Drip acclimation

[Charney]

Hi I feel kind of silly asking this question since I have been in the hobby for a long time, but what is the proper way to drip acclimate? I have tried it a couple times in the past but my problem was by the time I had finished dripping the water with the new fish was at a cooler temp then the tank. Thanks

 

[Mystix212]

It should usully take 3 hours on average and is primarly used to acclimate marine fish/corals/inverts etc. I dont know how to heat the water that is being dripped into the bag, but try and doing over a shorter period of time so it doesnt cool to much.

 

[Sandee]

I just did the drip method for the first time myself tonight. I purchased two Granulosus today, and really really wanted to do it right. I did a quick search and found this very helpful article.

http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=379&theme=Printer

I pretty much varied the instructions, and used the bags they came in (two separate stores - lots of fish shopping today here in NJ!). But the tubing and the air control valve worked perfectly! The suctions cups help keep the tubing from flopping around.

1 section of airline tubing
1 Air Control Valve
2 Suction Cups
1 Fish Net

Oh, I also kept the bags in a styrofoam box, to keep the temperature even.

Borrowed this pix from Dr. Foster's site: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=16100&inm=1&N=2004+113793+2032

Have fun!

 

[ShadowBass]

If you're worried bout temp - first drip them, then bag 'em and float 'em (if they're not already in their bags) like you would normally to acclimate them to the temp of the tank.
That's what I do if the temperature gets lower than in the tank they're going in.

If you're going to drip for a very long time for some reason, you can heat the water in the bucket with a normal aquarium heater so it doesn't drop significantly. Doesn't have to be set the same as the tank, just warm enough where the fish won't get stressed out or die from the cold.

Another option is to heat water in a bucket, and put the fish, either in a bag or a smaller bucket, into the water so the temp of the water the fish is in won't get too cold, and then drip them in there.

There's several options, use your imagination and go with whichever one suits you for whatever equipment you have on hand at the time.

If you're dripping them for a significantly long time you may want to also stick an airstone in there so there's enough oxygen. Some fish don't do will without one I've noticed.

 

[myles]

waw you want to drip 20% of the tank volume through that?? jesus for some of the tanks on here that would take a long time.

 

[X24]

I've heard that many discus and flowerhorn breeders don't acclimate their fish anymore, they simply dump the fish into the water. I remember another member also telling people about it on here, and i've been convinced that it works pretty good. i simply float the bag for about 5 min to get the temps to match, then pour the bag into the toilet, filtering the water with the fish net so you catch the fish falling out of the bag, and then i throw um into the tank. haven't lost a fish yet by doing it that way.

 

[ShadowBass]

I've heard that many discus and flowerhorn breeders don't acclimate their fish anymore, they simply dump the fish into the water. I remember another member also telling people about it on here, and i've been convinced that it works pretty good. i simply float the bag for about 5 min to get the temps to match, then pour the bag into the toilet, filtering the water with the fish net so you catch the fish falling out of the bag, and then i throw um into the tank. haven't lost a fish yet by doing it that way.

I would do it over a bucket. I've had too many fish miss the net and it would probably be bad if they ended up in the toilet

 

[X24]

I would do it over a bucket. I've had too many fish miss the net and it would probably be bad if they ended up in the toilet

good point would suck to have to catch a fish out of the toilet lol

 

[Lil_Stinker]

good point would suck to have to catch a fish out of the toilet lol

Been there & Done that...

 

[Greenaveli]

I've heard that many discus and flowerhorn breeders don't acclimate their fish anymore, they simply dump the fish into the water. I remember another member also telling people about it on here, and i've been convinced that it works pretty good. i simply float the bag for about 5 min to get the temps to match, then pour the bag into the toilet, filtering the water with the fish net so you catch the fish falling out of the bag, and then i throw um into the tank. haven't lost a fish yet by doing it that way.

I do the same exact thing. Unless it is a fish that cost a very large amout of money I usually dont do amy real acclimating. And even then I really think its a waste of time.