Quarantining Live Aquaria

Though not a requirement, I highly recommend that all marine fish be quarantined in a separate aquarium for a period of one week for hardy fish or two weeks for more sensitive fish. Quarantining new live aquaria virtually eliminates the possibility of introducing diseases and parasites to your tank and allows new tankmates to regain optimal health before its final transition to your aquarium.

Acclimation Procedure

1. Turn off aquarium lights.
   
   
2. Dim the lights in the room where the shipping box will be opened. Never open a box or bag in bright light - severe stress or trauma may result from sudden exposure to bright light.
   
   
3. Float the sealed bag in the aquarium for 15 minutes (Fig. A). Do not open the shipping bag at this time. This step allows the water in the shipping bag to adjust slowly to the temperature in the aquarium, while maintaining a high level of dissolved oxygen.
   
   
4. After floating the sealed shipping bag for 15 minutes, cut open the bag just under the knot or clip (Fig. B) and roll the top edge of the bag down one inch to create an air pocket within the lip of the bag. This will enable the bag to float on the surface of the water (Fig. C). For heavy pieces of live coral that will submerge the shipping bag, place the bag containing the coral in a plastic bowl or specimen container. Alternately, with good planning, you can create a relatively flat spot on top of your rocks on which you can sit bagged hard coral specimens for aclimation.
   
   
5. Add 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag (Fig. D).
   
   
6. Repeat step 5 about every five minutes until the shipping bag is full.
   
   
7. Lift the shipping bag from the aquarium and discard half the water from the bag (Fig. E).
   
   
8. Float the shipping bag in the aquarium again and proceed to add 1/2 cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag about every five minutes until the bag is full.
   
   
9. Net live aquaria from the shipping bag and release into the aquarium (Fig. F).
   
   
10. Remove the filled shipping bag from the aquarium and discard the water. Never release shipping water directly into the aquarium.

Important Facts

• Be patient - never rush the acclimation procedure. The total acclimation time for your new arrival should take no longer than one hour.
  
  
• Follow the acclimation procedure, even if your new arrival appears to be dead. Some fish and invertebrates can appear as though they are dead when they arrive and can revive when the above procedure is followed correctly.
  
  
• Never place an airstone into the shipping bag when acclimating your new arrival. This will increase the pH of the shipping water too quickly and expose your new arrival to lethal ammonia.
  
  
• Keep aquarium lights off for at least four hours after the new arrival is introduced into the aquarium.
  
  
• Most invertebrates and marine plants are more sensitive than fish to salinity changes. It is imperative to acclimate invertebrates to a specific gravity of 1.023-1.025 or severe stress or trauma may result.
  
  
• Sponges, clams, scallops, and gorgonias should never be directly exposed to air! Follow the acclimation procedure, but instead of netting the specimen out of the shipping bag, submerge the bag underwater in the aquarium and remove the marine life from the bag. Seal off the shipping bag underwater by twisting the opening, and remove it from the aquarium. Discard both the shipping bag and the enclosed water. A tiny amount of the diluted shipping water will escape into the aquarium. Don't be alarmed; this will have no adverse affect on the tank inhabitants.
  
  
• In some instances, your new tank mate will be chased and harassed by one or all of your existing tank mates.
  
  Solution 1: A plastic spaghetti strainer (found at your local discount store) can be used to contain a tank bully within the aquarium for several hours until the new arrival adjusts to its surroundings. Just float the perforated plastic basket in the aquarium. Net the tank bully and place in the floating basket for approximately four hours while the new arrival adjusts to your aquarium. Never place the new arrival in this basket; the new specimen must get familiar with your aquarium. By placing the tank bully in a perforated basket, you'll reduce the stress on your newest tank mate.
  
  Solution 2: A perforated plastic lighting grid can be purchased at your local hardware store to cut down the width of your aquarium. This grid may be used to section off a small portion of the aquarium to separate territorial or aggressive fish from the newest tank mate. After the new addition adjusts to the unfamiliar environment, the divider can be removed.
  
  
• Some live corals produce excess slime when shipped. After the acclimation procedure is followed, hold the coral by the rock or skeletal base and shake the coral in the shipping bag before placing into the aquarium. To avoid damage, (or in some cases painful stings) try not to touch the "fleshy" part of the coral. Many species of coral will not open for several days to a week after introduction into their new home.
  

Credit - Used with permission from Drs. Foster and Smith:
I found the basis (and pictures) for this procedure at www.liveaquaria.com.
It is a great mail-order resource for information, supplies and live animals.