Acclimation Guide

Our simple guide to acclimation; it's not rocket science!

1. Float the bag in your tank for 20 minutes (for temperature).
2. Open the bag and secure it to the tank so it does not tip over and spill the bag water into the tank water (a binder clip or similar works)
3. Pour 1/2 cup of tank water into the bag every 2-3 minutes. 2 times for a small bag, 3 times for a medium bag, and 4 times for a large bag (for pH and nutrient balance).
4. After 2-3 minutes after the last 1/2cup, net or scoop out the animal gently and place it in the tank. 

The idea is not to take too long; a 30+ minute process can lead to more issues for the livestock, since the bag is a confined space and they've been in it for hours by the time it reaches your tank. The times when a more tedious process, like drip acclimation, should be used are when a fish comes in extremely lethargic and needs some nursing; however, even then, we do not want to take too long. Just enough to get the fish back to swimming. The confined space with built-up nutrients is not ideal.