What's your routine with new coral acquisitions?

Daniel@R2R · Feb 23, 2014

Here's a fun discussion. NOTE: I'm not looking for the "correct" way. I am thinking it will be fun to share ideas on the various different ways we all handle this. Please share as much as you'd like about your process with new corals.

Good husbandry dictates that you dip and acclimate new acquisitions...we got that, but what do you do next? Do you keep yours in quarantine (if so, for how long)? Do you grow yours out in a frag tank before going to display? Do you place yours directly into the DT? How do you handle mounting in your DT? Do you take the coral off the plug and mount straight to your live rock, do you try to find a spot for your plug and mount it, or do you just set your plugs in without attaching them (the proof that you're afraid of commitment)? How do you handle trying to find the best place for your new coral?

Zero Nitrates · Feb 23, 2014

My routine is changing because a friend of mine and I just set up a frag tank. So from this point forward I am going to add to the frag tank first. Up until now I have placed everything in the bottom of my tank to adjust to the lights for a couple of weeks. When I feel that it looks ready to move I take it off the plug and glue it to a rock with super glue gel.
Good topic!

ReeferEric · Feb 23, 2014

Aside from a quick dip (I don't do much since I get frags from other local reefers with well cared tanks), usually a 30 min temp acclimation and then it goes into the tank. Haven't lost any frags that way. As for placement, they usually go on a rack that I have on the side. I want to say my par is lower then most so with in the next few days I'll mount them where I like. Only once have I had a frag bleach out but it's recovering nicely. BTW, my tank is T5 powered so it's not as harsh as LED.

vlangel · Feb 23, 2014

I used to never even dip my new corals, just acclimate them to my water and go. ( Amazingly never got any pests). After becoming a member to saltwater forums and reading lots of horror stories about pests I now dip all new corals. I don't quarantine though. Usually I have a spot in mind and I just set them on it. If they seem to like the spot then I epoxy them to it.

wbrown · Feb 23, 2014

Dip, quarantine for a month. Move to frag tank for awhile, then to DT if I get the results I'm looking for. I glue em where I want em. I have the same lighting on frag and quarantine tanks as my DT.

ReeferEric · Feb 23, 2014

wbrown said:
Dip, quarantine for a month. Move to frag tank for awhile, then to DT if I get the results I'm looking for. I glue em where I want em. I have the same lighting on frag and quarantine tanks as my DT.

This is the correct way but I'm lazy. LOL, frags will now be going into my frag tank once I am able to incorporate it into my DT system. I'll follow the routine above except no separate QT system.

GHill762 · Feb 23, 2014

I look them over for unwanted pests, temp acclimate, and toss them in. I don't have time/energy/space for a dedicated qt. That may change one day. I know it's a dangerous gamble, but I've been fine so far.

Daniel@R2R · Feb 26, 2014

Bump for more good info

Eric B · Feb 26, 2014

I first float the coral for about 15-30 minutes. Then I open them up and pour all shipping water into a container, and place the frags on my work bench. I remove all frags from frag plugs and place frags back into shipping water in container and then I add the bayer for my reef dip and mix. While frags are sitting in the dip for 20 minutes +/- I get out new frag plugs and glue and also a new container of my tank water. (I also put all the old frag plugs in a container to soak in either peroxide, bleach or vinegar for a few days) I remove frags from dip container and place in one of my tank water containers once complete I discard the bayer container from work area. I then take frags one at a time glue on a new frag plug and then place in tank or frag tank where ever there is room. Have not had a pest since I have done it this way and dealing with pest in a large tank is a pain in the rear (I know from experience LOL)!

xthunderx · Feb 26, 2014

GHill762 said:
I look them over for unwanted pests, temp acclimate, and toss them in. I don't have time/energy/space for a dedicated qt. That may change one day. I know it's a dangerous gamble, but I've been fine so far.

I was just like you a few years back and I completely understand your perspective...and then it happened. Looking back, I wish I'd been more careful. The time and energy it took to shake off the pest almost made me quit the hobby. Glad I hung in there, big lesson learned.

Rob&Gab · Feb 26, 2014

okay here is the process of how it happens from start to finnish.

Step 1- Purchase a Frag or what ever coral it maybe.

Step 2- Drive home

step 3- Put Coral baggs into sump to temp acclimate for 15 minutes.

step 4- Take coral bags out

step 6- get Bucket

step 7- cut all bags dump water from baggs into bucket

Step 8- put all frags from bags into bucket

step 9- Depending on water volume Put 4-5Caps of Coral-Rx into bucket

Step 10- Turkey baste for 6-8 Minutes with 2minutes of just water being still, then back to turney basting

Step 11- Rinse all coral off with Fresh tank water.

step 12- Place coral in spots in your tank where you no they will do fine at.

Step 13- Sit for hours looking at your coral when done

Rob&Gab · Feb 26, 2014

forgot to add if coral plugs do not look good i remove then from plug and glue on new plug.

reef1980 · Feb 26, 2014

1. Take 2 cups of water and mix 40ml of Bayer.
2. Take coral out of bag.
3. Visual inspection (with aid of magnify glass).
4. Rip of plugs no matter what (unless fully incrusted).
5. Put in dip for 10 minutes.
6. During the 10 minutes blast corals with turkey baster.
7. Take out coral let sit in fresh salt water.
8. Put on frag rack.

xthunderx · Feb 26, 2014

My process:
1. Remove frag plug.
2. Dip the coral (insert your favorite dip here).
3. Move and place coral in new container with my tank water.
4. Inspect coral one final time (magnifying glasses).
5. Move tank.

xthunderx · Feb 26, 2014

I use bayer as my dip, works great.

3Twinklets · Feb 26, 2014

I am very careful where I buy corals from ,and actually, buy very few now. My corals are acclimated and dipped then put in a frag rack that is set down towards the bottom of my tank.I leave them there for sometimes several weeks to months depending on how they are doing.I then move them to where I think they will be happy, temporarily gluing plug and all. (Sometimes, they need to be moved again)When I see that the coral is happy then I remove them from the plug, if I can, or trim the plug down with some small bolt cutters and glue in place for good.

KoleTang · Feb 26, 2014

1. Float corals for 15 minutes
2. Add some tank water to two of these (Amazon.com - 11.4 QT White Plastic Rectangular Dish Pan, 14.45" x 12.55" x 5.67". - Dish Racks) Add SMALL heater if there will be a lot of corals
3. Going coral by coral, remove frag plug, thoroughly inspect (using reading glasses/magnifying glass and light), then put into container
4. Add Bayer to first container (with corals) Let corals dip for 10m while using turkey baster
5. Move corals to second container to rinse
6. Put corals low in the tank so they can adjust to the light

Velodog2 · Feb 26, 2014

I initially treat mine like fish - float the bag then slowly acclimate to tank water. Based on what I see here maybe a waste of time.

Then 5 min dip in Coral Rx in water from tank in a bucket with powerhead for circulation.

Inspect carefully with best reading glasses under bright light for pests and especially pest eggs.

Set plug in "special" hole in my rockwork halfway down in tank.

Allow to recover from move and acclimate for 1-2 weeks while I decide best permament location.

Remove from plug if at all possible and glue in selected location.

I haven't lost a single acro in the two years I've been doing this.