How to acclimate w/ large salinity difference

[somekindabonita]

So my tank runs at 1.025 sg normally. We just got home from the store with a new fish and one coral frag, and out of curiosity I decided to test all the params on the store water. Turns out, they're currently in 1.018 water! That seemed really low to me, but I know my tank is on the higher side of the range. That just seems like a really large gap to bridge, so I have the dripper turned way down (a drop per two seconds). I even calibrated the refractometer to double check the readings.

At that flow rate, I'm worried the temp in the bucket will drop quickly and not be replaced with enough tank water to stay warm. Thoughts on adding a heater to the acclimation bucket??

Any other suggestions for a smooth transition?

 

[Michael Gray]

Temp acclimate then drip. It will rise. When water doubles in volume. Take half the water out and continue to drip slowly

may not be the best way. But that's what I did.

 

[Gablami]

It’s pretty common for fish stores to employ hyposalinity to prevent parasitic infections. In the beginning I would drip acclimate, but I’ve moved faster as time has gone by. Now I use a 5g bucket. Usually I’ll float the bag to bring the temp up. Open fish bag into the bucket. Always test salinity. Drain out water to about 1 gallon in the bucket. Then pour some new salt water into the QT tank. And then start scooping a cup or two of water at a time every few minutes to bring up the salinity over about half and hour. If it’s a big difference in salinity, and it’s a sensitive fish I might go longer. Occasionally pour out some water from the bucket. Once it’s matched, into the QT the fish goes! Just the fish, not the water. I’m sure some people employ some fresh water dips and other stuff. This is just for the salinity part.

 

[somekindabonita]

Temp acclimate then drip. It will rise. When water doubles in volume. Take half the water out and continue to drip slowly

may not be the best way. But that's what I did.

We'll give it a shot - thanks!

 

[somekindabonita]

It’s pretty common for fish stores to employ hyposalinity to prevent parasitic infections. In the beginning I would drip acclimate, but I’ve moved faster as time has gone by. Now I use a 5g bucket. Usually I’ll float the bag to bring the temp up. Open fish bag into the bucket. Always test salinity. Drain out water to about 1 gallon in the bucket. Then pour some new salt water into the QT tank. And then start scooping a cup or two of water at a time every few minutes to bring up the salinity over about half and hour. If it’s a big difference in salinity, and it’s a sensitive fish I might go longer. Occasionally pour out some water from the bucket. Once it’s matched, into the QT the fish goes! Just the fish, not the water. I’m sure some people employ some fresh water dips and other stuff. This is just for the salinity part.

It definitely threw us for a loop! Glad to know there's reasoning behind it

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

No QT? QT would make this a lot easier. Lower the salinity of the QT to the salinity of the bags, temperature acclimate, then drop the animals right in.

You'd also have the added bonus of not introducing pests to your tank. 1.018 sg sounds like hyposalinity to suppress fish illness.

 

[jda]

I would avoid coral frags at 1.018 in the future. Fish are mostly OK except for some species of super sensitive fish like some wrasses and butterfly fish - the typical no-QT type of fish.

Use some airline tube, put the stuff in a 5g bucket and let it slowly add water until you 3-4 gallons in there. You can get a mini-water change too.