How to Acclimate and Dip Live Corals: The Right Way to Protect Your Reef

Introduction

When you order live corals online, proper acclimation and dipping are crucial for success. At Beverly’s Corals, we carefully pack and ship every frag, but your handling once it arrives makes all the difference.

1. Why Acclimation Matters

Shipping causes temperature and chemistry differences. Without a proper acclimation process, your coral can experience osmotic shock or tissue loss.

2. Step-by-Step Coral Acclimation Process

• Float the bag for 15–20 minutes to balance temperature.
• Drip-acclimate by slowly mixing tank water for up to 2 hours.
• Quarantine in a separate tank to monitor health.
• Transfer carefully and avoid exposing coral tissue to air for long.

3. Coral Dipping: Your Reef’s First Line of Defense

Purpose: Remove unwanted hitchhikers like flatworms, nudibranchs, or aiptasia.

How to Dip:

• Use an iodine-based or commercial coral dip.
• Dip for 2–5 minutes, gently swish the coral.
• Rinse in clean tank water before adding to the aquarium.

Important: Never pour dip water into your display tank.

4. Aftercare & Observation

• Start with lower lighting intensity and moderate flow.
• Observe for 72 hours for any tissue retraction or discoloration.
• Feed lightly after a few days once the coral opens fully.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Problem	Fix
Skipping acclimation	Coral shock	Always drip-acclimate
Not dipping	Pest introduction	Always dip new frags
Rapid lighting change	Bleaching	Gradually increase light
Overcrowding	Coral aggression	Space them apart

 

Conclusion

Coral acclimation and dipping might take time, but they protect your investment and your reef’s ecosystem.