How do i acclimate an anemone?

soniauke · Jan 20, 2020

I am sorry for asking such a dumb question but I have read on this forum that in order to properly acclimate an Anemone one has to do a temperature acclimation first. How is a temperature acclimation done? Then, what do I do next? I don't want to lose this anemone.

I am transferring him from a 20 gallon very well established tank that I have had for the last 6 years to a brand new tank that is very well cycled. I just transferred the few fish I have as well and some beginner corals to the tank earlier today.

Thank you for all your input..

lilgrounchuck · Jan 20, 2020

Float for temp then drip, but if you made the water for both tanks and they are the same temp/ph/salinity/etc you should just be able to drop it right in.

Steve180 · Jan 20, 2020

I just drop them in

Zack K · Jan 20, 2020

Quick question, why to move so fast to the new tank? Why not leave him in your other tank for as long as you can?

Anemones can be very delicate but simple when acclimating. Float the bag or container in the tank for 20-30min then slowly either add water or drip acclimate unit the amount of water has doubled to be on the safe side. then from there you can move him into the new tank.

Also when you place him in the new tank, make sure your lights are very similar par or lower. If you want to run higher par in the new tank make an acclimation time period of over a week to 10 days slowly ramping up to the desired par to avoid shocking the anemone.

Dragon52 · Jan 20, 2020

I do it just like a fish.

soniauke · Jan 20, 2020

Zack K said:
Quick question, why to move so fast to the new tank? Why not leave him in your other tank for as long as you can?

Anemones can be very delicate but simple when acclimating. Float the bag or container in the tank for 20-30min then slowly either add water or drip acclimate unit the amount of water has doubled to be on the safe side. then from there you can move him into the new tank.

Also when you place him in the new tank, make sure your lights are very similar par or lower. If you want to run higher par in the new tank make an acclimation time period of over a week to 10 days slowly ramping up to the desired par to avoid shocking the anemone.

Actually I have been cycling the new tank since July. I have been really going slow to make sure the parameters were perfect.

Today I decided to make the transfer happen from old tank to new. Should I continue to go slow?

That_Reef_Guy · Jan 20, 2020

Float for temp, then drip aclimation like you would a fish! Should have no problems!

soniauke · Jan 20, 2020

That_Reef_Guy said:
Float for temp, then drip aclimation like you would a fish! Should have no problems!

Should I put the anemone and his rock into a bag, fill it with tank water from the original tank and then float it?

Zack K · Jan 20, 2020

soniauke said:
Actually I have been cycling the new tank since July. I have been really going slow to make sure the parameters were perfect.

Today I decided to make the transfer happen from old tank to new. Should I continue to go slow?

If it has been that long then personally i would feel okay moving him. Good Luck with the new tank!

Dragon52 · Jan 20, 2020

soniauke said:
Should I put the anemone and his rock into a bag, fill it with tank water from the original tank and then float it?

If he's attached to the rock & you can't get it loose then yes.

D-Nak · Jan 20, 2020

What kind of anemone is it? Not that it matter with acclimation, I was just curious.

If you have two tanks, why not just have both at the same temperature? If they're close in temp, which I assume they are, you can literally just remove the anemone from one tank and move it into the other.

How did you move the other corals? Did you acclimate them, or just transfer them?