The first step is to inspect the box for any rough handling during the shipment. If you find damage, snap a picture of it for documentation purpose. Second important step is to make sure you have some pre-mixed saltwater on hand to refill your tank at the end of this process. Take the livestock out one bag at a time. Make sure to acclimate any fish in a dim lit area. Bright lights can blind fish. Float the unopened bag in your tank or sump for 15-20 minutes to adjust water temperature. Carefully cut the top and remove outer bags, undo the rubber band and roll down the sides of the innermost bag to create a float. Inspect the livestock for any indication of severe stress. If bag water smells extremely foul, or discoloured a dip is recommended after acclimation. Gently float the bag in your tank or sump. Add small amounts of tank water every few minutes to the bag until about 75% of the bag is tank water. When you remove your coral from the bag, place it at mid-tank or lower. Remove the float bag and dispose of the water. Do not let bag water into tank or sump. For the first couple of days, with mild alternating current, slowly bring the corals higher in the tank to acclimate them to more intense lighting over a period of about 2 weeks. After a few days in your tank you can move the corals to their final location. With your corals you can also try a Coral Dip Method. Dipping SPS corals in iodine as a biosecurity measure can help reduce pathogen introduction into your system. If you chose to coral dip, use a commercial product intended for this process. Allow the already acclimated corals to stay in dip water in a separate container and only use this method as directed by the manufacturer. Rinse the corals with tank water prior to placing them in your tank. DO NOT dip soft, LPS, anemones or fish! DO NOT allow dip water into your tank!

Place a container next to your tank or sump to acclimating your inverts. Carefully open the bag and pour the water in the bag into the container, remove the invert and place it in the container. Take a piece of small diameter hose like RO line and tie a couple of knots in the line. Place one end in the tank or sump and with the other end begin a tap with the hose and allow the drips of tank water to fall into the container with the acclimating inverts. Slowly drip acclimate at a rate of 2-3 drops tank water/second for about an hour. Snails, starfish and some other inverts are even more sensitive and must be slowly drip acclimated for 6-8 hours minimum to insure long term survival, but for most other invertebrates a shorter acclimation is sufficient. The flow rate can be crudely adjusted to a few drops a second by loosening or tightening the knots in the hose. Caution: Insure that the line remains in the tank and drips into the container and only use this method if you will be present throughout the acclimation process to prevent floods. A small low volume powerhead may be added to the acclimation container to provide circulation and help assure the container water is well oxygenated.