Drip acclimation -- a discussion

[jonathan.]

Does anyone here really feel that drip acclimating your corals actually helps?

I've never... ever... drip acclimated coral and I've never lost a single one in the first few days outside of a table acro that RTN'd over night (never lost another acro besides that outside of my own mishandling or them falling, either) and a flowerpot coral that died of starvation when I first started the hobby (bought it with no real tentacle extension - must've been on it's way out).

Personally, I just float the bag to temperature adjust and add the coral after a small dip.

The only thing I drip acclimate are either seriously touchy fish or any shrimp that I purchase.

 

[120gallons]

I agree, for the most part corals only need temperature acclimation (assuming not coming from overseas originally). This also assumes the salinity is correct in both the target and source water. This is also the advice of many in the trade. There was a thread on Marine Depot forums a while back with Eric B. saying the same thing.

Though I would say, you probably want to quarantine them still to look for bugs and such...

 

[jonathan.]

I agree, for the most part corals only need temperature acclimation (assuming not coming from overseas originally). This also assumes the salinity is correct in both the target and source water. This is also the advice of many in the trade. There was a thread on Marine Depot forums a while back with Eric B. saying the same thing.

Though I would say, you probably want to quarantine them still to look for bugs and such...

I've never QT'd corals (though I'm so adamant on it on fish, which is somewhat ironic) and haven't had any problems... yet. I would agree, though, that they should obviously be QT'd.

I think that dripping corals is pretty much a waste of time and energy. I'd rather spend 2-3 hours doing something else!

 

[pgordemer]

What does everyone suggest as a coral dip solution?

 

[Hawkeye]

I have in the past used a lugols bath and a FWE bath. But I think I've read people use different techniques depending on the coral (e.g. zoa versus sps).

 

[MikeNapoli]

I really don't think you need to drip acclimate coral.
Temp and Ph should be close for the most part.

I know some hobbiests that don't even acclimate fish... they just toss them in, things work different for everyone.

 

[shipwrecked]

I agree with Mike,I at most times dont acclimate corals,and sometimes (when I feel like livin on the dege) dont acclimate fish,but a few times I did loose a fish,it always taunts me to thinking I should've acclimated.I think too that there is many factors here,ie temp and salinity being at the top of the list

 

[JerseyWendy]

I acclimate all fish carefully and slowly. Not with the drip system, but by placing the new arrival in a decent sized bowl, covering it so it's dark, and every 15-20 minutes I add a cup of aquarium water.

All corals go through several inspections with manifying glass and bright light, and several dips before they're placed in my tank.

The only things I've ever just tossed in my tank were snails. :-X

 

[Phyl]

Add us to the list of those who do not acclimate... anything ... . Ok, so almost anything. There has been the odd piece of coral (the Hefflo, for example) that I have acclimated, but most things no. I would say that there is very little we've ever lost as a result of not acclimating it.

 

[stcreef]

I drip acclimate everything. Bags get emptied into a 5 gallon pail with a lid (I had an exquisite wrasse decide he would rather be a bird), a small heater, thermometer and an airstone. This gives me time to inspect everything. After which fish go to QT and any corals get their requisite dips, snails, stars and such go right to their new home. So far its worked.

 

[Hawkeye]

I drip acclimate everything. Bags get emptied into a 5 gallon pail with a lid (I had an exquisite wrasse decide he would rather be a bird), a small heater, thermometer and an airstone. This gives me time to inspect everything. After which fish go to QT and any corals get their requisite dips, snails, stars and such go right to their new home. So far its worked.

+1 that's what I have done in the past and hope to do so in the future.

not sure on the last sentence - but I think the intent was that snails/stars go right in (no dips for them).

 

[stcreef]

not sure on the last sentence - but I think the intent was that snails/stars go right in (no dips for them).

Correct, after drip acclimating, the snails/stars get no dips, they get the once over then go right into the DT

 

[knockout]

I only temp acclimate corals and I do turn the strongest lights off when introducing, the reason I dont think is necessary to drip acclimate a coral is many of us dip this corals in different kinds of solutions to remove pests, now that has to be much more dramatic to the coral than minor changes that may exist between the source water and yours.

 

[JRodrig692]

People spend so much time acclimating their corals to their water, doing the whole drip thing, which I feel also is not so important.

The most important thing about acclimation is light. You have to start those corals out LOW and work them up. I have seen SO many people complain that the coral is dying and when you see a pic its right under the bulb!

The coral needs to get used to your lighting which takes days.

In regards to a dip, I use Revive. Developed by Julian Sprung. Smells like Pine Sol. Introduced to this by Stan. Works great.

 

[concept3]

I ALWAYS drip acclimate my corals (and fish). This is due to simplicity and the ability for me to go do something for about half an hour (like make water). It works for some people, and not for others. I use this half hour time frame in water doubling to add any necessary medication for flatworms and the dreaded redbugs within the drip bucket. I do this especially since it takes about that long anyways for the medication to kick in, and being a stickhead, redbugs are a primary concern for me. Also, in my case, it's also a preventative measure to reduce any shock associated with simply adding the corals in your tank especially since parameters can be drastically different, especially with pH, alkalinity, salinity, and temperature; I've had SPS RTN on me after a few days (in the beginning when I got into the hobby) because I simply placed them in the tank after floating the bags. Taking water out of the tank for the drip process also gives me an excuse to do a bit of water change because I usually end up making/having more fresh SW made up.

I agree with Jrod with the lights. My new acclimations always start at the bottom of the tank, moving up only after a few days or even a week after I plan out their final placement.

I will note however, that after working in the past at an LFS (and occasionally helping my buddy at another LFS), they do just take corals out of bags and dump them in the holding tank. Every coral and fish and invert......except for SPS's.

 

[phish guy]

i always drip acclimate fish/shrimps/stars. snails get the good ol' hold them in a container, add DT water for about a half hour, then right into the display.

i used to drip acclimate corals. one day i just said screw it and stopped. no problems yet.

 

[daveh285]

I drip everything, I turn on a small valve on my return to my display,I have a small tank with an overflow that sits on top of my sump in the garage, and I let the water flow.;D I have even dripped overnight

 

[NEWSALT]

I drip acclimate fish, snail, hermits, & shrimp. I don't drip acclimate corals. I float the bag for about a half hour and then in it goes.

 

[jsantoli]

I do what Stan suggested, which is take the coral out of the bag and place it in the tank. He said that corals dont need to acclimate and I have never lost anything yet so it seems to be working for me.

 

[jimroth]

I think It's more important to drip acclimate fish. I started that recently (as opposed to slopping water in and out of the bag) and I think I'm getting better results. I don't drip acclimate coral.