Common for Fish Store to keep Fish in low Salinity?

Kasey Grohowski · Apr 6, 2019

I've been emailing back and forth with fishy business aquatics, and they told me it is common for fish stores to keep their fish in 1.017-1.020 SG. They say it is to prevent parasites. Has anyone else heard of this? If so should I drip acclimate my fish for longer than 1 hour because my tank has a 1.024 SG?

James M · Apr 6, 2019

Yes that is common for fish stores to do that.
Longer acclimation is better for the fish

Kasey Grohowski · Apr 6, 2019

James M said:
Yes that is common for fish stores to do that.
Longer acclimation is better for the fish

Longer than one hour? I read longer than 1 and a half hours does more harm than good.

Flippers4pups · Apr 6, 2019

It's common. It doesn't prevent parasites, it just slows them down. Should always QT from LFS, even if their fish are in low copper or low SG.

James M · Apr 6, 2019

I do 30-45 mins. 1 hour and a half seems way too long

Kasey Grohowski · Apr 6, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
It's common. It doesn't prevent parasites, it just slows them down. Should always QT from LFS, even if their fish are in low copper or low SG.

Hmm so basically they do it to make them get to you alive and then its your problem?

Flippers4pups · Apr 6, 2019

James M said:
Yes that is common for fish stores to do that.
Longer acclimation is better for the fish

Measure the bag water for SG or confirm the LFS's water SG and lower your QT SG to match. Float for 20 mins and open bag and in they go. Easy.

Flippers4pups · Apr 6, 2019

Kasey Grohowski said:
Hmm so basically they do it to make them get to you alive and then its your problem?

It keeps them alive long in the store till sold.

Kasey Grohowski · Apr 6, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
Measure the bag water for SG or confirm the LFS's water SG and lower your QT SG to match. Float for 20 mins and open bag and in they go. Easy.

Even if LFS sg is 1.017?

Flippers4pups · Apr 6, 2019

Kasey Grohowski said:
Even if LFS sg is 1.017?

Yes. Then you can gradually raise your QT SG.

Kasey Grohowski · Apr 6, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
Yes. Then you can gradually raise your QT SG.

Well with all due respect, I feel like it would be much easier to acclimate the fish to the tank isntead of the other eay around

Joshua Sassaman · Apr 6, 2019

As someone who works at a fish store, we keep the salinity at around 1.016 and have some copper in our system. Also when I, at times accumulate fish, it will take around 2 hours. A slow drip and testing until ph and salinity match is what we try to achieve before putting them in.

Kasey Grohowski · Apr 6, 2019

Joshua Sassaman said:
As someone who works at a fish store, we keep the salinity at around 1.016 and have some copper in our system. Also when I, at times accumulate fish, it will take around 2 hours. A slow drip and testing until ph and salinity match is what we try to achieve before putting them in.

You never keep the elasmobranches in any kind of copper right?

Flippers4pups · Apr 6, 2019

Kasey Grohowski said:
Well with all due respect, I feel like it would be much easier to acclimate the fish to the tank isntead of the other eay around

I personally wouldn't take a fish from a LFS and just drip acclimate for SG and drop into my DT. I would never take that risk again. When I started out, I did that and young and dumb lost $300+ fish to Ich.

I would always advocate any fish to be QT'd before allowing them in my full blown reef tank.

You do what you want, respectfully, but we will have to agree to disagree.

Mariette · Apr 6, 2019

Yup. Low salinity at fish stores. Plus usually low dose copper. I used to drip acclimate but now I go with the qt method. Find out store’s salinity and match your qt salinity to that. Then, just float and release into qt. Also, I’ve learned it’s commonly accepted that fish can have disease but be symptom free for up to 30 days out of medicated water. So, at the very least, a 30 day observation period in qt w no meds.

Hermie · Apr 6, 2019

Wow!! I thought I knew everything about buying fish but I had no idea that LFS keep their salinity so low. Granted I haven't purchased any new saltwater fish in a while (ever, I have brackish), but I was going to buy a fish in a few months and now I will QT them in a lower salinity tank and gradually raise the salinity during the QT. Thanks for this.

Mariette · Apr 6, 2019

I personally have decided to use a protocol suggested by @HotRocks for all new fish from now on.

Sorry to summon you Mr. Rocks. Don’t know if it’s proper etiquette to go around posting links without bringing it to poster’s attention? Or is this just annoying?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-current-qt-process.483371/

Instigate · Apr 7, 2019

Kasey Grohowski said:
Well with all due respect, I feel like it would be much easier to acclimate the fish to the tank isntead of the other eay around

It's easier for the fish to slowly go up in SG over the course of days rather than over the course of a couple hours. Matching the SG of your QT to the bag water is the gentlest on the fish for sure.