How fast should a drip tank drip?

Abarnswell

New Member
My first (of two) small reef tanks has finished its cycle period, so I have begun to slowly add critters to the tank. I have two small blue-legged hermit crabs and three white-banded cleaner shrimps.

I set up a drip into a small bucket to acclimate them before adding them to my tank. My question is: at what rate should my water drip into the tank? Fast or slow? One drip per second, or faster than that?

One drip per second, even for 1-2 hours, doesn't produce much additional water into my bucket, so I'm thinking it can't be doing much acclimatizing. ???? Should I drip faster?
 

drty811

New Member
i would.....i usually back off my airline valve to wear it just stops pouring and starts dripping. usually takes 30-45 mins to add 50% tank water to the bucket. i've really never had any problems acclimating new arrivals to my tank. i havent been reefing for long so someone might have some better insight in this matter.
 

Abarnswell

New Member
Erik, what's this about a valve? How do you use a valve? I've just been tying knots in my airhose, and it takes me forever (and sometimes more than one try) to get it just right. I've been thinking there's got to be an easier way -- some way to pinch off the air hose to control the flow -- something that is adjustable and reusable.
 

incysor

New Member
You can use plastic t-valves. I think the last time I bought some it was something like $5 for ten of them.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 004+113029

http://petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=49 ... 4294965778

I use different rates on the dripline for different critters. Larger fish are pretty hardy, so I use a fairly fast drip. Once the bucket has been filled with tank water twice I put them in the tank. On smaller fish, or shrimp, or starfish, or anything that I know is 'delicate' I use a slower drip rate, and again let the bucket fill with tank water at least twice before putting the new aquisition in the tank. Sometimes the slow rate means it may tank a couple hours to acclimate, but I figure it's worth it. I also use good size buckets/pitchers, and keep them away from the air conditioning vents so that the water isn't a different temp than the tank water.

B
 
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