How To Acclimate Live Fish & Corals Into A Saltwater Aquarium

Click Here For Coral Acclimation

We recommend that all new animals are properly acclimated as soon as possible to reduce stress and increase survivability when moving into a quarantine tank or aquarium.

Animals sold through BRS are captive-bred in bio-controlled systems with standard aquarium water parameters. All animals are shipped within the continental US and have been in transit for less than 24 hours. The following acclimation guidelines may differ from those for internationally shipped livestock or animals from other sources, such as your local fish store.

Temperature Acclimation

1. Turn Off The Lights & ATO

Turn off aquarium lights to reduce stress on the animal. If you have an Auto Top Off (ATO), switch this off before starting the acclimation process.

2. Float The Bag

Float the sealed bag containing your animal in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes. This allows the temperature in the bag to equalize with the tank. Proceed to Step #3a ADD FISH next. If your aquarium's parameters are non-standard or the fish looks stressed, you may proceed to Step #3b and follow the parameter acclimation process instead. 

3A. Add Fish

Once temperature acclimation is complete, use a net to gently transfer the animal from the bag to the aquarium. Discard the water from the bag. Do not dump shipping water into your aquarium.

You're all set! It's normal for a new fish to not eat right away when settling into a new environment. Observe your new pet closely for the first 48 hours.

Parameter Acclimation

This optional parameter acclimation technique is only recommended if the fish looks stressed upon arrival or if your water parameters are non-standard. This gradual acclimation process accounts for water temperature and slowly introduces the fish to your aquarium's water chemistry.  

3b. Open Bag, Add Fish To Container

After floating the sealed bag in your aquarium to equalize the water temperature, carefully open the bag and transfer the animal and its water into a clean bucket or container.

4. Acclimate Using Tank Water

Add a 1/4 cup of tank water to the bucket or container every 5 minutes for 40 minutes.

5. Transfer Fish To Aquarium

Once the acclimation process is complete, use a net to gently transfer the animal from the bucket to the aquarium. Discard the water from the bucket. Do not dump shipping water into your aquarium.

6. Refill the Aquarium With Saltwater

You will likely need to add more fresh saltwater to your aquarium after completing this process due to the water that has been removed through the acclimation process.

Corals are more resilient than fish regarding the rigors of shipping. It is, however, still important to take the proper steps to ensure the long-term health of your new animals. While we strive for clean and pest-free corals, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t inspect and dip new corals to reduce the risk of pests, parasites, and algae being introduced into your aquarium. 

We do not recommend dipping corals right away. Instead, wait 24 hours after receiving and adding the corals to your aquarium before dipping your new corals. This helps to reduce the stress on the coral and ultimately improves the rate of survival. Additionally, the likelihood of introducing a problematic population of pests to your display aquarium during the first 24 hours is very low. 

Learn More: Don't Risk It, Dip It! - How To Dip Live Corals

View Diagram: A Guide To Dipping Corals

Did you know the number one contributor to deceased corals is improper dipping and the resulting stress? Practice diligence and always double check the amount of dip you are adding to your dipping container. Do not wing it and think adding more chemicals will work better. These kinds of mistakes can cause irreversible damage to your recently shipped corals.

Coral Acclimation

1. Cut bags and pour water into a container, then gently place frags inside. Add water from your tank until corals are submerged.
2. Gently blow off corals with a baster to remove accumulated detritus or other undesirables. (Gently is very important.)
3. Place corals near the bottom of your reef, preferably on a frag rack, so they can adjust to your aquarium’s lighting. 
4. After 24 hours, dip and clean corals in a separate container (optional)
5. When ready to mount corals onto the aquascape, use a tiny amount of superglue with a small ball of aquarium-safe epoxy in between to glue your frags.
6. Place coral frag with glue/epoxy on it and push epoxy down into the rock crevices in the optimal location. 

Safe Handling Guidelines

• Do not touch the live tissue of LPS and SPS corals as the pressure applied when handling, plus the oils, etc. from your fingers, will damage the coral. Always handle the coral by holding the frag plug or the rock underneath the live skeleton.
• Handle Zoanthids and Palythoa corals with extreme care because they contain Palytoxin. Gloves, safety glasses, and a dust mask should be worn to lessen the chance of Palytoxin poisoning. Also, never rub your eyes, mouth, or nose during or after handling these animals. This is the most likely way for palytoxin to enter your body. Once done handling, you must wash your hands with soap and rinse well.