Acclimating Fish

[Hugh Mann]

I drip acclimate my fish over a couple hours depending on how close the salinity is, by putting them in a 5 gallon bucket and running a Drip siphon down from my tank, and it's worked fine so far. However I have found that it because my house is about 5-6 degrees Celsius below the temperature of my tank, by the time the Drip is done the water has cooled off so I have to bag the fish back up and refloat them for a while.

Anyone see any issues with this, or work arounds?
Thanks!

 

[NJDragonet]

Sounds good!

 

[Gareth elliott]

Tbh if the fish were shipped i find drip acclimating harsher on the fish than simply adding to a tank after raising to tank temp.

If using a qt or at least a incoming tank.

Preferably ill take a sample of the bag water and match my incoming tank to this salinity.(Use a syringe and tape the hole back up. Then temp acclimate for 15 minutes, dump into a colander, add to tank.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Tbh if the fish were shipped i find drip acclimating harsher on the fish than simply adding to a tank after raising to tank temp.

If using a qt or at least a incoming tank.

Preferably ill take a sample of the bag water and match my incoming tank to this salinity.(Use a syringe and tape the hole back up. Then temp acclimate for 15 minutes, dump into a colander, add to tank.

I don't have a QT, though I know I should get one. Fortunately my lfs quarantines new arrivals for a week before sale, so I'm not overly worried about it. I also pick my fish up in person, as shipping fish, even though I know it is often done, worries me. My newcomers go straight from Drip, temp, into my DT. I have a fish only set up, with cheap hermit crabs for a cuc, if dosing is required it's not a major issue.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I don't have a QT, though I know I should get one. Fortunately my lfs quarantines new arrivals for a week before sale, so I'm not overly worried about it. I also pick my fish up in person, as shipping fish, even though I know it is often done, worries me. My newcomers go straight from Drip, temp, into my DT. I have a fish only set up, with cheap hermit crabs for a cuc, if dosing is required it's not a major issue.

The reason I dislike dripping fish is the toxicity of ammonia. In the bag the toxicity of no4 is lowered by the lowered ph caused by the co2 levels in the bag. By dripping the fish remains in the high no4 water but the co2 is replaced by o2 drastically increasing ph, increasing the toxicity of the no4.

The incoming tank can be just a 5 gallon bucket of new salt water, a heater and a bubbler. Then over the day bring to your tanks salinity.
breakdown and store in a closet till next fish, though is easier in a fully cycled tank can be done on a budget and with space constraints in mind

 

[mike550]

I've never been a fan of drip acclimation for the reasons @Gareth elliott mentioned. Also most online fish stores recommend larger water changes over a shorter period of time. That said, I tend to float the bag to bring it to temp then empty out 1/3 to 1/2 of the water. I then remove "bag water" and replace with QT water a few ounces every 5-10 minutes. The goal is to get salinity to match. So depending upon the difference this will affect how many changes I make.

 

[Marco S]

100% agree with everyone else on drip acclimation. I always temp acclimate without opening the bag for 15 minutes and then I open the bag and slowly add tank water to it for another 15 minutes and then I add the fish. I have never lost a fish during this process so I will stick to it.

As far as the temp goes, just throw a heater in the bucket while you acclimate and your temp issue is fixed.

 

[mike550]

100% agree with everyone else on drip acclimation. I always temp acclimate without opening the bag for 15 minutes and then I open the bag and slowly add tank water to it for another 15 minutes and then I add the fish. I have never lost a fish during this process so I will stick to it.

As far as the temp goes, just throw a heater in the bucket while you acclimate and your temp issue is fixed.

I leave the bag in the tank as I’m adding water. No need to worry about a heater and a bucket. I’m a very simple person.