New fish acclimatization

[steve b]

Just a little help here just to keep me sane. Getting fish from lfs TDS around 450ppm 7.4 Ph, normally I add a little tank water over an hour or so to acclimatise to the Ph but was wondering if dropping the TDS down to 150ppm would have an adverse effect on the fish as Ph range would.

[Willie]

Re: New fish acclimatization

Nope. Your fish will enjoy lower TDS.

[steve b]

Re: New fish acclimatization

Nope. Your fish will enjoy lower TDS.

So theoretically if I dropped fish from 450ppm to 100ppm without adding slowly it would have no ill effect?. Not that Iwould do it!

[Willie]

Re: New fish acclimatization

That's what I would do. My discus goes from the bag into the net, into the tank. It's commonly known as the "hand grenade" approach.

Seriously, there are technical issues with dripping water into the bag.

[dragon1974]

Re: New fish acclimatization

Plop and drop....

[Vanman]

Re: New fish acclimatization

That's what I would do. My discus goes from the bag into the net, into the tank. It's commonly known as the "hand grenade" approach.

Seriously, there are technical issues with dripping water into the bag.

Can you tell us more about these issues?

[brewmaster15]

Re: New fish acclimatization

Can you tell us more about these issues?

the minute you open the bag CO2 from the fish escapes.. Then you start dripping clean water .. the water in the bag rapidly goes from acidic where the ammonia was less toxic to more basic water where the ammonia is toxic.

Its harder on the fish and often leads to gill burns and fin burns. Float bag 15 mins to equalize temp... cut bag... remove fish..plop in tank.

The only way I would entertain drip method is if I used something like Prime to lock up ammonia.

[steve b]

Re: New fish acclimatization

What about equalising the Ph in the bag if different from tank Ph? Ph shock or Ammonia poisoning?

[AquaticNerd]

Re: New fish acclimatization

If they're from a LFS I don't think the slight change difference in bag pH and tank is going to cause any issues. They were likely raised in tanks with water parameters similar to yours. Like Willie, I've only ever acclimated fish to temperature while they were still sealed in their bags. After that, plop and drop, or as Willie liked to refer to it - the "hand grenade" method.

[steve b]

Re: New fish acclimatization

Cheers for that, plop and drop it is.....

[Second Hand Pat]

Re: New fish acclimatization

The important thing is to not allow air to enter the bag. I simply get to the last bag the fish is in, cut it while keeping the bag closed enough so outside air does not enter the bag, tip the bag (in the kitchen sink) and allow the water to drain by opening the bag a little while keeping the fish in the bag. Once the water is gone walk the fish in the empty bag and allow it to slip into the tank. No net required.
Pat

[Willie]

Re: New fish acclimatization

Can you tell us more about these issues?

What Al said.

[Willie]

Re: New fish acclimatization

These Reflection D's just came in from Golden Gate Discus. Shipment was delayed for one day because they missed a connection. After floating the bag for ~20 minutes, the water was dumped out of the bag and the discus was slid into a quarantine tank. Despite their prolonged stay in the bag, and no doubt due to the care they received from Lynda, all 4 fish were up and swimming in a few hours.

For the record, these went to a close friend/fellow hobbyist who keeps my discus and altums when I go west for the summer.

[brewmaster15]

Re: New fish acclimatization

These Reflection D's just came in from Golden Gate Discus. Shipment was delayed for one day because they missed a connection. After floating the bag for ~20 minutes, the water was dumped out of the bag and the discus was slid into a quarantine tank. Despite their prolonged stay in the bag, and no doubt due to the care they received from Lynda, all 4 fish were up and swimming in a few hours.

For the record, these went to a close friend/fellow hobbyist who keeps my discus and altums when I go west for the summer.

Willie you are the only Discus Guy I know that buys discus when he is away for the summer and has them shipped to a friend to care for them.

For the record, these went to a close friend/fellow hobbyist who keeps my discus and altums when I go west for the summer

I have got to make a friend like that!

Congrats on the new fishes!

Al

[dragon1974]

Re: New fish acclimatization

Sad I don't even have family like that