What method of acclimation do you use

There was a discussion in Rogue's angelfish thread about different methods of acclimating new fish and I was just wondering what methods everyone used.

I've read a couple times lately that when you get fish that have been shipped to you, it is best just to float the bag in your tank until the temperatures match then just drop the fish in.

I would really love to test this method, but it just seems a little risky. Does anyone know the science behind it? It's my understanding that as soon as you open the bag, the pH drops very fast, so that's why it's better to get them in the tank ASAP.

Personally, I usually float the bag till the temperatures match, then add like 1/4 cup of water to the bag every 10 or so minutes for about an hour.

I'd love to hear what everyone has to say on the matter!

 

Drip acclimation.

 

I've tried drip acclimation many times, but the temperature in the bucket always drops way to fast. My house is about 67 degrees so anything without a heater cools down fast.

 

I've tried drip acclimation many times, but the temperature in the bucket always drops way to fast. My house is about 67 degrees so anything without a heater cools down fast.

I have a solution....a fellow forum member bought this a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure you can make your own...



Perhaps by floating your bag in the tank and taping it to the side, have a bucket of tank water higher than the aquarium (maybe on a ladder) and use a drip hose.

Edit: I'm a dripper

 

I do drip, too.
With a bucket that drops temp fast like mine does, I just let the flow go a bit faster.

 

I'ma plopper.

 

Drip acclimation, perhaps you could put a small heater in the bucket?

 

Good morning,

I also use the Drip Acclimation. I put a folded towel on the floor, a bucket on top of the towel and use the kit below on a very fast drip.



Ken

 

LOL Drippers and ploppers.

I also float the bag until the temperatures match, then put small amounts of tank water (about 25mL) in the bag every 15 minutes for about two hours.

 

I drip acclimate. If your house is too cold then the Ser up like Amazon passion posted would work great.

The reason they say not to do it on shipped fish is the build up of ammonia that will become toxic when the bag is opened.

On all my mail order fish I put a small amount of tank water in a bucket and add a small amount of prime...then dump the fish and the water from their bag in the bucket, then start drip acclimating.

IME floating the bag alone is not very good. I have noticed the hardest adjustment on fish is going from hard water to soft or vice versa and should be acclimated to the water slowly

 

Here is the science behind it. When fish are bagged in the conventional method and shipped, the CO2 builds up in the bag. Since the CO2 goes into equilibrium in the bag, it is in the air and water in equal quantities. As well, the ammonia will build in the bag from fish urine. The increased CO2 levels will turn the water acidy, which makes the toxic ammonia, not toxic ammonium. the water going acidy is a benefit, in preventing ammonia toxicity. Now, when you open the bag, and the air inside escapes, you have a rather rapid exodus of the CO2 in the bag and water as it tries to reach equilibrium with the atmospheric air. The CO2 leaving the water allows the pH to rise quickly, which in itself is not an issue, but, the formerly non toxic ammonium, converts to toxic ammonia. In this case, it is better to get the fish out of the bag as soon as possible after opening.
For fish that were bought at a store and brought home, or have only spent a short time in the bag, dripping may be fine, but unnecessary.
As mentioned above, if your water were radically different than the water in the bag, in terms of Total Dissolved Solids, you might have to take extra care to avoid osmotic shock.

 

Here is the science behind it. When fish are bagged in the conventional method and shipped, the CO2 builds up in the bag. Since the CO2 goes into equilibrium in the bag, it is in the air and water in equal quantities. As well, the ammonia will build in the bag from fish urine. The increased CO2 levels will turn the water acidy, which makes the toxic ammonia, not toxic ammonium. the water going acidy is a benefit, in preventing ammonia toxicity. Now, when you open the bag, and the air inside escapes, you have a rather rapid exodus of the CO2 in the bag and water as it tries to reach equilibrium with the atmospheric air. The CO2 leaving the water allows the pH to rise quickly, which in itself is not an issue, but, the formerly non toxic ammonium, converts to toxic ammonia. In this case, it is better to get the fish out of the bag as soon as possible after opening.
For fish that were bought at a store and brought home, or have only spent a short time in the bag, dripping may be fine, but unnecessary.
As mentioned above, if your water were radically different than the water in the bag, in terms of Total Dissolved Solids, you might have to take extra care to avoid osmotic shock.

Awesome explanation Bill.....

This explanation becomes null and void if the shipper uses Kordon Breather Bags right? Since CO2 can go through the bag and O2 can go through right?

 

Wow! Great explanation!

So, in a nut shell, if the fish are shipped in regular bags (not breather bags), and have been shipped to you, either put them right in the tank after the temperature has matched, or put some tank water and prime in their acclimation bucket.

Amazon, I think I may get that kit! It looks like exactly what I would need. Thanks!

 

I'm a plopper myself. After letting them float in the bag for about 30+ min I get a small bucket that I have for the tank put some tank water in there and than go to the sink and drain the LFS water into the sink and fish in the net and plop the little s into the bucket and pour them into the QT.

 

Drip acclimation. I bought a kit at one of the LFS I go to.

 

I float my fish in the bag then pour the bag through a net to catch the fish then let them sit in the net for a little bit before releasing them. 12" net BTW no space issues.

I guess that's kind of like plopping. Just use it for testing for aggression mostly. I think it helped with my betta.

 

So, in a nut shell, if the fish are shipped in regular bags (not breather bags), and have been shipped to you, either put them right in the tank after the temperature has matched, or put some tank water and prime in their acclimation bucket.

Yep...Bill's explination is right on. that is why I use the prime to detox the ammonia while acclimating instead of letting the fish sit in it for an hour while they are being acclimated. On fish purchased from LFS that have not been in the bag long it is not necessary. Also not necessary on the breather bags.

I also have mixed feelings on those breather bags too but that is for another thread.

 

I also have mixed feelings on those breather bags too but that is for another thread.

What don't you like about breather bags?

Personally, I love them! The fish never run out of oxygen, they don't take up near as much space as other bags, you can use more water, meaning it takes more time for toxin to build up.

The only I don't like about them is the cost....

 

What don't you like about breather bags

I'm not sure that I do not like them as I have not had a lot of experience with them. Whatever I have received in the breather bags has been okay so far but they just seem odd to me. Maybe it is me not liking change lol.

Usually when I order fish online it is shipped in a styrofoam lined cardboard box that is taped shut. I understand that the bag is breathable and should release CO2 while absorbe O2 but I don't understand how that happens inside of a box packed in the cargo area of a plain or truck.

But like I stated I have not had any "negative" experiences with them I guess I just don't trust them 100%

 

That is a very good point and I have thought about that, too.

I really don't know how it works. Even if the box is taped shut and everything, there are always ways for oxygen to get in the box.

 

Have you decided which method you are using for the Angels?

 

I might do half the plop method and half drip. Then log the outcome.

 

I'm a dripper.

 

I was thinking of doing the same thing. Half plop and half my normal way.

I just don't know how well the plop will work because mine are going into a tank that already has fish in it.

 

Mine will be going in to an empty QT.

 

I don't really have any room right now to QT. lol

Plus I figure they should be okay have been in Rogue's QT for about a month.

 

I kind of figured Rogue has QTed them for months so it would be safe for me to put them in my tank.

 

Here is the science behind it. When fish are bagged in the conventional method and shipped, the CO2 builds up in the bag. Since the CO2 goes into equilibrium in the bag, it is in the air and water in equal quantities. As well, the ammonia will build in the bag from fish urine. The increased CO2 levels will turn the water acidy, which makes the toxic ammonia, not toxic ammonium. the water going acidy is a benefit, in preventing ammonia toxicity. Now, when you open the bag, and the air inside escapes, you have a rather rapid exodus of the CO2 in the bag and water as it tries to reach equilibrium with the atmospheric air. The CO2 leaving the water allows the pH to rise quickly, which in itself is not an issue, but, the formerly non toxic ammonium, converts to toxic ammonia. In this case, it is better to get the fish out of the bag as soon as possible after opening.
For fish that were bought at a store and brought home, or have only spent a short time in the bag, dripping may be fine, but unnecessary.
As mentioned above, if your water were radically different than the water in the bag, in terms of Total Dissolved Solids, you might have to take extra care to avoid osmotic shock.

The CO2 theory is great but impractical, because for normal purchase scenario the new fishes or other organisms should reach the target aquarium in less than 2 hours; so there shouldn't be any "equilibrium point" issue. If you have reached the equilibrium point it means that you have neglected your bags for too long and the fish or whatever inside the bag is already intoxicated. In this latter case either acclimate or not you probably have reduced the potential life span of your pets.

Dripping is not mandatory but always recommended, since it makes the whole introduction process less painful for the new guys

 

I only use plop to switch them between tanks in the house (such as from main to QT). Until now, I've never had anything in my tank that changed anything significantly between tanks. I did recently add a very large piece of driftwood to my 50 that has turned the water brown so I'd probably be more careful now (since driftwood can change your pH/hardness parameters). Then again, I've never had a fish shipped. The only time I didn't get it locally I picked it up because I felt it was too sensitive a species for shipping.