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how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 2:49 pm
by graye
Just picked up a few new SPS frags and wanna make sure I don't shock them. What's your drip method? My tank's at 1.025 salinity, 78F, running dual Radion XR15s. Got a 120g mixed reef with mostly LPS but trying to branch out.
Re: how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 4:41 pm
by blueguy
Drip acclimation's overkill for most corals. Float the bag 20 mins to temp match, then dip in Revive for 5 mins. Straight into the tank after. SPS are tougher than folks think, just keep alk stable. Mine go in at 8.5 dKH, no issues.
Re: how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 5:20 pm
by sakurafly
blueguy wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 4:41 pm
Drip acclimation's overkill for most corals. Float the bag 20 mins to temp match, then dip in Revive for 5 mins. Straight into the tank after. SPS are tougher than folks think, just keep alk stable. Mine go in at 8.5 dKH, no issues.
Agree on the alk, but I'd still drip LPS for 30 mins if they came from lower salinity. Lost a Trachyphyllia once from rushing. What's your nitrate level, graye? That'll affect how they settle.
Re: how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 6:56 pm
by silverbark
I do a hybrid thing. Float for temp, then pour into a bucket with tank water over 15 mins. No drips, just gradual mixing. Works for my Zoas and Acans. Lighting's key though—start 'em low, like 30% intensity, then ramp up over a week.
Re: how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 8:19 pm
by ironsteed
Man, I just chuck 'em in after a quick dip. Reef tank's been running 3 years, never lost a frag to acclimation. But my system's dirty—10ppm nitrate, 0.1 phosphate. Corals dig it. Maybe they're just hardy, idk.
Re: how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 9:54 pm
by graye
Nitrates at 5ppm, phosphates 0.03. Heard mixed things about dipping SPS—some say it stresses them more. Blueguy, you ever see tissue recession from Revive?
Re: how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 11:09 pm
by blueguy
Nope, but I half-dose it for SPS. 3 mins max. Full strength can tick off Acros. Your params sound solid, just avoid big swings. If the frags came from a tank with higher alk, drip 'em slow to match your 8.5.
Re: how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 12:33 am
by sakurafly
Second the half-dose for delicate stuff. Also, watch your flow—new frags hate turbulence. Stick 'em in a quiet corner for a few days. My Goniopora sulked for weeks till I moved it behind a rock.
Re: how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 12:57 am
by silverbark
sakurafly wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 12:33 am
Second the half-dose for delicate stuff. Also, watch your flow—new frags hate turbulence. Stick 'em in a quiet corner for a few days. My Goniopora sulked for weeks till I moved it behind a rock.
Flow's huge. I run MP40s at 30% for new arrivals. Bumped it to 50% once too fast, bleached a Monti cap. Lesson learned.
Re: how to acclimate new corals
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 1:10 am
by ironsteed
Y'all making this too complicated. Corals are basically sea weeds. Chuck 'em in, feed 'em, they'll grow. My Duncan's split heads twice this year just from weekly mysis. Maybe I got lucky.