New fish salinity ultimatum- Help?

[ZipAdeeZoa]

Hello everyone

I somewhat urgently need to know how to resolve my current situation. I've been QTing a black storm and a tailspot blenny for about about 2 months now (observational qt- will be doing copper once they have fattened up). Unfortunately for no identifiable reason I lost one my black storms and while I was at work today my GF went out and got me a new black storm. I was just about to add him to the tank but figure I'd check the salinity and the qt was running 1.027 because I forgot to move the water line after the last water change. No big deal, go it back to 1.026. I just checked the water in the new guys bag and its 1.021! I checked both salinities with a hannah and then a refractometer and the readings match so now I'm not sure what to do

Do I try to increase the salinity in the bag to 1.026 or do I make the qt tank (which also has fish in it) match the 1.021? I know its a large sudden change either way. I believe its safer to lower it for everyone than to increase the 1 but I want to be sure as I care about these animals an awful lot. Icing on the cake is I was stuck at work late today so the poor little dude has been in the bag for about 7 hours already. I don't often do this but I need answers quick so #reefsquad I need your speed! I also have prime on hand so I could add a small amount to the bag in the meantime if thats advisable I also have supplies for doing a drip although I'm unsure I could realistically drip for that difference within a reasonable amount of time.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hopefully they packed the clown with oxygen, 7 hours is too long in a bag with just air.

It is always easier on fish to lower the salinity than to raise it. I would lower the tank SG so you don’t have to raise the fish in the bag up too much.

You should aerate the bag while acclimating since the fish has been in the bag so long.

Jay

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

Hopefully they packed the clown with oxygen, 7 hours is too long in a bag with just air.

It is always easier on fish to lower the salinity than to raise it. I would lower the tank SG so you don’t have to raise the fish in the bag up too much.

You should aerate the bag while acclimating since the fish has been in the bag so long.

Jay

They definitely did not but he appears to be very lively in the bag, I’ll add a splash of prime to the water and an airstone while I lower the salinity of the tank, will this decrease in salinity mess with the biofilter?

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

I the tank down to 1.021 and introduced the clown, I'll make 2 gallons of salt tomorrow and just top it off with that until I get back to 1.026, thanks Jay!