Saltwater fish acclimation is more rigorous than freshwater because of salinity + pH differences between bag water and your tank. Step 1: float bag. 15 minutes for temperature match. Don't open the bag yet. Step 2: transfer to acclimation container. Cut the bag, pour bag water + fish into a 1-2 gallon bucket or specimen container. Place at tank height. Step 3: drip line. Use airline tubing tied off to the tank with a knotted/clamped end for drip rate control. Start a siphon, then tighten the clamp to 2-4 drops per second. Step 4: drip for 60-120 minutes. Sensitivity scale: 60 min for hardy damsels, 90 min for community fish, 120 min for wrasses, anthias, dragonets, shrimp, snails. Bag volume should double. Step 5: discard halfway. When the container is full, discard ~50% of the water (down the drain, NOT into your display - bag water can carry pathogens). Step 6: net + transfer. Net the fish into the display - never pour bag water in. Step 7: dim lights + minimize disturbance. Lights off for 4-6 hours after release. QT first: for sensitive fish, drip into QT, not display. 30-day QT minimum + species-appropriate prophylactic treatment (copper for non-invertebrates, prazi for flukes).
The full Q&A library answers the most-searched aquarium questions. Browse calculators, glossary, and disease database for related help.
Whatever specific topic brought you here, four fundamentals govern long-term aquarium success: water quality, parameter stability, biological filtration, and species-appropriate husbandry. Skip any one and the others struggle to compensate.
Water quality: ammonia + nitrite at zero, nitrate under 30 ppm freshwater + 10 ppm reef. Test weekly with API or Salifert kits. Use our water parameter checker to score your readings against your tank type.
Parameter stability: stable wrong parameters beat fluctuating ideal parameters. Most fish tolerate a wide pH range if it's stable. Sudden swings of 0.4+ pH or 5+°F kill fish faster than chronic suboptimal values. Use temperature controllers (Inkbird) + automated dosing for consistency.
Biological filtration: the bacterial colony on your filter media + rock + substrate is the engine. Never replace all media at once. Use our filter turnover calculator to size correctly.
Species-appropriate husbandry: research adult size, territoriality, diet, and tankmate compatibility before purchase. Use our tank stocking calculator + compatibility guides.
How long does an aquarium take to set up? 4-6 weeks for full cycling + first stocking. Use our cycle ETA calculator + how long does cycling take.
What's the best aquarium for beginners? 20-gallon long. Big enough for parameter stability, small enough for budget + space. See beginner picks.
How often should I do water changes? 25-30% weekly. See water change frequency Q&A + water change calculator.
Why does my fish keep dying? 5 leading causes: uncycled tank, wrong species pairings, no quarantine, undersized tank, neglected water-change schedule. See full diagnosis.
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