Is There A Best Time To Acclimate?

[64Ivy]

In this case I mean to transfer a fish from QT or an acclimation box into the DT. Are mornings best so the new fish has all day to get used to it's new surroundings and new tankmmates, or are evenings better at lights out so the new fish can acclimate in the dark, lessening the stress while the established tankmates are asleep? Should the tank be fed first or right after? How do you all do it?

 

[skiwez]

I've found transferring in the morning before the lights come on. Whenever I'm able to do that the other fish usually pay no mind to the new addition. In the past I've used acclimation boxes, feeding etc all with varying degrees of success.

Probably also largely depends on the tank inhabitants

 

[ZoWhat]

I've always heard to transfer when the tank is dark. Like 2am.

Not sure if its folklore....

Reasoning is the other fish are sleeping and a new addition doesn't bring on an immediate territorial fight.

When ambient light fills the room and fish wake up....its been said they are more excepting of a new fish.

 

[fishybizzness]

Tried adding a banded coral shrimp several times in the daytime and they never lasted more than a few hours with my wrasses. Put the last one in the sump for a week and added it to the DT at about 10 pm about a month and and it's still going strong. The next morning the wrasses acted like it was always there.

 

[Billdogg]

I prefer to do it either in the morning before lights come on or a couple hours after lights out.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I just turn my lights to heavy cloud cover for a day or 2. Never had an issue with this method.
Make sure you dont use thunderstorm function, think this mode is to give fish seizures [emoji23]