Best way to acclimate sps

[awais98]

After battling dinoflagellates for 4 months, it seems I’ve nearly ‘won’ the battle. Well lost 90% of my sps.
I had to increase nitrate and phosphates a lot to rid the dinos, so I also raised the cal, bicarb from around 8 to now 10.5-11.

Whatever acros were left are showing faster growth and I’m thinking to leave the cal dkh at those higher numbers.

My question: when I get new frags from vendors, most are now kept at NSW around dkh 8....
How do I acclimate those frags to now my new dkh of 10.5?
Does dripping do it? Over an hour or so?
Wouldn’t that swing cause rtn?

What has worked for others, would love to hear from experienced folks

Thank you

 

[jda]

I would be careful not to assume that the new acropora will ever take to 10.5 to 11 dKh, even if you acclimate them.

The growth that you are getting on the ones that you have left likely has nothing to do with the alk, but probably an amalgamation of other good things that you have been slowly working towards.

If you want to keep your alk that high, then some things will thrive and some will slowly die... I do not think that how you acclimate them will matter at all.

 

[Waters]

After battling dinoflagellates for 4 months, it seems I’ve nearly ‘won’ the battle. Well lost 90% of my sps.
I had to increase nitrate and phosphates a lot to rid the dinos, so I also raised the cal, bicarb from around 8 to now 10.5-11.

Whatever acros were left are showing faster growth and I’m thinking to leave the cal dkh at those higher numbers.

My question: when I get new frags from vendors, most are now kept at NSW around dkh 8....
How do I acclimate those frags to now my new dkh of 10.5?
Does dripping do it? Over an hour or so?
Wouldn’t that swing cause rtn?

What has worked for others, would love to hear from experienced folks

Thank you

I have posted this question a couple of times and haven't really gotten an answer yet lol. A lot of people just temperature acclimate their SPS and toss them in after dipping without any issues....yet if the ALK changes at all in your tank, it causes mass STN/RTN. Following...........

 

[FarmerTy]

I have posted this question a couple of times and haven't really gotten an answer yet lol. A lot of people just temperature acclimate their SPS and toss them in after dipping without any issues....yet if the ALK changes at all in your tank, it causes mass STN/RTN. Following...........

Most healthy acros can take 1.5 dKh swing in a day no problem. Why its best to buy from good vendors/hobbyist that have healthy stock and the frags are healed.

I generally clamp a cup to the side of the tank and if the alk is that far off, slowly mix in my tank water throughout the day.

Awais, I'd advise you to keep your alk lower, not just for acro health reasons but acclimating of new frags will be easier and less stressful on the acros.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

For acros or really expensive corals, I use a method similar to @FarmerTy. For cheaper acros or SPS (or basically, all other corals), I temperature acclimate then put them right in QT.

 

[awais98]

Most healthy acros can take 1.5 dKh swing in a day no problem. Why its best to buy from good vendors/hobbyist that have healthy stock and the frags are healed.

I generally clamp a cup to the side of the tank and if the alk is that far off, slowly mix in my tank water throughout the day.

Awais, I'd advise you to keep your alk lower, not just for acro health reasons but acclimating of new frags will be easier and less stressful on the acros.

I’ll be coming your way one day soon to get my stock back.

 

[mtraylor]

This is the method I use. I float the bags to get water temp the same. Then I take all the frags I have into one container with a little bit of water from each bag trying to get the container with 50% of water from bags. Then I put all my dipping chemicals in the container and top off with 50% tank water. LEt set and observer for criters and make sure they are all dead if any. Brush crap off with tooth brush, tweezer anything needed. Then rinse and glue to rock work.

 

[FarmerTy]

I’ll be coming your way one day soon to get my stock back.

You know where I'm at. Just hit me up when you're ready!