Best way to acclimate?

[RobertG]

Hello,
I have 12 1" red belly piranhas coming in tomorrow, i was wondering what the best way to acclimate these guys is. I was told to float them for 30 minutes, then do a drip line for 15 minutes.

Also another question is I have a 180 gallon tank ready for these guys but i feel as they will be so small they will get sucked up by the overflow, what size should i wait until i put them into the 180g?

Setup:
55 Gallon Tank
Lots of Driftwood, Rock, and Fake Plants.
180 Gallon Canister Filter

I appreciate any responses,
Robert

 

[Cu455]

I don't think they will get sucked up by the overflow. They might fall in there exploring. Get a piece of plastic drill holes in it and use it as a guard. Water can flow through it but the fish can't.

 

[jp80911]

depends on where you get them from, drip might not be needed.
all the fish that I got locally were floated (to match temperature) and released so far no issues.
just go to your local art and craft store and get some plastic mesh (I got mine from Michaels, very inexpensive and easy to cut to the size/shape you need) cut to the size that would cover the overflow slots and the suction would keep them on the overflow.

I did exactly the same when I got bunch cariba at about the same size as your rbp for my 180g and never had to worry a thing about them being suck into overflow.

 

[RobertG]

thanks for the reply's i will definitely do that today.

 

[Cichlidpirate]

I like the float and drip method it is the one I use with all my fish not sure you need 1/2 float if you plan to drip 15 min and 15 min will work or cut the drip back a little

12 - 1 inch fish in a 180 seems like overkill and boring. If you have another tank a 55 gallon is plenty of room for 1 inch fish, I would keep them there until 2 to 3 inches in a 55 or 3 to 4 inches in a 75/90 before moving to the 180.