How do you acclimate your fish?

[mbhw]

What methods do you use?

The past few years have seen an increase in knowledge, and there is a small school of thought that feels when fish are placed in bags, they almost always excrete waste which in turn creates ammonia. When the ammonia is combined with oxygen upon opening the bag, it causes the ph in the bag to crash. Some feel it's better just to toss the fish into the tank upon opening the bag, others try to slowly acclimate thier fish.

I've had reasonable success with both methods.

What do you do?

[redtailfool]

That is true and thats why i try to scoop half of the water right away.. as much as i can. I then use the drip method to acclimate the fish properly. Ammonia also becomes a problem as soon as you open the bag.


If the fish i bought is local... i put it in a small bucket or container and slowly add water from the tank into the container. I do that from 15 minutes to 30 until the water is the same as the tanks.

But i never throw a fish straight to the tank from the bag. There has been a situation where ive done that but it was an emergency.

[Caveman]

If its a Cichlid I just throw it into the tank with no acclimation. If it is a more sensative species I will scoop 2 cups of water out of my tank and pour it into the bag with the fish.

[DeLgAdO]

i slowly pour my tank water into the bad them float it for about 10-15min
them release them into the tank. after afew insidents im going to use the quarintine method the next time i buy a fish

[rayman45]

drip/float

[Tainted Glory]

drip

[bluedempsey]

depends both.... most of the time drip
but there have exceptions like when fish are heavily stressed!

[Meniscus]

Typically drip/float. If time is an issue and the fish is hardy then sometimes I'll rush the acclimation...

[Gr8KarmaSF]

I float for 15min. then add some tank water and float for another 15min. Ive heard that fish can have temperature and/or chemical shock if just thrown in the h2o.

[zhuangsw]

What methods do you use?

The past few years have seen an increase in knowledge, and there is a small school of thought that feels when fish are placed in bags, they almost always excrete waste which in turn creates ammonia. When the ammonia is combined with oxygen upon opening the bag, it causes the ph in the bag to crash. Some feel it's better just to toss the fish into the tank upon opening the bag, others try to slowly acclimate thier fish.

I've had reasonable success with both methods.

What do you do?

esp for rays, you must acclimate them.
for me, i

1) Take a pail, put the ray/fish into the pail together with the water from the bag.
2) Scope about 1 small container full of tank water and pour into the pail.
3) Wait for about 1-2 mins.
4) Repeat step 2 & 3 until the pail gets filled around 80%.
5) Pour away the water in the pail until it is left about 20%.
6) Repeat step 4.
7) Wait for the final 1-2mins, and then volla! You got your ray/fish acclimatise, now you may pour the ray/fish and water from the pail into the tank.

[Mattcomptonassvanhorn]

I usaully float for about fifteen minutes, and then add some water to. I usally try to double the amount thet was in the bag. I never just throw them in there. To much stress on the fish. Then Ill usaually try to catch them with a plastic container and put them in. Nets sometimes hurt the fish.

[bdobosz]

I usually float them for 20 minutes adding tank water every 5 minutes.

Then net them over to the tank.

[zhuangsw]

cool, most of us aclimatise our fish. =)

[guppy]

Make them wear sweaters until they get used to the water.

[DeLgAdO]

Make them wear sweaters until they get used to the water.

LOL!!! does it work?? :grinno:

[guppy]

No, I can't get the fins to stay in the sleeves,,,, and they really hate the earmuffs.

[luv4fish]

Hello, i first open the bag and put it in the water and then open it pour some of the tank water in the bag let it sit for 5 minutes, repeat that 4-5 times and then finally carefully scoop the fish out and release it into the tank. :)

[Miles]

I just dump em in!!!

Should read up on acclimating fish ;) Big difference between long ride and short ride, too!

[amatheum]

float the bag for 10 mins to get the temps equal then slice it and throw them in, never lost anything bigger than a guppie.

[SteveL91]

I've been drip acclimating new fish for a while. Haven't had any problems.

[rumblesushi]

I acclimatise for about 45mins adding tankwater every so often.

Then I just pour it in, what's the point in netting it?

[iheartfishies]

Float 'em for 15 minutes, then dump them in.

Unless the water is REALLY nasty, then I just net 'em and throw them in.

Never had any problems.