ACCLIMATION PROCEDURES

Follow all acclimation procedures carefully to help insure the success of your new livestock. It is a requirement of our 15-Day Guarantee that you follow our acclimation procedures for each new arrival - even if they appear dead. Some fish may appear dead upon arrival; however, in many cases, they are just tired. After you acclimate them, they will begin waking up and swimming around.

For Fish

1. Turn off all aquarium lights for 3-4 hours. This gives all new arrivals a chance to rest without being harassed.
2. Float the bag with the new fish in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes to equalize the water temperature in the bag with the water temperature in the aquarium.
3. After 15-20 minutes cut open the top of the plastic bag with the new fish and roll down the top of the bag about an inch to create an air pocket within the lip of the bag.
4. Continue to float the bag in the aquarium.
5. Pour one-half cup of aquarium water into the bag every 5 minutes until the bag is nearly full.
6. Remove the bag from the aquarium and discard half of the water from the bag. (Be careful that you do not discard your fish!) Do not pour the water from the bag into the aquarium.
7. Again float the bag in the aquarium and add one-half cup of aquarium water every 5 minutes until the bag is nearly full again.
8. Net the fish carefully from the bag and release it into the aquarium.
   
   For fish with spines such as Lionfish, Squirrelfish, etc: You may discard nearly all of the water from the shipping bag into a bucket and then empty the fish directly from the bag into the aquarium. A small amount of shipping water will escape into the aquarium this way, but our shipping water is reef safe and will not harm your aquarium. This method is much safer for fish with spines that can become tangled in a net.

For Coral & Invertebrates

1. Float the bag in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes to equalize the water temperature.
2. For sponges, clams, scallops, and gorgonians: These items should never be exposed to air. Open the shipping bag underwater and remove the specimen from the bag underwater. After you remove the item twist the shipping bag closed underwater and discard the shipping bag and all of the water in it. A small amount of shipping water will escape into the aquarium this way, but our shipping water is reef safe and will not harm your aquarium. This method will help to insure the success of these specimens in your aquarium. Then follow steps 8 through 10.
   
   For all other corals and invertebrates: Remove the bag from the aquarium and cut open the top of the bag. Then follow steps 3 through 10.
   
   
3. Pour one-half cup of aquarium water into the bag every 5 minutes until the bag is nearly full.
4. Discard half of the water from the bag. Do not pour the water from the bag into the aquarium.
5. Add one-half cup of aquarium water every 5 minutes until the bag is nearly full again.
6. Remove the coral or invertebrate from the shipping bag and place it into the aquarium.
7. When placing corals in the aquarium think about the lighting conditions and the water flow in the area you plan to place them. You might want to refer to the page from our website for that particular coral to find out about its lighting and flow requirements.
8. After you have placed the coral into position wave your hand at it to create a strong current. If the coral stays put you are done. If the coral falls or moves try to wedge it in more securely. If the coral is secure then you don’t have to worry so much about fish knocking it over.
9. When placing stony corals make sure that only the dead portion of the skeleton is touching the live rock. The portion of the coral where it attaches to its skeleton is very delicate and can be damaged if it is leaning against the live rock. This can cause the coral to recede.
10. Please note that many species of coral may take up to five days to fully open and acclimate to your aquarium. If they remain closed for more than a week try moving them to a different position with different lighting and flow conditions.