Acclimating opinions

[zackish]

ok I am going to get my fish now and I was wondering what people think I should do to acclimate my fish. I have read several articles I was just looking for a reply with some of your personal experiences. I was planning on letting the bag sit in the water for 20 minutes or so then adding a cup of my aquarium water to the bag every 15 min or so for an hour.
What do you all think?

[RobbieG]

Sounds about right - some people wait a bit longer in between cups

[Rocky06fx4]

When switching the fish use A net to do the exchange instead of just pouring the whole bag of water with the fish in, depending on the pet shop you could get snails.

[finest]

ok I am going to get my fish now and I was wondering what people think I should do to acclimate my fish. I have read several articles I was just looking for a reply with some of your personal experiences. I was planning on letting the bag sit in the water for 20 minutes or so then adding a cup of my aquarium water to the bag every 15 min or so for an hour.
What do you all think?

On my experience and never been failed on this method, Drip-Drip-Drip-Drip method is the best! but this is for SW tank....

Check this site for more information acclimation procedure.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

For FH tank...

Check this site too...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[zackish]

Errr...a little change of plans. I only ended up getting a clown pleco and 2 snails and a new anubias plant.
The pet shop won't be getting cardinal tetras in until next week on tuesday.
I can't get there until Thursday, do you think that my tank will stay cycled enough to support the bioload when I put my fish in next week. I was going to get about 12 cardinal tetras, will the bacteria colonies stay large enough since it will be almost a week before I get the main portion of my fish?

[SkarloeysMom]

I started using one of my empty 1g tanks for acclimating. I gently pour fish from the bag into in the 1g next to the 10g and then take a few samples to test the LFS's water. Then I add about a 1/2 to 1 cup of water to the tank every 30 minutes for about an hour and a half or 2 hours then net the fish and put it in the big tank.

I had too many problems trying to net fish in the bag so I tried pouring the bag the water and fish through a net. That almost resulted in disaster once so I tried using the small tank method. Just seemed like less stress on me and the fish.

[Bill M.]

If you get a chance, read my sticky about getting fish home the safe way....

But anyways, when I transfer fish from the 10 to the 29, or I put fish in the 10 for quarantine, I take the bag they came in and let it sit for 15 min. After 15 min I dump him and the water in my tank.... JUST KIDDING.. thought I'd give everyone a start.. hehe... but anyways, after 15 min, I open the bag and pour a cup or so of my water into the bag. Then I float it for 10 min, and continue this process for an hour. Then I pour the fish into my net over the sink, and then make a mad dash from the bathroom to the tank, a mere 10 feet, and set it in the water. I haven't lost a fish doing it this way yet, and I've transfered 9 fish...

Good luck!

[finest]

I started using one of my empty 1g tanks for acclimating. I gently pour fish from the bag into in the 1g next to the 10g and then take a few samples to test the LFS's water. Then I add about a 1/2 to 1 cup of water to the tank every 30 minutes for about an hour and a half or 2 hours then net the fish and put it in the big tank.

I had too many problems trying to net fish in the bag so I tried pouring the bag the water and fish through a net. That almost resulted in disaster once so I tried using the small tank method. Just seemed like less stress on me and the fish.


I recommend to have a quarantine tank…

[gm72]

The quarantine tank is a great idea. To at least quarantine for a few days (but preferably a week or 2) allows you to observe the fish for behaviors or signs/symptoms that may indicate illness. Also agreed with never dumping the LFS water into your tank. I'd not be so worried about snails as I would illnesses.

[zackish]

The quarantine tank is a great idea. To at least quarantine for a few days (but preferably a week or 2) allows you to observe the fish for behaviors or signs/symptoms that may indicate illness. Also agreed with never dumping the LFS water into your tank. I'd not be so worried about snails as I would illnesses.

One of my snails already died! I bought 2 ivory snails and I find one floating this morning.

[gm72]

Any idea why? Water parameters? pH in particular? Did you acclimate the snails?

[zackish]

PH 7.5 ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 0
Yes I did acclimate them for about an hour.

[NeonJulie]

ok I am going to get my fish now and I was wondering what people think I should do to acclimate my fish. I have read several articles I was just looking for a reply with some of your personal experiences. I was planning on letting the bag sit in the water for 20 minutes or so then adding a cup of my aquarium water to the bag every 15 min or so for an hour.
What do you all think?

I actually do smaller parts of water, but more often - I take my cues from the great page on acclimation from drsfosterandsmith.com and liveaquaria.com. The idea is 1/4 - 1/3 c of water. (It's really not very much.) Added to the bag, about every 4-5 minutes. 30 minutes into it, you carefully pour about half the water out into a bucket, and continue for another 30 minutes. I have never lost a fish upon acclimation, and that includes near fry Otos.

I think smaller water portions and more often is a good way to get them slowly used to small changes.

Can't wait to see it all together.

[Rue]

Er... snails don't usually float when they're dead...they sink...

Are you sure it was dead?

[Drumachine09]

Er... snails don't usually float when they're dead...they sink...

Are you sure it was dead?


Something i have experianced, is that, when a snail dies, it loses its seal on the opening of its shell.

Also, i have witnessed snails floating as a form of transportation, to get from one side of the glass to another.

[Lady Hobbs]

I like the way this one on-site accilmates their fish. They open the bag, attach it to the side of their tank with a clothespin, add one drop of Ick Cure and let the fish remain in the bag for 15 minutes before letting it loose.

I may try that the next time I get fish. Regardless, I have never acclimated a fish more than 15 minutes. I cut them loose to free them from their stress, turn the lights off and don't feed until the next day. Never lost a new fish yet.

[gm72]

Something i have experianced, is that, when a snail dies, it loses its seal on the opening of its shell.

Also, i have witnessed snails floating as a form of transportation, to get from one side of the glass to another.

These are good points. The snail's operculum (covering to the shell) is a good way to tell what is going on with it. If, when handled, you can't easily open it, the snail lives.