Acclimatization overrated?

[knifegill]

I have always acclimated new fish, but if I have two aquaria that receive the same care, are the same pH and temperature, etc., wouldn't acclimatization be more stressful than a quick move? This, of course, excludes other factors like predatory/territorial fish or other dangers in the new tank. I was thinking so, and the last two or three times I rotated fish around, I didn't acclimate at all and not one fish even looked stressed. Comments?

 

[LD50]

if you have very close or the same water paramiters, temp GH/KH pH NO3 etc then aclimation from one tank to another is pointless. Just make sure and check the water in both tanks to make sure they are the same or pretty close.

 

[12 Volt Man]

a quick move is fine if conditions are similar.

most LFS's when moving fish around to prepare empty tanks for a shipment just flip the fish around.

acclimation becomes more of an issue for hobbyists bringing fish home because of temperature changes during transport.

I have always done a quick acclimation - 10 mins to get the temps the same and in they go.

fish are often more stressed in the bag than they are swimming around in your tank even if they are new.

many people over-acclimate their fish - to the point where they are cooking under the lights of their tank in the bag, or in some cases, suffocating in the bag.

I have seen many plecos and barbs get acclimated to death over the years for reasons like this..

 

[TTTT]

I do 20 minute acclimation.

 

[kdrun76]

Acclimatization is needed if GH, pH and temp are substantially different. That isn't likely to be true in two tanks within your own house.

 

[mshill90]

I just picked up some Fronts from VA, and after a 3 hour drive I wanted to get them in the tank asap. Luckily they were going in a tank all by themselves.. I tested the water from the tank they were in when I got there, and tested in when I got home, and there was not one difference, except my water was clear, the other persons was yellow.

I was glad to know I could just place them in. They didn't seem to care that they had just taken a trip. lol!

But when coming from the LFS or shipped somewhere I always float for half an hour. An hour for my Koi since they seem to stress more than smaller fish when shipped.

 

[12 Volt Man]

An hour for my Koi since they seem to stress more than smaller fish when shipped.

watch their breathing with koi if you float them for that long though. koi are another fish that I have seen people kill by leaving them to acclimate too long ( usually outdoors) and as the sun warms up their bag, they breathe faster and faster and suffocate..

 

[vfc]

I move fish from one tank to another all the time. I just net em, walk over to the other tank, and drop em in.

 

[mshill90]

watch their breathing with koi if you float them for that long though. koi are another fish that I have seen people kill by leaving them to acclimate too long ( usually outdoors) and as the sun warms up their bag, they breathe faster and faster and suffocate..

I've been dealing with Koi for a long time. I NEVER ever acclimate them outside for an hour. They all get acclimated inside first for their 8 wk QT period. Then they get acclimated for 10-20 minutes depending on the water temps between the QT tank and the pond.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I NEVER ever acclimate them outside for an hour

but you know what you are doing.

unfortunately, some fishkeepers end up kiling their fish with kindness, thinking they are doing the right thing with long acclimations.

as a rule, the larger the fish, the shorter the acclimation time (at least if the fish is bagged)..