If you don't live near a good local fish store, there's a good chance you'll be ordering your aquarium livestock online. Because of overnight shipping costs, buying one or two things at a time doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The result is usually a big box (or boxes) full of fish, coral, and invertebrates showing up at your door.

Adding new livestock to a saltwater aquarium is exciting, but it can also feel a little chaotic, especially when it is not just a couple frags or a single fish. When you add a big mix of coral, inverts, and fish all at once, there are a lot of moving parts and it is easy to get overwhelmed or anxious wondering if you're doing it all right.

This guide is built for beginners who want a simple, low-stress way to handle a large livestock addition. Let's get everything into the tank safely, reduce the stress on the animals, and set yourself up for long-term success.

 

The Preparation

Before anything even arrives, let's take a moment to set ourselves up for success. Here are some supplies we've found helpful in the past:

Clean Buckets

Clean Buckets

5-gallon buckets are something you probably already have on hand. I've also found the smaller 2-gallon buckets to be extremely useful for coral dipping and as temporary holding containers.

Towels

Towels

If you've had an aquarium for any length of time, you know that having extra towels is always a good idea, just in case.

Super Glue Gel

Super Glue Gel

Helps with the permanent placement of corals. The gel type is much easier to work with for coral gluing purposes.

Super Glue Accelerator Spray

Super Glue Accelerator Spray

An absolute game-changer. This spray makes super glue harden almost instantly. Ideal for gluing coral frags to rubble rock, then placing that rubble in the aquarium.

Turkey Baster

Turkey Baster

If you don't already have a turkey baster, this is your sign to buy one. They're useful for a whole bunch of different aquarium tasks from maintenance to spot feeding corals.

Gloves and Eye Protection

Gloves and Eye Protection

Some corals, such as Zoanthids, can be toxic if not handled properly. Most reef keepers will say this is optional, but if you want to be extra cautious, gloves and some eye protection are cheap insurance.

Arrival Day

Don't open any boxes yet. Take a minute and make sure everything is ready to go. Because these animals have spent upwards of 24 hours in total darkness, it's a good idea to dim the lights in the room and turn off the aquarium lights.

Temperature Acclimation

Temperature acclimation is the most basic form of acclimation. The goal here is to simply get the water in the bag near the temperature of the aquarium the fish, coral, or invertebrate will be going into.

The easiest way to temperature acclimate is to place the bag in the aquarium and let it float for about 30 minutes.

Bags floating in an aquarium

A Quick Inspection

While you're getting everything unboxed and floating, take a few minutes to inspect each bag for any unusual behavior that might require more immediate action.

Day 1 Goals: Get Them in the Tank

When a coral or macroalgae shipment arrives, focus on getting them safely into your aquarium and don't worry too much about where you're going to place them long-term.

It can be tempting to start planning where every last coral is going to go, but handling already stressed corals over and over as you get them into the perfect position does more harm than good.

Corals and similar livestock can be temporarily placed on the sandbed or on a frag rack, if you have one.

Aquarium after placing corals in temporary spots

A Quick PSA About Ammonia

During shipping, fish and invertebrates continue to breathe and produce waste inside the sealed bag. At the same time, carbon dioxide builds up in the water, lowering the pH.

This pH drop is actually beneficial because at lower pH levels, ammonia in the bag exists in a less toxic form.

The risk you should be aware of begins as soon as you open the bag. When fresh air enters, carbon dioxide escapes and the pH of the water in the bag quickly rises. As the pH rises, ammonia shifts into a far more toxic form.

Because of this, temperature acclimation should always be done with a sealed bag. Once the bag is opened, it's important to work calmly, but quickly.

This is why we generally don't recommend drip acclimating fish that have been shipped to you.

An exception to this is if you're transporting a fish home from your local fish store and have only a short drive. In that case, drip acclimation can be a good option after temperature acclimation.

Day 2 Goals: Final Placement

Once the dust...or should we say sand, has settled, it's time to think about placement. This part can feel intimidating; take a deep breath, it doesn't need to be complicated.

Here are some things to think about before you stick your hand in the tank:

  • Think about the care requirements of each coral. Does it need low or high light? Does it prefer strong water movement, or more gentle flow?
  • Speaking of growing, think about how the coral will look a year or two from now. Will it need vertical space? Horizontal space?
  • Give special consideration to aggressive corals. Some corals can send out sweeper tentacles and sting their neighbors.
  • Lastly, think about how all of the corals will look as a collection. Think about growth patterns, textures, and colors.

Remember, you don't have to get this all done in a single day. It's okay if it takes you a little time to get everything in the right spots.

For a full overview on what got added to the tank: Be sure to watch the video at the top of the page (Matthew covers the new additions at the 10:00 minute mark).

Aquarium after placing corals

Where the Tank is Today

The empty spaces are gone and it's really starting to come together! The bare rockwork now feels alive and, as a whole, it feels appropriate to label this JBJ aquarium as a success.

With a solid maintenance routine in place and a little bit of dedication, it'll continue to grow and will become something to be proud of.

 

Coming Up Next

What Went Wrong With My Reef Tank? | Saltwater Aquarium Beginner's Guide: Episode 10

What Went Wrong With My Reef Tank? | Saltwater Aquarium Beginner's Guide: Episode 10