Do You Drip Acclimate Your Livestock?

Reefer Matt

Reef Cave Dweller
View Badges
Joined
May 15, 2021
Messages
7,554
Reaction score
33,726
Location
Michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
When I first started reefing, I drip acclimated everything. The info I read at the time said it was necessary for salinity and temperature differences. But nowadays, I don’t drip acclimate at all. I just float the bag for 30 minutes for temp, then dip or qt as required. What’s your acclimation like, do you drip acclimate your livestock?
 

Nor'easter Reefer

Super Extra Tremendously Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
May 30, 2024
Messages
1,505
Reaction score
9,928
Location
Maine
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
When I first started reefing, I drip acclimated everything. The info I read at the time said it was necessary for salinity and temperature differences. But nowadays, I don’t drip acclimate at all. I just float the bag for 30 minutes for temp, then dip or qt as required. What’s your acclimation like, do you drip acclimate your livestock?
Shrimp yes, everything else, i mostly add about a ¼ cup every few minutes, dump out half, go until full again and discard water and place livestock into tank. Haven't lost anything yet
 

Crabs McJones

I'm so shi-nay
View Badges
Joined
Jul 24, 2017
Messages
29,229
Reaction score
145,974
Location
Wisconsin
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'll float the bag, when it's up to temp I'll remove some water and add some of mine a little bit at a time. So not quite drip acclimate but an accelerated version of that
 

exnisstech

Grumpy old man
View Badges
Joined
Feb 11, 2019
Messages
11,913
Reaction score
18,600
Location
Ashland Ohio
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Like you when I started I dripped everything. Now for fish and inverts it's temp and drop and most coral it's temp dip and drop. Some coral I don't dip. Fish go into observation and coral and inverts to display. I rarely buy online and check salinity at lfs and if it's below 1.020 I don't buy.
 

gbroadbridge

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 25, 2021
Messages
4,748
Reaction score
5,103
Location
Sydney, Australia
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
When I first started reefing, I drip acclimated everything. The info I read at the time said it was necessary for salinity and temperature differences. But nowadays, I don’t drip acclimate at all. I just float the bag for 30 minutes for temp, then dip or qt as required. What’s your acclimation like, do you drip acclimate your livestock?

It depends only on the salinity of the water of the incoming critter.

If there is more than about 0.25 PSU difference I'll drip acclimate into the QT - how long depends on the difference.

If it's a large difference I'm more likely to adjust the salinity of the QT system and then adjust that slowly over a number of days.
 

X-37B

Fight The Good Fight
View Badges
Joined
Sep 10, 2018
Messages
10,031
Reaction score
17,488
Location
The Outer Limits
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
For corals I dip in KCL and right in. Fish and inverts from lfs I float for 10 min then in. Been like this for many years now with no issues.
I learned from losing a few online frags, Adam at BC recommended the same, get them out of the bag and into your system asap.
 
Last edited:

Mr. Mojo Rising

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Messages
8,617
Reaction score
9,973
Location
Toronto
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
For corals I just float the bag to equalize the temperature, then add the coral.

I acclimate inverts by adding quarter cup of my water to the bag every few minutes, for about 30-40 minutes then add to the tank.

For fish, it depends if I have to acclimate to the salinity. If salinity is the same, I just float the bag and add the fish.
 

jsmkmavity

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 21, 2023
Messages
107
Reaction score
66
Location
Sandpoint
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I drip inverts. I have had way better survival with inverts being drip acclimated an opposed to floating bag then exchanging water slowly. Some fish seem more stressed by the drip acclimation time so i try to get them into the tank quickly. Lights off and dark container.
 

Red_Beard

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 17, 2019
Messages
1,964
Reaction score
2,956
Location
Utah
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Looks like i fit the pattern here too. Used to drip everything. Now i float it, dip it, and toss it in. I even dip fish, in rubyreef hydroplex. don't know if it does much, but it makes me feel better. soak em and toss em in, been VERY lucky so far after starting to use it and everything has been super healthy.
 

skiergd011013

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 26, 2017
Messages
544
Reaction score
430
Location
Massachusetts
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I float the bag, clip it to the tank rim, opened, and slowly Double the water in the bag a small scoop at a time. I dont dump the water they came with into my tanks. I use my bare hand or hand/nitrile glove to scoop the fish out and into the tank. Nets can snag onto fish gills, mouths, and scales. I find i can be gentler, faster and hence less stress on the fish to just do it by hand. Hermits, crabs, and corals i do not acclimate. Corals get dipped, rinsed with sw, and in they go. Hermits and snails can go from a 100 degree hypersaline tidal pool, to 70 degree 35ppt seawater with one big wave, so i figure they can handle it.
 
Last edited:

KrisReef

His Majesty & Dear Reef Leader for Life
View Badges
Joined
May 15, 2018
Messages
16,450
Reaction score
33,642
Location
Vatican & Las Vegas Penthouse Quarters
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
When coral comes in the mail I temp acclimate and then they go into KCL/tank water for 5 minutes. Pop off the plugs and put them in the tank.

Fish float for a few minutes and then grab them out of the bag and gently hand deliver them to the tank.
 

Paul B

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
19,033
Reaction score
65,786
Location
Long Island NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I also just add some water from my tank a few times and if the temp and salinity is "close", I throw them in. This usually takes about 10 minutes.
 

Doctorgori

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 18, 2019
Messages
6,246
Reaction score
8,762
Location
Myrtle Beach
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Usually fish are shipped in lower salinity so I take upwards 20 min depending on how low the salinity is..

I use a drip acclimation rig but at a fast rate in lieu of a cup… again, maybe 10- 20 min unless stressed
 

Gumbies R Us

Certified Noob
View Badges
Joined
Nov 10, 2022
Messages
16,356
Reaction score
26,989
Location
North Georgia
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'll float the bag, when it's up to temp I'll remove some water and add some of mine a little bit at a time. So not quite drip acclimate but an accelerated version of that
This is the exact same way I acclimate fish and coral in my tank!
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

Back
Top