i have a brackish tank but if all the pet stores sell there brackish fish like if they were freshwater fish how do i add them to my tank do i need them to get use to it like for example i buy a baby columbian shark it lives in the fish store in a freshwater tank how do i put him in my brackish?
Help!
- Thread starter Newb
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Im not sure on that one, but my LFS gets Columbian Sharks in freshwater bags, and they acclimate them right into the brackish(?)
My best plan would to have them in a 10 gallon with freshwater, then add salt during water changes(?)
My best plan would to have them in a 10 gallon with freshwater, then add salt during water changes(?)
Actually depending on the fish (I use caution when I say this but) you may actually be able to toss them right in there. You want the water temp to be almost the same, but if the fish is Euryhaline as it is with the Columbian shark, then they do well in quick salinity changes.
I simply put the bag in the water to regulate the temperature, then I add water from the tank to the bag. After a couple of scoops, I usually push the fish out into the tank and dump the bag with the store water away.
I simply put the bag in the water to regulate the temperature, then I add water from the tank to the bag. After a couple of scoops, I usually push the fish out into the tank and dump the bag with the store water away.
As I said on Newb's other thread, the safest method would probably be to drip acclimate the new fish to the tank for a few hours. That is, you would put the fish in a container with some freshwater, and slowly drip water through some airline tubing with a knot in from the tank into the container. If you fill the container but you're not quite at the SG of the tank, take some water out and keep dripping.
If you do it right, it should take quite awhile. That'll help the fish transition smoothly to the new environment.
If you do it right, it should take quite awhile. That'll help the fish transition smoothly to the new environment.
+1
i do my drips over about an hour when i buy marines. the salinity will only vary about +/-0.002 sg when compared to my tank. corals will need 2hrs+ of drip time. i do about 2 drips per second.
for aclimatizing fish from FW to brackish, i would take about 3 hrs if they are locally bought. brackish fish are tough and will be able to handle the change in salinity. but keep an eye on them. if they dont look so hot, ease up.
you will need to use the drip method if you buy fish online too. even the FW species need to be 'dripped' in to your tank as they pollute thier water pretty bad during transit. so the water they arrive in will be drastically different than a well maintained tank.
floating the bag and introducing like you would with locally purchased animals could kill them.
its a handy method to know.
i do my drips over about an hour when i buy marines. the salinity will only vary about +/-0.002 sg when compared to my tank. corals will need 2hrs+ of drip time. i do about 2 drips per second.
for aclimatizing fish from FW to brackish, i would take about 3 hrs if they are locally bought. brackish fish are tough and will be able to handle the change in salinity. but keep an eye on them. if they dont look so hot, ease up.
you will need to use the drip method if you buy fish online too. even the FW species need to be 'dripped' in to your tank as they pollute thier water pretty bad during transit. so the water they arrive in will be drastically different than a well maintained tank.
floating the bag and introducing like you would with locally purchased animals could kill them.
its a handy method to know.