Moving fish from quarantine to display process

antelope321

Active Member

Member

Messages

105

• Oct 14, 2026

• #1

I recently saw a video where they discuss the process of moving fish from a quarantine tank to the display tank. I'm wondering if anyone has thoughts on the additional steps listed or if they just drop them in directly from tank to tank.

• Putting the quarantined fish into a plastic bag to float in the display tank for acclimation
  • Having fish float in display tank for a bit so existing fish can see them in the bag and come up to it
• (assuming quarantine tank is clean) Adding water from display tank to quarantine tank and vice versa so the fish can get use to the water parameters and sense the different type of fish coming in

Does anyone else do anything different or prep in the display tank for new fish or am I overthinking it now? In the past I would just take the fish from quarantine and walk over and put them directly in the display.

 

bgarthe

Well Known

Member

Messages

1,790

• Oct 14, 2026

• #2

Putting a fish through acclimation for differences in LFS/online purchase bag water and your water is a widely accepted practice and what I do.
***** If your QT water and display tank water have the same parameters (pH, GH, KH, and temperature), as mine are, then putting them directly into the display tank is what I do.*****
Netting a fish, bagging it, floating it, and removing it from bag is, imo, unnecessarily stressful for the fish. Others may disagree, but this is my story and I’m stickin to it.

 

A201

Fishlore Legend

Member

Messages

11,622

• Oct 14, 2026

• #3

Assuming the temperature and parameters are the same between the QT tank and the display tank, there's really no need to float or drip acclimate. A plop & drop should be okay.

Besides temperature and parameters, compatibility issues need to be considered. Established tankmates often don't react well to new introductions. Take measures to ensure that the new fish doesn't end up battered & beaten, or worse end up being lunch.

 

bgarthe

Well Known

Member

Messages

1,790

• Oct 14, 2026

• #4

Yes…..A201……good points. I might add/suggest that one feed the display tank fish a bit before introducing new QTed fish. This might take the edge off a bit.

 

OP

antelope321

Active Member

Member

Messages

105

• Oct 14, 2026

• Thread Starter
• #5

Yes both tanks are running on the same water parameters/source and similar temps so that should all be good.

Tank mates I have are small community fish that shouldn't cause any big issues. I appreciate the brainstorm and confirming that a plop and drop should suffice in most cases.