Drip method. Please read

Has anyone heard of the drip method? It is where you put the fish in a bowl of the water (after letting them sit in the bag to get used to the temp) they came in and run a small air tube from the tank to the bowl. The end of the tube (the one in the bowl) is in a knot so only a little bit of water comes out (you can change this if necessary), and the other end in the fish tank. The important thing to remember is to keep the bowl below the tank for gravity reasons. This way the fish get slowly acclimatized to the water without this big rush of water in the bag with them. You should do this for about the same amount of time you let them sit in the bag. If anyone has heard of this please let me know. If not, give me your opinions.
Tom

 

Sounds like a lot of work. thus far haven't had any problems with the bag in the tank way "knock on wood"

 

IMO the drip method is really for extremely sensitive fish. I've always used the normal acclimation process by which you pour some aquarium water into the bag after floating it for a few minutes in the tank.

 

Yep. It's recommended for acclimating extremely sensitive fish like discus (as AlfaBetta stated), and if your ph is is a lot higher or lower than the water the fish has been living in. It is more work, but it's necessary sometimes.

 

That's what I thought. Thanks.
Tom

 

Actually, I don't think this method would hurt non-marine, regular freshwater fishes. The gentler the method, the better. I am actually thinking about using this method when I get Ram Cichlids (and Otos, if I get them) since they're more sensitive than many tropical fish. The slower the acclimatization, and the slower the change from one pH to another pH, the better, I believe.

 

I use this method in fact I just used it on my cory on Wednesday and I think they adjust nicely. You cannot put them in a bucket of water though. I just have a thin walled container about 2 gallons in size and fill it with warm water the temp of the tank water and use a clothes pin to attach the bag to the side of the container so the fish stays in the bag. Then the tank water slowly drips into the bag and the warm water in the container keeps them warm slowly. It takes a lot longer but I think is much gentler on the fish.

Sonny (betta) will have the same treatment tomorrow.

Rose

 

It is mostly for sensitive fish but it can be used on other fish too. I was told of this method when I had to return about 4 otos and get new ones about 3 months ago.
Tom

 

Anyone who knows me very well knows I am a SUPER CAUTIOUS mommy to my fish. To me the safest way is the best way for all of the fish I own. So I practice the drip method on all my fish be they what is considered sensitive fish or not. Since almost all of my fish are shipped in by mail, they have gone through a difficult time getting here and a slow acclimation is the best way I can get them started.

Believe me, if you do not do a good acclimation, it will come back to haunt you later....I learned that the hard way when I was just beginning.

Rose

 

I had completly forgoten this method when I was trying to get a clown loach to live for me. Then I remembered it and I still have a happy, healthy clown loach (knock on wood) that eats from my fingers after about a week of having it in my tank.
Tom