Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Friday AM Quick Tip #131: Don’t Have Enough Water Depth? Try This
I’m a big fan of drip acclimating fish and corals. However, sometimes you don’t have enough water to fill up the acclimating bucket or vessel. When that happens, use this quick tip to solve your problem.
Browse the Store! Questions?
Mark whats your thoughts on running Ozone ? Fish health, your health etc
Alan Doyle…I’ve never been a fan. Too many risks for too little benefit
I just ordered ozone kit for my 75 I’m also curious what your opinion on ozone is I have read countless articles on the benifits. I have a double safety net apex orp controler and a Milwaukee controller. Thanks sps and lps heavy stocked fish and coral!
Great tip! You can also use that clamp and clamp the bag onto the side of the bucket.
I’d be murdered to death if I used a mixing bowl… 😮 But a large ice cream tub does the trick as well 😉
Great tip Mark. I always had an issue with that. Thanks for the update. By-the-way, did you come up with that yourself or should someone else get the credit? I’m only asking because you always mention the name of the person who submitted the idea.
Kenn Sanchez…I made this tip up myself. If someone submitted a tip then I always give credit where credit is due. Got an idea for a tip? Send it in via this link
Matt…just do it when she is out of the house…
Hi Mark. Would you recommend drip acclimating to the display tank once the quarantine is done or do you you just put the livestock straight in after the quarantine?
Jason..drip acclimate it for sure. The parameters can be vastly different between your display tank and your quarantine tank
OK. Cool!! Thank you! 🙂
One thing I seldom see addressed in drip acclimating, especially with sensitive critters such as sea cucumbers and others that are best done slowly is TEMPERATURE. Room temperature for all but the most warm natured people is usually close to 10° lower than that of your tank and your drip will be too slow to maintain the drip container at tank temperature!
With small livestock, if the bag is large enough, I clamp the bag inside my sump. I also saved several very large bags from previous shipments, to use if the new arrival comes in too small a bag to properly acclimate it in. With larger critters or large invert purchases like snails and crabs, I use a small heater in a bucket and either float the bag in that or use a bowl (one for that purpose alone, not the wife’s!) to prevent that long acclimation and subsequent temperature drop during it
A question, Mark: With larger fish that are shipped, I’ve always done a somewhat expedited acclimation due to the release of bound toxins which are released when the bag is unsealed. What is your view and/or advice on this? I’ve always believed in the slowest acclimation possible but know there’s a point where doing so can actually do more harm, than good
Another good show! Thanks Mark!:)
are clams good for a reef tank will they eat or kill anything in your tank.
There is 2 things I do when there is not enough water. 1. Tilt the 5g bucket (with the water and critter) until the critter is submerged and/or has enough room. 2. If there is a REALLY small amount of water, I make a hole in the bag, while keeping the bag in the 5g bucket and dump out water until the critter is still submerged, then add my drip line, and I use magfloats to keep the bags up right (use the top of the tied off bag to keep the bag up right). (I did the 2nd the other day when I had 2 acclimated 2 corals from 2 different systems, but did not want to set up 2 acclimation stations.)
Mark, are you trying to get folks divorced… Lol just get some Tupperware from the local discount store. I keep the soup containers from the Chinese restaurant once I clean them.
Happy Wife Happy Life
Funny you mention acclimating that Clam, I’ve been wanting to get one but have not had good luck getting them in good shape via shipping. Where did you order yours? Is it aqua-cultured?
My 10 gallon quarantine tank sits right next to my display tank on a short stand. New arrivals are placed directly in the empty quarantine tank (tipped on edge if needed) with their bag water, and drip acclimated directly from the display tank. I replace my display tank ATOs RO/DI water with new salt water during the drip for a seamless transition. This arrangement helps with quarantine water changes, since they’re both right there, and allows me to keep a close watch on the new members of my aquatic army of evil since I’m studying the display tank for hours a day anyway.
I also cover the quarantine tank with a towel for the first 12 to 24 hours for everything but corals.