Drip Acclimation

BradMugs · 01/05/2014, 02:35 PM

I read about this and have even built a drip system (U shapped ridgid air line with flexable air line attached - tied a knot in the flexable part to regulate drip then let it run)

I hear people say to drip for 1/2 hour or for 4 hours - what does that mean? I could set it up to drip at about any rate but do I want to add sufficent water to double the volumn over the 1/2 hour or 4 hour time frame? Is there something else I need to watch. I'm sure I don't want to have the same drip rate for a 1/2 hour drip as I do for a 4 hour drip.

Thanks

edsbeaker · 01/05/2014, 02:46 PM

The speed at which you drip really depends on how sensitive the critter is. The more sensitive, the longer I would stretch it out, but the actual water added would be the same. For me, I like to drip until the water level doubles, take out half the water and drip until it is doubled again. I can't think of anything that I would drip acclimate for 4 hours. I have only done up to an hour for an anemone, but most fish I'm done in a half hour to 40 minutes. This is with the understanding that parameters (salinity, pH, and temp) are relatively close from the bag water to the water you are acclimating it to.

Watch the critter carefully, too. I just acclimated a flame angel that was in distress within 5 minutes of opening the bag. He was gasping at the surface, and it was better to just drop him into the oxygenated water.

I also use this product if you don't mind spending a couple of dollars. The little ball valve is much easier to control then a knot.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=16100

BradMugs · 01/05/2014, 02:57 PM

Sounds good, double, cut in half an double again.

As for the 4 hours I believe I saw that when I was reading around for sensitive inverts like the Linckia Sea Star - would love to have one but I'm not to that level yet.

Thanks

edsbeaker · 01/05/2014, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradMugs

As for the 4 hours I believe I saw that when I was reading around for sensitive inverts like the Linckia Sea Star - would love to have one but I'm not to that level yet.

Thanks

I love them too. I'll never be at that level. I hear they starve in many people's tanks. Sad

nlgill13 · 01/05/2014, 03:03 PM

what are you acclimating?
Also what is the difference in salinity?
Temp difference?

BradMugs · 01/05/2014, 03:04 PM

Sarve? I've heard they never really recover from the acclimation - very picky creatures.

Some where in all my years of fish supplies are a bunch of those valves - other that using a knot in place of the valve mine looks the same and the knot works pretty well.

Just doing some thinking on this cold winter day...

Thanks

BradMugs · 01/05/2014, 03:08 PM

Nlgill13

Right now I'm not acclimating anything just have the time to ask old qustions and saw my old drip system hanging waiting for it's next use.

nlgill13 · 01/05/2014, 03:15 PM

I tend to up the time of drip acclimation if the salinity difference is more. For example, Elite Reef has a tendency to have their salinity around 1.018 ppm while i like my QT around 1.023-24 (for easy transfers to the DT). For this much difference, it usually takes me 2 hours

dom418 · 01/05/2014, 03:16 PM

You will get many answers but it really just depends on the difference in salinity between the water in your DT and the water in which your new pet is in. It's much harder for fish and inverts to acclimate to a higher salinity. My LfS recommends 1 hr per every .001 increase which I find a bit much. Keep in mind a 4 hr drip is also stressful to the fish and may do more harm than good. Some fish like puffers and triggers are more hardy while others like tangs or butterfly fish aren't

01/05/2014, 02:35 PM	#1
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Drip Acclimation I read about this and have even built a drip system (U shapped ridgid air line with flexable air line attached - tied a knot in the flexable part to regulate drip then let it run) I hear people say to drip for 1/2 hour or for 4 hours - what does that mean? I could set it up to drip at about any rate but do I want to add sufficent water to double the volumn over the 1/2 hour or 4 hour time frame? Is there something else I need to watch. I'm sure I don't want to have the same drip rate for a 1/2 hour drip as I do for a 4 hour drip. Thanks

01/05/2014, 02:46 PM	#2
edsbeaker Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 857	The speed at which you drip really depends on how sensitive the critter is. The more sensitive, the longer I would stretch it out, but the actual water added would be the same. For me, I like to drip until the water level doubles, take out half the water and drip until it is doubled again. I can't think of anything that I would drip acclimate for 4 hours. I have only done up to an hour for an anemone, but most fish I'm done in a half hour to 40 minutes. This is with the understanding that parameters (salinity, pH, and temp) are relatively close from the bag water to the water you are acclimating it to. Watch the critter carefully, too. I just acclimated a flame angel that was in distress within 5 minutes of opening the bag. He was gasping at the surface, and it was better to just drop him into the oxygenated water. I also use this product if you don't mind spending a couple of dollars. The little ball valve is much easier to control then a knot. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=16100 __________________ Marilyn RedSea Max-E 260 Last edited by edsbeaker; 01/05/2014 at 02:54 PM.

01/05/2014, 02:57 PM	#3
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Sounds good, double, cut in half an double again. As for the 4 hours I believe I saw that when I was reading around for sensitive inverts like the Linckia Sea Star - would love to have one but I'm not to that level yet. Thanks

01/05/2014, 03:03 PM	#5
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	what are you acclimating? Also what is the difference in salinity? Temp difference?

01/05/2014, 03:04 PM	#6
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Sarve? I've heard they never really recover from the acclimation - very picky creatures. Some where in all my years of fish supplies are a bunch of those valves - other that using a knot in place of the valve mine looks the same and the knot works pretty well. Just doing some thinking on this cold winter day... Thanks

01/05/2014, 03:08 PM	#7
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Nlgill13 Right now I'm not acclimating anything just have the time to ask old qustions and saw my old drip system hanging waiting for it's next use.

01/05/2014, 03:15 PM	#8
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	I tend to up the time of drip acclimation if the salinity difference is more. For example, Elite Reef has a tendency to have their salinity around 1.018 ppm while i like my QT around 1.023-24 (for easy transfers to the DT). For this much difference, it usually takes me 2 hours

01/05/2014, 03:16 PM	#9
dom418 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Algonquin, IL Posts: 257	You will get many answers but it really just depends on the difference in salinity between the water in your DT and the water in which your new pet is in. It's much harder for fish and inverts to acclimate to a higher salinity. My LfS recommends 1 hr per every .001 increase which I find a bit much. Keep in mind a 4 hr drip is also stressful to the fish and may do more harm than good. Some fish like puffers and triggers are more hardy while others like tangs or butterfly fish aren't