Converting Mollies to Saltwater (Final Acclimation)

[danenelsen]

Hey everyone,

I’ve been converting a Molly to saltwater of the past few days. The current salinity in the transition container is 25ppt. My question is: How close do my DT’s salinity (35) does the acclimation unit have to be before I can add it in? Does it have to exactly match? Or will it be fine if it’s a few points off? I’m not in a rush, but I want to add it in sooner rather than later, because I don’t want the acclimation container to get too dirty. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance!

 

[H-TownMike]

My 2 cents because i am doing the same thing right now i was going to wait until it was the same as my DT I have been at it for about 2 days now with drip acclimation. I cant imagine a few points would hurt but i like to be safe.

 

[NkSde]

I drip acclimated a group of ten over a 3 hour period and put them in they did just fine. Then my clownfish killed them.

 

[H-TownMike]

I drip acclimated a group of ten over a 3 hour period and put them in they did just fine. Then my clownfish killed them.

Ouch that kinda sucks I really want a clown but I keep hearing how they are tank bullies.

 

[danenelsen]

I drip acclimated a group of ten over a 3 hour period and put them in they did just fine. Then my clownfish killed them.

That’s unfortunate about the clowns. Mine seem to be pretty peaceful, so I have hope…

Ouch that kinda sucks I really want a clown but I keep hearing how they are tank bullies.

My clowns are very peaceful, I’ve never seen them pick on any other fish. I guess it just depends on the specific fish you get.

 

[blecki]

IME - as long as the salinity is within 35ppt they will be fine.

Seriously. I have done acclimation over days and lost them... and have just dropped them in and had them be fine.

 

[slingfox]

I bought a pair of mollies from Petco and only one survived the drip acclimation process which I did over 24 hours. The one that survived only lived a month---she gave birth to a bunch of Molly babies then died shortly afterwards. The babies did not survive since my spare tank was being used at that time to medicate a new batch of fish. I do not plan to get any more mollies since my tank has high flow and the Molly could not swim around as well as the traditional saltwater fish.

 

[trini2debone]

I drip acclimated a group of ten over a 3 hour period and put them in they did just fine. Then my clownfish killed them.

How large is your tank?

 

[NkSde]

It was 20 at the time
They started picking at the couples cove and made the Mrs mad can’t fault the clowns for doing what clowns do.

 

[MissMolly]

I have converted many and also I breed them i saltwater. 33 will be fine and yiu can add them to main tank.
You should ALWAYS do this over three to four days. Not every fish will survive in the longer run if you do this any faster.

 

[MissMolly]

I bought a pair of mollies from Petco and only one survived the drip acclimation process which I did over 24 hours. The one that survived only lived a month---she gave birth to a bunch of Molly babies then died shortly afterwards. The babies did not survive since my spare tank was being used at that time to medicate a new batch of fish. I do not plan to get any more mollies since my tank has high flow and the Molly could not swim around as well as the traditional saltwater fish.

Way too fast. You should do this over 3-4 days and 100 procent will survive

 

[Jmcg89]

I did this and brought them up to match the tank over a couple days, got them into the tank and my hippo tang mauled them all in like 20 mins

 

[Brad Wilkins]

I drip acclimated my Balloon, Sailfin and standard molly's over an hour to NSW with no problem or stress. I think you will be fine if you do 25 to 35 ppt over an hour. It's not that much of a leap.

 

[MERKEY]

I drip acclimated a group of ten over a 3 hour period and put them in they did just fine. Then my clownfish killed them.

That's a damsel for you!

Little devil fish hahah

 

[Doctorgori]

Just for more sample:
I’ve drip acclimated over 24hrs and lost them all..

I’ve also immediately tossed in “feeder livebearers”: full of shimmy and emeciated ….. most lived including the swords and platys (which unbeknownst to many, can also convert to 35ppt)

I got nothing

 

[GARRIGA]

Drip acclimation over 24 hours could cause issues not relatively be to salinity change but accumulation of ammonia.

I transitioned from fresh to 35 ppt over two days. Tank was cycled with 12 ppt and acquired Sailfin mollies were transitioned to that in transit in a gallon of water where I added enough salt to bring that to 9 ppt by increasing salinity by 3 ppt every half hour.

Remaining increase was done by increasing 6 ppt until hitting 35 ppt. I recall doubling at one point due to me stress testing everything and fish showed discomfort but no longterm affects. Both lived for months until one killed the other and my domino killed remaining. Never get two male mollies. Best one male and lots of females. Those guys are relentless.

Flow seemed to be an issue although oddly they live in estuaries with daily large flow movements due to tides. Perhaps they seek slower waters.

Next I might try just dumping them in. Others have stated success. Acclimation without means to remove accumulating ammonia likely too stressful since open container will have high enough pH making ammonia lethal bs ammonium encountered in a closed bag during long transit.

 

[GARRIGA]

Just for more sample:
I’ve drip acclimated over 24hrs and lost them all..

I’ve also immediately tossed in “feeder livebearers”: full of shimmy and emeciated ….. most lived including the swords and platys (which unbeknownst to many, can also convert to 35ppt)

I got nothing

I’ve heard of guppies and mollies but wasn’t sure about swords. That’s good to know

 

[McPuff]

I have tried to acclimate using several methods. Honestly, I can't say that any one method worked better than another. None of them was immediately lethal but I never had long-term success either. Flow was likely an issue in their demise. It may have been helpful to keep them in freshwater for several week, feed them and ensure good health, then try to acclimate. I just bought them and then started acclimation to saltwater right away. So I can't say that mine were in good health, despite them looking healthy.

 

[blecki]

have converted many and also I breed them i saltwater.

I was told I would have to work to stop these things breeding but they just won't do it. I have them in 1.026 and in fresh - nothing. What's the secret here?

 

[WvAquatics]

Wondering do mollies eat macro algea along with other types? I was thinking about adding mollies to my refugium.