acclimation Guide

PROPER ACCLIMATION IS CRUCIAL TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION INTO YOUR HOME AQUARIUM. WE RECOMMEND TO FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE.

 

  1. Turn off Aquarium Lights and be sure to dim down or shut off lighting in the room where the box will be opened. Fish cannot close their eyes, so adjusting to lighting can be just as or more stressful than any other kind of acclimation.

     

  2. Carefully examine each specimen; if your specimen contains a black bag liner, flip the bag vertically to allow the fish to swim into the clear portion of the bag for observation prior to opening. Some species might appear to be dead upon arrival; however, this is normal due to stress during transit; ensure each specimen’s gills are moving before proceeding. In the event of a DOA, please refer to the guidelines located on the back of this document.

     

  3. Have a container prepared next to your system. Cut a corner of the Reef Pro Acclimation Solution and dispense it into the container. This solution will prevent any ammonia buildup during the acclimation process. Use one Reef Pro Acclimation Solution packet per container. Carefully open bags (do not discard bags because you will need them for the end of acclimation) of specimens and empty contents, including all water, into the buckets.

     

    If your order contains inverts, acclimate them in a separate container, and DO NOT use the Reef Pro Acclimation Solution as this is toxic to them.

     

  4. If there is a small amount of water in your bag, you may need to tilt your bucket at a 45-degree angle to make sure the specimen is completely submerged.

     

  5. Now, you will need to set up the Drip Acclimation. Use a piece of airline tubing with enough length to fit into the container comfortably. It is recommended to use rigid tubing over the trim of the aquarium to keep the tubing submerged throughout the entire acclimation. To regulate the flow of the water going into the bucket it is recommended to use a valve. If you are unable to access a valve, simply tie a not in the airline tubing to regulate the flow.

     

  6. Next, you will begin a siphon by sucking on the end of the airline and adjusting the drip to about one drop per second. After 1 hour has passed, you may raise the drip rate to about 2-4 drops per second.

     

  7. When the amount of water in the bucket doubles, be sure to empty it by half. Then simply wait for it to double once again—approximately 1 hour.

     

  8. At this point, the specimens are almost ready. Now you will place the specimens in a bag and float bag in the aquarium for about 15-20 minutes to acclimate specimens to tank temperature.

     

  9. Once time has elapsed, specimens are ready to be released into the tank. Be sure to discard all water from the acclimation process. The water has been fouled in this process, and you would not want to add any to your system.

     

  10. Once the acclimation is complete, place the specimen into the aquarium and keep the lights off for the remainder of the day. This is crucial to allow the new inhabitance time to de-stress. It is normal to experience some aggression when adding new specimens; however, this will subside within a few hours to days.

 

WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WRONGDOING DURING OR AFTER THE ACCLIMATION PROCESS. IF YOU HAVE A PROVEN METHOD, YOU ARE WELCOME TO FOLLOW THAT.

 

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