acclimating time?
 

I am a little confused as to acclimating time for new specimens. I've been accllimating new fish to my QT for about 1 hr., adding about 1 cup of QT water every 15 mins. For inverts I add much smaller amounts of water over a 2 hr period. I haven't lost anything, but am I just lucky? I've read that marine fish should be acclimated for 1 hr to 4 hrs. and inverts as long as 6 to 8 hrs. My LFS does 15 mins. for fish and 1/2 hr for inverts. What gives? What works for you?

What your doing sounds about right, that's all I've ever done. You might want to check the salinity of the water before you start and at the finish, if it's way off you may have to go longer.

Thanks Rob. Yeah I always run a few tests (pH, sallinity) on the bag water before I start. Lance

I confess I have not acclimated any of my fish or inverts. I make sure the sallinty and temp are the same and if the are, or once they are, into the tank they go. Never lost anything yet.

I'd like to say that I go through a long acclimatiziation period for the fish and corals but I basically just do what fishoholic does (15-20 mins floating the bag, then in the tank they go). No problems so far.
I do use the drip method for inverts though, but's that the only exception.

I've had the same luck also. If I have a "sensitive" specimen like a starfish, SPS or some LPS I may start a IV drip but honestly, a complicated & prolonged acclimation is unecessary MOST of the time.

Good to know that I'm not the only one. I was a little worried about shocking/scaring people.

I'm shocked! :surprise:

The only things i spend any time acclimating are shrimp, snails and starfish. Everything else just gets dumped in once the temperature is the same :mrgreen:

OK! I guess I'm being a little on the safe side. How long do you QT your fish? If they look disease-free after 2 weeks, I move them to the main tank. Is that about right?