Is an Extremely Important Process!

 

All newly arriving livestock items such as fish, corals & invertebrates can be very sensitive to a change in their water parameters. 

Therefore an acclimation process is crucial to ensuring their successful transfer.

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Important Livestock Shipping Note

The water your newly arrived livestock is packaged in will have a different temperature & different water parameters compared to your own aquarium.

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Using one of the following two suggested acclimation methods is recommended for a safe transfer

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The Floating Method

Suitable for most fish & plants, under normal circumstances.

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1) Turn off aquarium lights.

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2) Dim the lights in the room where the shipping box will be opened.
 

3) Float the unopened bag in the aquarium for 15 minutes.

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4) Open the bag & roll the top edge of the bag down to create an air pocket within the lip of the bag.

Notes: (This will enable the bag to float on the surface of the water)

(For heavy items such as corals, place the open bag in a plastic bowl or container)
 

5) Slowly add 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag.

Notes: (every few minutes until the bag is full)

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6) Lift the shipping bag from the aquarium and discard half the water from the bag.
 

7) Repeat steps 4 & 5 one more time.
 

8) Net the livestock from the bag and release them into the aquarium.
 

9) Remove the filled shipping bag from the aquarium and discard the water.

Notes: (Do not allow the shipping water to enter the aquarium)

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The Drip Method
Suitable for sensitive items such as corals, inverts, & visually stressed fish.

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1) Turn off aquarium lights.

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2) Dim the lights in the room where the shipping box will be opened.

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3) Float the unopened bag in the aquarium for 15 minutes.

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4) Carefully empty the contents of each bag into a tilted bucket,

Notes: (Make sure not to expose any sensitive invertebrates to the air)

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5) Set up a siphon drip line from the main aquarium to the bucket.

Notes: (Use an airline & tie loose knots in the tubing, or use a plastic airline control valve & regulate the flow rate @ 2 - 4 drips per second)
       

6) When the water volume in the bucket doubles, discard half the water.

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7) Now begin the drip process again until the volume doubles once more.
 

8) Your new livestock can now be transferred to the aquarium.

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Important Information

Always follow the acclimation procedures even if your new arrival appears to be dead.

Some times livestock are stressed & can appear as though they are dead when they arrive, but will usually revive when the above procedures are followed correctly.
 

Never add an air stone into the shipping bag when acclimating your new arrival.

This will increase the pH of the water too quickly and expose your new arrival to high ammonia levels​.

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