Please explain how to do drip acclimation help....?

I'm new to this hobby and I do not want to get my fish (after my tank has cycled and is ready) and have them die because I didn't help them get used to the new water they are going to live in.

Please explain to me what drip acclimation is and how to do it.

Any other advice is highly appreciated!!

 

From what I know, it's just putting about 1/3-1/2 a cup of tank water into the fish bag every about 20 minutes until the temperature is the same temp as the water in the tank. It also allows the fish to adjust to the new water parameters.

 

You need a drip acclimation kit or fashion your own one with airline tubing and a little air flow adjuster thingy.

 

Drip acclimating is where you slowly let your tank water drip into the fish’s already existing water. Usually done through an airline siphon. Knot the airtubing loosely to slow the water’s flow.

Imo, drip acclimating isn’t really the best way to go. There’s a lot of controversy around what’s the best way to acclimate fish. I would definitely use the search function to look up some threads on acclimating on this forum. There’s a lot of informative ones.

 

From what I know, it's just putting about 1/3-1/2 a cup of tank water into the fish bag every about 20 minutes until the temperature is the same temp as the water in the tank. It also allows the fish to adjust to the new water parameters.

Thats not drip acclimating, thats just for floating the bag in the tank, then slowly add tank water by a dropper or cup.

Drip acclimating is used for very sensitive fish and shrimp. You'll need a kit that uses a airline tube to slowly drip the water in.

 

I used to drip acclimate and usually the fish were fine, but I did lose some soon after adding to my tank occasionally.

Since I saw this video I started using the drop and plop method, and haven't lost a fish yet.

 

Drip acclimating is where you slowly let your tank water drip into the fish’s already existing water. Usually done through an airline siphon. Knot the airtubing loosely to slow the water’s flow.

Imo, drip acclimating isn’t really the best way to go. There’s a lot of controversy around what’s the best way to acclimate fish. I would definitely use the search function to look up some threads on acclimating on this forum. There’s a lot of informative ones.

How do you acclimate fish?

 

I personally would recommend you put the fish straight in as you get them. They will already be stressed in the bag, and then leaving them floating in the same bag with mostly the same water will cause even further stress. I think the best thing you could do is free them into your aquarium and let them explore and adjust themselves.

 

Others have already said it, drip acclimation is just dripping the tank water into the water the fish are in.
I wouldn't go that way, drip acclimation takes some time and it imo is not necessary. I would either do plop and drop or add a bit of tank water into the bag. Fish are a lot hardier than people realize sometimes, I do not see the need to acclimate for more than 20-30 minutes.

 

I'm new to this hobby and I do not want to get my fish (after my tank has cycled and is ready) and have them die because I didn't help them get used to the new water they are going to live in.

Please explain to me what drip acclimation is and how to do it.

Any other advice is highly appreciated!!

I applaud you. This is fantastic!!

I didn't expect differing opinions and find this interesting. I do drip acclimate everything-fish and invertebrates as well as quarantining. My set up is 100% ratchet...airline hose with a knot in it. Takes me about an hour. For shrimp I use a deep container they jump) and for fish I use a shallower wide one. I put these containers in an almost empty bucket for safety. If anyone jumps they won't hit the floor and will be in water.

HTH

 

I personally would recommend you put the fish straight in as you get them. They will already be stressed in the bag, and then leaving them floating in the same bag with mostly the same water will cause even further stress. I think the best thing you could do is free them into your aquarium and let them explore and adjust themselves.

Please don't take offense for this, but I sort of disagree. Some sensitive species like shrimp and ottos are going to need careful acclimation, or else they will likely die.

How do you acclimate fish?

There are multiple methods, but it depends. If your LFS has similar parameters than your aquarium or if you ordered online, you will use the floating bag method. If your LFS has different parameters than your aquarium, then you will use the bucket method. If you have sensitive fish or expensive fish, you will drip acclimate.

Acclimating Fish to Your Aquarium

 

Thank you guys so much!