Acclimation

I know how to acclimate, but I have a really random question:

Whenever I acclimate a fish, I always turn the lights off for 1-3 days. How long should I leave the lights off in a SW tank if I had Corals and inverts? Just wondering if leaving a light off for a couple of days will affect the health of the coral.

Depends on how stressed the fish seems, but generally I leave the lights offfor about 1/2 a day

BurgerKing wrote:I know how to acclimate, but I have a really random question:

Whenever I acclimate a fish, I always turn the lights off for 1-3 days. How long should I leave the lights off in a SW tank if I had Corals and inverts? Just wondering if leaving a light off for a couple of days will affect the health of the coral.

How do you get your corals? Do you buy from a LFS or online? I get mine online, so they are in the dark for about 24 hours before arriving to me. So, I open the box with the room light off, take them out of the box, float them in the tank with the room lights off for about 20 minutes, then I turn the room lights back on with the bag still floating.

After complete acclimation, I put the corals in the bottom of the tank and turn the actinics on for the rest of the day. the next day, T5 and actinics as usual keeping the corals at the bottom. they will let you know when they are acclimated to the light by opening up. then I move them up one level in the tank and let them acclimate the same way, but lights as usual. again they will you know when they are ready to move up. I do this until I have them where I want them.

the inverts, actinics for 12 hours, the all lights off then next day lights as usual. Never had a problem (knock on wood!!)

Brenda

I dont have any corals or inverts yet(or even a SW setup) I was just wondering for the future when I do get corals.

Gotcha always good to know ahead of time. FYI, if you are going to buy corals from a LFS, dip them first in a quick FW bath. Corals can have nudi that are pests and eat them.

One of the reasons I buy Online, they are QT first and guarenteed no pests from the site I get them from here in USA..

Brenda

I've read about the FW bath. I'd be so worried about the health of the fish, I havent heard many bad things but I'd reather just pick them up at a LFS than worry about it.

BurgerKing wrote:I've read about the FW bath. I'd be so worried about the health of the fish, I havent heard many bad things but I'd reather just pick them up at a LFS than worry about it.

I don't believe sambrinar meant to suggest you should give new fish a FW bath, only coral. I myself prefer a a dip in Lugols (or another iodine based) solution for coral.

Oh that was just me being a tard, I meant to say coral, wouldnt a FW bath kill a fish?

Yep, corals, not fish, I should have specified myself as well... LOL It is all good!!!

Brenda (I wish my sig showed up, I forget to sign my name )

I read today about a FW dip, where you place a new SW fish in FW for a moment, then place it into your tank. The article didnt really elaborate on why you do this, so I'd be a little sceptical about it.

I have never FW dipped my fish, and I have no intention on doing so. IMO it is too stressful on a fish that is already stressed. If you are worried about the fish, best advice is to QT the fish for several weeks before adding it to the DT

I've never bought an infected fish from my LFS, so Im not to worried about it. And I wouldnt pour te water from th LFS into my tank, I'd net the fish then place the fish in my tank.

LOL Remember,,,, Never is a mighty long time

BurgerKing wrote:I've never bought an infected fish from my LFS, so Im not to worried about it. And I wouldnt pour te water from th LFS into my tank, I'd net the fish then place the fish in my tank.

Its only a matter of time if you stick with the hobby.
Its a sad fact.

Im sure I will eventually, but I guess its a part of the hobby.

I know a few people that FW dip marine fish.....no problems have come of it.....actually I bought a clown from a guy and he told me that if I wanted to, I could put him in a FW dip for 10 min and it would get rid of any unwanted bacteria that may be on the fish. I didn't do it, just QT the fish. But, like I said, I DO know people that do the FW dip and none of them have had any problems arise from it.

I just though it was a weird suggestion. It makes sense that the FW would kill the parasites, but I never though it was healthy for the fish. How long do you QT the fish for??