Acclimating new fishes

[JadeButterfly]

I would like to know what is everyone's method of acclimating new fishes...

I am going to be getting two captive bred discus tomorrow and want to know the best way to acclimate them because they are costing me abit compare to my usual tetras.

thanks!

 

[Greg Watson]

Re: Acclimating new fishes

I would like to know what is everyone's method of acclimating new fishes...

Lots of people will talk to you about quarantine ... with expensive fish, that's always a good idea for the new comers as well as your existing stock ...

But back to acclimatitaztion ... I am a very strong believer in lengthy Acclimatization procedures ... there are a lot of biological and philosological problems that can be introduced to already stressed fish if you follow my wife's belief in the "net and dump" philosophy (at least she doesn't pour the bag into the aquarium any longer) ...

I like to float the bag in the aquarium, adding about a half cup of aquarium water every 5 minutes until the bag is nearly full ... empty 3/4 of the bag down the nearest drain, and repeat the process ...

Rarely is the bag large enough to provide an adequate amount of space for the inhabitants to be comfortable ... but in the off chance that it is, I like to repeat this process one more time ...

There are probably a lot of people here who can give you all of the biological and physiological reasons why this is important ...

Of course ... that's just my opinion ... but that's they way I've done it for 30 or so years and I can't even tell you when I last lost a new fish anytime within the first few weeks ... good slow patient acclimitization and a healthy quarintine tank (hopefully) or a healthy existing tank (preferably don't put them in here) ... and even fish that look like they are DOA will almost always survive ...

Greg

 

[JadeButterfly]

Re: Acclimating new fishes

I have two choices:

Introduce the two Discus (3") into my main (planted) tank with a low pH (6.7) but relatively high nitrate (from EI)

OR

Introduce the two Discus (3") into my QT (5.5G) with tap water pH (7.6) but 50% W/C everyday with high temp (90F) with 1tbsp salt/5.5G...AND put my 3 Zebra lace Angels from my QT to my main tank (which were introduced to the QT only two days ago)

 

[chubasco]

Re: Acclimating new fishes

I'd put them in the big tank, but first I'd do a TDS reading of water in the bag , and a TDS reading of the tank. If the bag has a TDS reading of 450 and tank has

 

[JadeButterfly]

Re: Acclimating new fishes

I'm getting them locally. The seller is driving them to me (30min drive).

I don't have a TDS meter...
I don't know if this helps, but my gH is very hard. above 200ppm.
But I do not use RO water at all...just pure tap water...so my TDS should be a lil high.

 

[chubasco]

Re: Acclimating new fishes

Have the shop you're getting them from do a TDS measurement. If it is
somewhere between 100-200ppm, you might want to do 50% WC on your
tank before collecting them from the shop. Yeah, I think maybe your TDS
might be a little high, and a WC before the fish would be a good idea. Up to
you.....

Bill

 

[AV8TOR]

Re: Acclimating new fishes

I have used the exact procedure for some 25 years now except I wait 10-15 minutes between adding water.

I also never add the bag water to the tank.

 

[Cornhusker]

Re: Acclimating new fishes

while you all are talking about introducing new fish, i would like to know the secret to acclimating ottos and shrimp to a tank. i put the bag into tank to get temp the same ,then i put them into bucket and slowly add water. this may take an hour or so, and i still loose fish. ottos and shrimp are my only problem , as i have lots of cardinals, and they are touchy. is it true that ottos and shrimp are stressed out too much ? would like to purchase some red cherry shrimp, but it could be disaster, they are rather small shrimp. i have several amano and otto's that are fat and happy, but it seems that i have to buy gobs of them before i get several to live, a very costly endever to say the least. shrimp are my favorite livestock. regards,cornhusker

 

[JadeButterfly]

Re: Acclimating new fishes

anyhow, I did what everyone suggested.
1/2 cup tank water into bag every 5min
I went for about 1 1/2hr...

my 3 discus are still alive in the tank
two of them has swam abit and hid abit

but one of them is kinda leaning against my plant...and haven't really moved...still breathing and all...praying it will be okay...I turned the lights off earlier tonight so they don't have to get stress by the school of tetras.