Welcoming coral to your home!!! How do you add coral to your tank?

[Peace River]

Welcoming coral to your home!!! How do you add coral to your tank?

Congratulations on the newly acquired coral! Let’s talk about how you move it into your system. Do you take many of the same steps that you would take with a new fish, or do you have a different approach for acclimating corals? Of course, it may depend on the type of coral, but if that is the case then let us know how you introduce different types of coral to your system. Some reef keepers dip all new coral, whereas other reef keepers don’t dip any of their corals (or maybe just certain types). Additionally, sometimes the corals are added directly to the reef tank and other times there is a quarantine tank used. An observation box within the tank is also a possibility.

Photo by @Dempsey941


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[SPS2020]

For Acros, I'll float while I get the dip ready, then dip and place into DT.

 

[ReeferZ1227]

Dip, then frag rack, sandbed, or epoxy to rock. Ive never acclimated anything.

 

[PotatoPig]

Dip and dump, after lights out.

I buy all my coral at the LFS and keep my salinity in the same range as them (35ppt, I test their water each time) so don’t drip acclimate.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I do a short acclimation and enter it. Never had an issue with coral Not opening

 

[Waters]

Bag float, dip, and into the tank.

 

[shakacuz]

temp acclimate, dip, tank

 

[saltnut]

At one time or another I have done every item in the list.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Acclimate then place all new frags on the bottom of the tank for a few days or a week. Then mount to rock work.

 

[Haggisman14]

this is fitting for me, b/c I just got an order today from @Battlecorals

I have a small 5 gallon tank (no QT, so I don't have a lot of extra room).

I drain about 1 gallon of display water into a 5 gallon bucket. Float the new bags in that bucket for about 10 minutes, then cut bags open into another container, do a quick inspection of the plugs/corals, and blow off anything that might be on the plug/coral; and then place it onto the frag tank.

I only buy from places that I feel comfortable with their QT procedures on their end, and aside from a quick inspection, put them right into the tank!

 

[fodsod]

Acclimate for temp, dip, in the tank.

 

[Dburr1014]

Float, dip, on the sand for a week, to spot.

 

[marinesnow]

It depends. The highest risk IME is introducing fish disease into my display. Therefore, if I buy from a friend or dealer who has a healthy system, as a result of strict QT protocols of their own, I will usually temperature acclimate then add to display. Contrarily, if I don't trust where it came from, I will remove the frag plug, dip, and add to QT.

 

[vlangel]

I usually just add coral to the tank.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Float the bag, put into clear plastic cup to inspect and if all looks good in it goes minus the water. I don't like adding other people's water to my tank.

 

[X-37B]

Straight from bag to KCL dip then into frag tank.

 

[tsharpe291]

float bag, dip, then in on sand bed for a few days

 

[liddojunior]

Any concerns that dipping after shipping adds more stress?

I prefer to float to get to temp and then poke a hole in the bag so the water starts mixing slowly

 

[tsharpe291]

Any concerns that dipping after shipping adds more stress?

I prefer to float to get to temp and then poke a hole in the bag so the water starts mixing slowly

ive never had any issues, I dip everything before it goes in

 

[Dee tre]

Yeah pretty basic: float for temp, dip and place in a spot i think is suitable for the type of coral for flow and lighting. I stick to certain vendors so par and placement is what i look at water quality will suit the coral so dripping i did once or twice but never again