Coral Care
How to Acclimate New Corals: Drip, Dip, and Light Acclimation
A step-by-step protocol for safely introducing new coral frags to your reef without bleaching or pest contamination.
In this article
New corals face three threats during transition: water chemistry shock, light shock, and hitchhiker pests. A proper acclimation protocol addresses all three.
Step 1: Drip acclimate
Drip-acclimate over 60 minutes to match parameters gradually. Sudden chemistry shifts cause tissue recession.Step 2: Coral dip
Use Bayer or CoralRx dip for 5–10 minutes to kill aiptasia eggs, flatworms, and red bugs.Step 3: Light acclimation
Place new corals at substrate level for 1 week, then move up gradually over 2 more weeks.Related reading
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