The chemistry of acclimation

brandon429 · Feb 2, 2016

that is just great. we are always chatting about why FW planted tanks get away with storing rot/detritus/waste vs the marine tank that can short cycle when disturbing those stores, it seems to be all pH mediated~we are typically carbon injecting in the planted tanks hovering 7.0 or lower, and even the uninjected ones rarely hit above 7.2 ish at least that's a common planted tank goal using softer water.

dragonfish · Feb 6, 2016

following !

Baldguy · Feb 7, 2016

Randy, the question came up on another tread whether the brief ride home from the LFS could cause ammonia and ph issues when the bag is opened. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-fish-died.233770/
What's your thinking?

Lionfish Lair · Feb 7, 2016

I've tested bags from the LFS as well as overnight shipping. Twice I've found ammonia in the LFS bag and for fun had the store test their water.... it was in their system, not created in the bag on the way home. Other than that, my bags have been fine, where 100% of the overnight bags had lots of ammonia.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 7, 2016

Baldguy said:
Randy, the question came up on another tread whether the brief ride home from the LFS could cause ammonia and ph issues when the bag is opened. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-fish-died.233770/
What's your thinking?

It certainly depends on the size and activity level of the fish relative to the water volume, and the length of time in the bag, but the effect for a brief trip is typically much smaller than when something is shipped. So I do not know if ammonia contributed significantly in the linked account or not.

125mph · Apr 13, 2017

I've got three fish coming tomorrow. Two from divers den and one from regular live aquaria. My understanding is DD runs at 1.026 while LA (Quality Marine) runs at 1.018-1.020.

I usually set up my qt to match source water salinity, and just temp acclimate. What should I do in this situation? I'm thinking set qt for 1.020-1.022 since a drop in salinity won't be too harsh vs a rise in salinity? And just temp acclimateas usual?

Or should I do something different?

atoll · Apr 13, 2017

125mph said:
I've got three fish coming tomorrow. Two from divers den and one from regular live aquaria. My understanding is DD runs at 1.026 while LA (Quality Marine) runs at 1.018-1.020.

I usually set up my qt to match source water salinity, and just temp acclimate. What should I do in this situation? I'm thinking set qt for 1.020-1.022 since a drop in salinity won't be too harsh vs a rise in salinity? And just temp acclimateas usual?

Or should I do something different?

Just acclimatise all your fish to your DT waters salinity just take your time doing it.

eatbreakfast · Apr 13, 2017

125mph said:
I've got three fish coming tomorrow. Two from divers den and one from regular live aquaria. My understanding is DD runs at 1.026 while LA (Quality Marine) runs at 1.018-1.020.

I usually set up my qt to match source water salinity, and just temp acclimate. What should I do in this situation? I'm thinking set qt for 1.020-1.022 since a drop in salinity won't be too harsh vs a rise in salinity? And just temp acclimateas usual?

Or should I do something different?

Set the salinity for around 1.020/21. The fish from LA will be fine with water that close, and fish can adapt to lower salinity much easier than going up, so the DD fish will be fine as well.

Lionfish Lair · Apr 13, 2017

Just be careful with ammonia. My DD bags are always pretty loaded with it.

eatbreakfast · Apr 13, 2017

macdave said:
Talking about acclimation, what would be the best way to acclimate if my local fish store keeps their tanks at 1.018? Unfortunately I don't have a QT.

Can you make up 2 gallons of water at .018? If so, make up 2 gallons, put the fish in there, then drip acclimate to dt.

Jeff Evrard · Apr 13, 2017

I read that a saltwater fish has more of its body composed of water than a freshwater fish because of buoyancy. Due to this acclimating them is much more important. Has anyone else read this? I always acclimate. Why the heck not. I have gone to quarantining all of my new additions as well.

Fragzilla · Apr 13, 2017

I get all my fish from the shop 10 minutes away from where I live.
I just pour the fish into a net and add it to the tank, never had a problem.
I'm not sure about acclimating shipped fish as I wouldn't want to put them through shipping in the first place.

Justin Wong · Apr 14, 2017

I fresh water dip my fishes, so acclimation seemed pointless.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 17, 2017

Fragzilla said:
I get all my fish from the shop 10 minutes away from where I live.
I just pour the fish into a net and add it to the tank, never had a problem.
I'm not sure about acclimating shipped fish as I wouldn't want to put them through shipping in the first place.

Don't they get shipped to the store?

Fragzilla · Apr 19, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Don't they get shipped to the store?

Sometimes they do, but usually they come from the wholesaler (warehouse) who are within a commutable distance

eatbreakfast · Apr 19, 2017

Fragzilla said:
Sometimes they do, but usually they come from the wholesaler (warehouse) who are within a commutable distance

Then how do they get to the wholesaler?

Fragzilla · Apr 19, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
Then how do they get to the wholesaler?

I'm sorry but I don't like this approach you and randy are making, I thought this forum was for Hobbyists not shop owners and businessmen.

I'll just stay in the zoa forum, good day.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 19, 2017

What? We are just pointing out that they get shipped wherever you buy them from.

And I'n certainly a hobbyist helping other hobbyists, not pushing fish from any particular place.

revhtree · Jul 10, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
What? We are just pointing out that they get shipped wherever you buy them from.

And I'n certainly a hobbyist helping other hobbyists, not pushing fish from any particular place.

Thank you for your valued input!

CindyKz · Jul 10, 2017

This is a great thread, hope no one minds my reviving it as I was just thinking about this the other day. My usual practice is to match my observation tank to my LFS salinity, float the bag for a few minutes to match up temp, and after a quick double check of salinity (bag and tank) in the fish goes.

I've never worried much about pH because I expected that the process of opening the bag and releasing CO2 would cause the pH to swing rapidly anyway. Not so?