Acclimation Guide

ACCLIMATING YOUR NEW LIVESTOCK!

Easy ways to start acclimating your fish into their new homes.




Floating Method 1. Turn off aquarium lights and keep them off for a few hours after introducing your new animals.
2. Open all boxes to ensure that all animals have arrived safely -- do not do this in bright light.
3. Separate fish, inverts and corals. Acclimate these 3 groups separately.
4. Float the bags in your aquarium for 15-20 min. This will adjust the temperature of the water in the bags. Do not open bags.
5. After floating 15-20 minutes, cut open the bag and add 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag.
6. Repeat step 5 every five minutes until the shipping bag is full.
7. Remove the filled shipping bag from the aquarium and discard the water and release the fish into the aquarium. Never release shipping water directly into the aquarium.

Drip Method 1. You might use the Styrofoam box for acclimation container. When you use your own bucket make sure that it is clean (no soap or other chemicals).
2. You might cover the top with something so that fish don't jump out and to reduce light (especially Wrasses and Eels).
3. Prepare your drip line from the tank to container. (You can use airline tubing for a drip line.)
4. Begin a siphon by sucking on the end you will be placing into one of the container. Desired flow: 2-4 drops per second. You should let the container fill up slowly and this process should take 30-60 minutes.
5. Once water volume doubles, discard half the water from the container and then repeat process.
6. Repeat this process two to three times.
7. Net one fish at a time to prevent scratches or wounds, place gently get into tank. For inverts such as corals or anemones, you can use your hand and gently place them in the desired area in your tank.

Special Notes

**Specimens that require special acclimation**
Clams and sponges should not be allowed to touch air, so make sure that they are always in the water while you acclimate them. It is okay to pour some of the water back into the tank if you're acclimating these specimens.

**Beware of Jumpers!!**
Most types of fish (Wrasses, Jawfish, and Gobies) will jump at anything that startles them. They will even jump right out of their acclimation bucket if given the chance so while acclimating make sure to cover your container and also secure your aquarium as well.

**Wait a few hours or until next day before feeding. Some fish take a longer period of time to start eating.**