At Reef Paradise, the health and long-term success of our livestock is our highest priority. We take tremendous pride in the quality, conditioning, and preventative treatment of every fish and coral that enters our facility.
Unlike many retailers that simply unpack and resell livestock shortly after arrival, every fish at Reef Paradise undergoes a rigorous, multi-stage acclimation and prophylactic treatment protocol designed to minimize stress, maximize recovery, and proactively address common marine pathogens before the fish are ever offered for sale.
The acclimation process begins the moment our livestock arrives.
Rather than relying on conventional drip acclimation methods, we utilize a highly controlled “Bridge Bin” acclimation system specifically designed for freshly imported marine fish. This method focuses on rapid ammonia purging, oxygen recovery, temperature stabilization, and minimizing prolonged exposure to deteriorating shipping water conditions.
During transport, fish are confined in sealed bags where oxygen becomes depleted and toxic ammonia accumulates. Traditional slow acclimation methods can unintentionally worsen this issue by increasing pH levels while ammonia is still present, making the water significantly more toxic to the fish.
Our bridge bin method is engineered to avoid this problem.
Fish are transferred into heavily aerated acclimation bins using carefully matched salinity and temperature parameters. This allows the fish to rapidly recover oxygen levels, purge accumulated ammonia from their systems, and stabilize before entering treatment. The process dramatically reduces initial import stress and provides a much smoother transition into quarantine and medication protocols.
This acclimation stage is one of the most important — and most overlooked — aspects of marine fish care.
After acclimation and stabilization, all fish enter our fully monitored quarantine and treatment systems.
Immediately after settling in, all fish begin a 6-day broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment using kanamycin.
This phase targets many common bacterial infections and secondary infections that marine fish may arrive with following collection, holding, and international transport.
Beginning on Day 2 of the antibiotic phase, we initiate full therapeutic copper treatment.
Our systems are carefully maintained at a consistent 2.5 ppm therapeutic copper concentration to ensure effective parasite management throughout the entire treatment period.
This therapeutic level is maintained continuously for a minimum of 14 full days.
Copper treatment is used as a preventative against some of the most common and devastating marine fish diseases, including:
Copper levels are continuously monitored and maintained to prevent fluctuations below therapeutic range.
Once the antibiotic phase has been completed, we begin controlled in-tank formalin treatment.
This stage is specifically implemented to target a broad range of highly problematic external parasites and protozoans, including:
This additional treatment layer provides broader coverage against pathogens that may not be fully addressed through copper treatment alone.
Two days after the formalin phase begins, we initiate the final stage of treatment.
All fish receive medicated food containing fenbendazole for 5 consecutive days.
This treatment is designed to target and eradicate internal parasites and intestinal worms commonly found in imported marine fish.
By treating both external and internal pathogens, we help ensure healthier, stronger, and better-conditioned fish before they ever reach a customer’s aquarium.
Once the complete quarantine and treatment process has concluded, the fish are carefully acclimated into our sale systems.
Unlike many retailers that operate low-salinity holding systems, our fish sale systems are maintained at a salinity of 1.023 or higher, with our target operating salinity typically being natural seawater levels of approximately 1.026.
We intentionally maintain elevated salinity levels to help ensure a smoother and safer transition into our customers’ aquariums while minimizing the need for large salinity adjustments after purchase.
Our sale systems are also continuously maintained at full therapeutic copper levels as an additional layer of preventative protection. This helps prevent the potential transfer of parasites between newly introduced fish and livestock already established within the system.
To further support fish health and overall system cleanliness, the entire fish system is additionally filtered through a powerful 320-watt industrial UV sterilization setup operating continuously. This high-output UV system assists in reducing free-floating pathogens and improving overall water quality throughout the system.
By combining therapeutic copper management, elevated salinity standards, and industrial-scale UV sterilization, we strive to maintain one of the highest livestock care standards possible for marine fish retail systems.
Marine fish go through immense stress before arriving at a retailer — from collection and holding facilities to international shipping and handling.
Our goal is to give every fish the highest possible chance of long-term success by implementing a treatment and acclimation process that goes far beyond industry standard practices.
At Reef Paradise, we believe that healthier fish begin with better systems, better protocols, and greater attention to detail.
THE SYSTEM WE SELL OUR FISH OUT OF HAS A SALINITY OF 1.024-1.026 SPECIFIC GRAVITY.
Upon arrival, all corals are given a 5-minute dip using Fauna Marin "the dip". Corals are then scrubbed for algae and sponge on their bases and inspected for any larger pests such as crabs. On the night of arrival we start a full system antibiotic treatment which is done for 7 days! WE DO NOT SELL ANY CORALS THAT DO NOT MEET OUR STANDARD OF GOOD HEALTH!