Acclimation Instructions

At SeaScape, there are two different water systems in the aquaria.

1. The central aquariums and the top row of small invertebrate tanks at the rear of the store have seawater maintained at 10 dKh, 1.025 mg/L. No medications are used in the water. This water, if necessary can be added to either a reef aquarium or fish-only aquarium.
2. The side aquarium systems along both walls, and the bottom row of aquariums at the rear of the store have seawater maintained at 14 dKh, 1.014 mg/L. Copper and formalin are used in the water to prevent the progression and transmission of disease. This water should not be added to a reef aquarium. It can, if necessary, be added to a fish-only aquarium.

Sponges

1. NO AIR EXPOSURE - EVER.
2. Float the sponge while in the bag for 1 hour.
3. Open the bag while underwater and pull out the sponge.
4. Without exposing the sponge to the air, place the sponge in the aquarium.
5. Discard the bag.

Non-coral Invertebrates

1. Open the bag and transfer the animal and water into another (preferably non see-through) container.
2. For all but starfish: dripline acclimate with a broken stream rate for one hour
3. SPECIAL NOTE: FOR LINCKIA, FROMIA, AND TILE STARFISH, DRIP ACCLIMATE AT 2 DRIPS PER SECOND FOR 4 HOURS MINIMUM.
4. After one hour for all non-coral invertebrates besides starfish, and 4 hours for starfish, remove the animal from the water and place it into the aquarium.
5. Discard the water and the bag.

Corals

1. Float the coral in the bag for one hour.
2. Remove the coral from the bag and place it in the aquarium.
3. Discard the bag and the water.
4. Alternative: drip acclimate with the non-coral invertebrate (non-sponge) procedures.

Fish - Hyposaline stock solution (SeaScape perimeter/wall aquariums).

1. Transfer the fish to a small bucket or otherwise clean container.
2. Drip acclimate at the rate of 4 to 5 drops per second for 3 hours.
3. After three hours, measure the salinity of the bucket/container and the aquarium. If they are equal, place fish in aquarium. If the salinities are not equal, raise the drip rate to a broken stream and continue drip acclimation for one more hour, then check salinity again. If equal, place the fish in the aquarium. If not equal, continue the broken stream acclimation for another hour and recheck. Place fish or repeat as necessary.
4. OPTIONAL: After 2 hours, remove 1/2 of water in the specimen container and continue the drip acclimation procedure as listed above.

Fish - Normal salinity stock solution (SeaScape central aquariums and small invertebrate system - top row at rear of store).

1. Follow the directions for non-coral invertebrates.
2. OPTIONAL: After 1 hour, remove 1/2 of water in the specimen container and continue drip acclimation for 1 more hour.