What is Acclimation? Why do you need to acclimate your reef inhabitants? How do you acclimate? These are some of the questions we will answer in this section. Acclimation is simply defined as a process of adjusting, adapting, or being accustomed to a new environment or habitat. Which in our case is your aquarium. This is one of the most important step in the setup and stocking of your aquarium, that when skipped can have a drastic affect on your aquarium. With the worst case scenario of one creatures death and release of toxins that kills another, and another, and so on and so on until the aquarium comes to a cataclysmic end, or crash as some hobbyists refer to it. In short, protect your investment and acclimate your new reef inhabitants properly to insure a long healthy life in your aquarium.

As a word of warning never rush the acclimation process, or start a new project. Rushing the acclimation process can have a severe affect on your reef inhabitants, due to the sensitive nature to abrupt changes in the water parameters. New projects are just as dangerous as rushing the acclimation process, because it is very easy to lose track of time or even forget.

The drip method is recommended more often so than the floating bag method due to the hands off approach, and can be used with even the most sensitive creatures. However, always acclimate fish, coral, and invertebrates separate during this acclimation process.

Supplies that will be needed are:

1. Container, Bucket, or Tub large enough to house your specimen.
2. Airline tubing ¼” is recommended.
3. Airline shut off or control valve (recommended but not vital).
4. Safety gear like goggles or gloves for example.
5. Thermometer to keep track of the temperature.
6. Hydrometer or Refractometer.

Step 1:
Dim the lights of the aquarium and the room in which the package is to be opened in.

1. Reduction in the light level in both the room and the aquarium reduces the sudden shock or stress that fish and invertebrate experience from exposure to a bright light source.
2. Strong light sources like metal halides are notorious for heating the surface temperature faster than the water just a foot below. This will raise the water temperature in the bag faster than needed or recommend.

Step 2:        
Float the bag still sealed in the aquarium for 10 to 15 minutes.

1. Floating the bag allows for the temperature of the bag to slowly adjust to the temperature of the aquarium.
2. In the unusual event that the bags arrive with a substantial temperature difference out of the normal range (hot or cold). Float the bag for a longer period of time but do not exceed 30 minutes. DO NOT RUSH THIS PROCESS. A sudden increase or spike in the inhabitants bag temperature does more damage than the gradual increase in temperature.

Step 3:
Carefully not to hurt the inhabitants empty the contents of the bag into your container.

1. Remember to use your safety gear for toxic creatures. Some creatures may burn your skin simply by touch, while other toxic resins stay on your skin even after they are dry. Which can be easily ingested or rubbed into an open wound or eye, causing irritation or infection.
2. Air sensitive creatures need special care to ensure that they remain untouched by air, which may require the container to be tilted to obtain this goal. Prop this container well enough to sustain vibrations from a person walking past it at a normal pace.

Step 4:
Obtain a reading on both the temperature and specific gravity.

1. A constant reading from a thermometer insures that the temperature of the container matches that of the aquarium or is as close as possible. Sometimes heaters or ice packs strategically placed are needed to regulate the temperature.
2. A specific gravity reading with a hydrometer or refractometer is helpful in determining how long to acclimate. Very important for sensitive inhabitants.

Step 5:
Use the ¼” airline tubing to setup a siphon drip line from the aquarium your specimen will be placed in to the container its being acclimated in.

1. Secure the tubing to your aquarium with a clip to prevent it from falling out during the acclimation process. Make sure that this end is completely submerged under water.
2. If an airline shut off or control valve is not available. Loose knots in the tubing can be tied to restrict or slow the water flow rate. In most cases more than one knot is needed. How many will depend on how rigid the airline is.
3. Any and all parts that come in contact with the water need to be plastic or otherwise stated as marine/saltwater water safe.

Step 6:
Start the siphon by sucking on the opposite end of the airline tubing, and place it into the container once started.

1. The drip should be adjusted to the rate of no more than 2-5 drips per second. Adjustments to the flow rate can be further controlled by the tightening, loosing, adding, or removing of knots in the airline tube.
2. When the water level reaches roughly double the original level, remove half and discard (never place the discarded water back into your aquarium). Repeat this process over the course of thirty minutes to an hour as needed.

Step 7:
To prevent an unwanted infection or infestation from spreading in the display aquarium an inhabitant dip is recommended at this point.

1. Not all inhabitants can be subjected to these methods of treatment. Some research will be required to find the best type of treatment.
1. Freshwater dip.
2. Iodine dip.
3. Several different coral dip solutions.
2. Whenever possible it is recommended to use natural methods versus chemical dips.

Step 8:
Transfer the specimen from the acclimation container to the quarantine tank or display aquarium. 

1. Remember to use your safety gear for toxic creatures. Some creatures may burn your skin simply by touch, while other toxic resins stay on your skin even after they are dry. Which can be easily ingested or rubbed into an open wound or eye, causing irritation or infection.
2. Air sensitive creatures need special care to ensure that they remain untouched by air.
3. To prevent damage, handle the inhabitant as little as possible, and stay away from soft tissue.

Step 9:
Dispose any and all water from the acclimation process, do not place it back into your aquarium.

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