Acclimation Guide
I
plan to have some tutorials regarding this process later.
In
this industry, there are similar / standard acclimation method that most
hobbyist follow, and sellers recommend.
I do
not particularly care for them and therefore, I may request that you please
follow the acclimation procedure I have laid out. If not, please be advised
that this could cancel the live arrival guarantee that I offer.
Most
of the time, a simple floating method may be fine. There could be situations in
which if using the above method could potentially kill a coral. And the method
I use and recommend should be followed.
For
example.
Corals, and livestock are already stressed during shipping. I use 72-hour heat
packs and assorted Ice packs in the summertime. I have had this scenario happen
before. A customer asked for me to ship the package out on Thursday I warned
the seller about shipping later in the week. He insisted and understood the
risk. I had set to arrive for Friday before 10am. Needless to say the package
was delayed. The seller contacted me,
and we tried to have the package picked up at distribution center. The buyer
and I was both denied. Because I did not have an option for Saturday delivery. Therefore
it could only be delivered the next business day which was Monday.
The
corals was in a box in 40 degree temperature for 4 days 96 hours in total. To
make matters worse this was during the Covid Pandemic and I was advise that
there is no longer any on time arrival guarantee. I explained to the customer
that I packaged the items very well and if any DOA happens I will work with
him. But he has to keep me inform along with pictures especially being so long
in a box.
On
Monday when the customer had the package delivered, he immediately took a temperature
reading. It wasn’t as bad as what I thought 65 degrees. And he was amazed at
the polyps were still in fact open and looked healthy and he provided me with
pictures. At this point we were both impressed!
He
wanted to float them, and I asked him not too. I had him follow these specific
instructions to help ensure survival because of the 65-degree water. Going from
65 to 78 is a huge difference 13 degrees to be exact. I asked him to use my
drip method 2 – 3 drops per second. And asked him to not increase the
temperature more than 2 degrees per hour. He followed my instructions and spent
the 6 1/2 hours acclimating the package. I kept in contact with him every hour.
He sent me pictures of him temperature readings until the water in the
container matched his aquarium.
I
then advised him that he could now transfer them. I asked him over the next couple
of days to monitor and send me a status report. To both of our amazements he
had 100% alive and healthy corals! I credit a lot of this to his willingness to
follow my instructions his extra time for the acclimation procedure and the
excellent communication between seller and customer.
I personally
will plan to give out thermometers for every order placed. Assuming I have the supplies
at the time of your product being, packaged. If I do not have a thermometer in
the bag. I will ask if you happen to have one . And to please provide me a temperature
readout. In the event you do not have a thermometer. I realize it’s not the
ideal situation and may require approval with the wife; ) a kitchen or meat
thermometer will work.
This
gives us a better understanding of the temperature of the item in the bag as well as documentation.
For
example, the temperature of the bag is 75 and your aquarium is at 80. This is a
5-degree difference. With most corals / frags I might have an ounce of water in
the bag. Because of the little volume of water that small amount can heat up instantly
if floated. Under certain circumstances this could cause a stress on the coral.
Therefore,
I ask all to please follow my acclimation table. I realize that not everyone
may not be able to drip for hours especially for those who may have nano tanks.
The key here is to avoid rapid temperature increases in the water. In some
cases no more than 1°F - 2°F per hour.
A
standard acclimation procedure is something like the following and would be
appropriate if the water difference is less than 4°F.
Floating
Method:
Float
the unopen bag in the aquarium for 10 minutes. This allows the temperature to
equalize from the temperature of the aquarium to bag.
Open
and roll the side of the bag down this allows the bag to free float. Add ¼ to ½
cup of aquarium water to the bag. Every 8 minutes add another ¼ to ½ cup, until
24 minutes to 1/2 hour.
If the bag fills up then either discard ½ to ¾ of the water into a bucket or
transfer the contents into a container and proceed with adding the ¼ to ½ cup
until the time is up.
Transfer the coral and discard
the water from the bag. Please be sure not to mix the water from the bag into your
aquarium or quarantine tank.