goldnugget
New Member
I never have liked the pet stores recommended acclimation process: set the fish in the tank for 5 minutes then pour the water and fish into the tank, bad pet shop, bad pet shop!
I have read many post on this board with people asking "what is the best way to acclimate new fish to a tank with a minimum amount of shock". Here is the best way I have found making the process simple & safe with a minimum amount of shock to your fish. There are many ways to do this and an air stone makes it even better, not to much air just enough to keep the water moving in the bag (for a quantity of fish). If you are adding just a few fish at one time then regular dripping will work fine with no need for an air stone.
1) Before you get them home keep in mind:
Fish are calmer in darker environments; remember this when bringing your fish home from the pet store. Take a dark bag, cardboard box or better yet wrap the bag in a towel this will keep the water temperature stable and block light from entering the bag before you get your new pets home. Keep the bag out of the sun and away from temperature swings (hot or cold). Make sure your sales person double bags your fish removing any corners and preventing your fish from being trapped in the corner or possibly puncturing your bag with its fins (specially catfish). Lay the bag on its side to provide more air contact with the waters surface and keep it from rolling around on your car seat.
2) After you get them home, you will need:
a) #1 flex air hose, minimum length needed will be 6'.
B) #1 plastic (preferred) adjustable air valve, added somewhere on the length of air tube to control the amount of water being added to the reservoir. Allowing it to trickle on the water surface in the bag insuring oxygenation of the water in the bag.
c) #1 plastic (preferred) container to hold your bag of livestock and the new water which will drip from the tank into the bag for 15-20 minutes. Size of the bowl/container should be at least twice that of the water in the bag (a 4-5 quart container usually works well).
d) #1 hard horseshoe "U" shaped air hose coupling, you might need you make this yourself if the fish store doesn't have one. You can do this by heating a 6-10" section of hard airline in boiling water. This "U" hooks over the edge of the tank, add about 6" of flex airline to the side in the tank water and add a sufficient amount of flex tube to the other end so it can reach your reservoir. Try to keep it off the floor (a chair works) in case your dog gets thirsty!
3) Surface area is the key to oxygenating water, a bowl with a larger surface area will give you more time to acclimate your fish. The same holds true when choosing an aquarium for your fish or plants. More surface area = more and healthier fish in their new home. Don't over-crowd your fish in the tank just in case the power goes out. This also works well with plants but you don't need to keep your eye on the process as you do fish.
A regular clear air tube with your "U" and air-valve (now used as a water valve), will extend from your tanks surface water to a bowl or reservoir. The bowl needs to hold at least twice as much water as in the bag when you start the process. Many times a shop will give you lots of water with your fish and little air, other time it is the opposite. Remember with fish water is critical and oxygen (not air) is just as critical.
Get the water flowing through the tube started by a siphon process. You can suck on the end or if you know how to get the water flowing by gravity, do it that way. This will allow water to flow from the tank into the bag and the valve is used to control the flow. Don't fill the bag to fast or to slow, you should have double the amount of water in the bag in about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the fish and watch for signs of them needing oxygen, they will be going to the surface if this is the case. If you have been paying attention this will not occur, but if it does for whatever reason get an air stone into the bag and or open the valve and add more tank water. Add as much water as you like, just make sure you add at least the same amount the store gave you with your fish.
Most folk don't like to add this now mixed tank/store water to a tank risking the whole tanks health. This is why some folk have holding tanks, watching the fish for a couple of weeks making sure the fish are free of disease & parasites. I have only one tank, so I must depend on the store being reputable and honest about the health of the fish and the water. If you see a dead fish in a tank a red flag should follow! I add a bare minimum of water from the bag to the tank, but enough to allow the fish to swim freely from the bag.
This system works extremely well in acclimating your new pets, I hope I explained it well enough so you can use this technique the next time you bring fish home. Do regular maintnence and keep your yourself and your fish healthy and happy.
I have read many post on this board with people asking "what is the best way to acclimate new fish to a tank with a minimum amount of shock". Here is the best way I have found making the process simple & safe with a minimum amount of shock to your fish. There are many ways to do this and an air stone makes it even better, not to much air just enough to keep the water moving in the bag (for a quantity of fish). If you are adding just a few fish at one time then regular dripping will work fine with no need for an air stone.
1) Before you get them home keep in mind:
Fish are calmer in darker environments; remember this when bringing your fish home from the pet store. Take a dark bag, cardboard box or better yet wrap the bag in a towel this will keep the water temperature stable and block light from entering the bag before you get your new pets home. Keep the bag out of the sun and away from temperature swings (hot or cold). Make sure your sales person double bags your fish removing any corners and preventing your fish from being trapped in the corner or possibly puncturing your bag with its fins (specially catfish). Lay the bag on its side to provide more air contact with the waters surface and keep it from rolling around on your car seat.
2) After you get them home, you will need:
a) #1 flex air hose, minimum length needed will be 6'.
B) #1 plastic (preferred) adjustable air valve, added somewhere on the length of air tube to control the amount of water being added to the reservoir. Allowing it to trickle on the water surface in the bag insuring oxygenation of the water in the bag.
c) #1 plastic (preferred) container to hold your bag of livestock and the new water which will drip from the tank into the bag for 15-20 minutes. Size of the bowl/container should be at least twice that of the water in the bag (a 4-5 quart container usually works well).
d) #1 hard horseshoe "U" shaped air hose coupling, you might need you make this yourself if the fish store doesn't have one. You can do this by heating a 6-10" section of hard airline in boiling water. This "U" hooks over the edge of the tank, add about 6" of flex airline to the side in the tank water and add a sufficient amount of flex tube to the other end so it can reach your reservoir. Try to keep it off the floor (a chair works) in case your dog gets thirsty!
3) Surface area is the key to oxygenating water, a bowl with a larger surface area will give you more time to acclimate your fish. The same holds true when choosing an aquarium for your fish or plants. More surface area = more and healthier fish in their new home. Don't over-crowd your fish in the tank just in case the power goes out. This also works well with plants but you don't need to keep your eye on the process as you do fish.
A regular clear air tube with your "U" and air-valve (now used as a water valve), will extend from your tanks surface water to a bowl or reservoir. The bowl needs to hold at least twice as much water as in the bag when you start the process. Many times a shop will give you lots of water with your fish and little air, other time it is the opposite. Remember with fish water is critical and oxygen (not air) is just as critical.
Get the water flowing through the tube started by a siphon process. You can suck on the end or if you know how to get the water flowing by gravity, do it that way. This will allow water to flow from the tank into the bag and the valve is used to control the flow. Don't fill the bag to fast or to slow, you should have double the amount of water in the bag in about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the fish and watch for signs of them needing oxygen, they will be going to the surface if this is the case. If you have been paying attention this will not occur, but if it does for whatever reason get an air stone into the bag and or open the valve and add more tank water. Add as much water as you like, just make sure you add at least the same amount the store gave you with your fish.
Most folk don't like to add this now mixed tank/store water to a tank risking the whole tanks health. This is why some folk have holding tanks, watching the fish for a couple of weeks making sure the fish are free of disease & parasites. I have only one tank, so I must depend on the store being reputable and honest about the health of the fish and the water. If you see a dead fish in a tank a red flag should follow! I add a bare minimum of water from the bag to the tank, but enough to allow the fish to swim freely from the bag.
This system works extremely well in acclimating your new pets, I hope I explained it well enough so you can use this technique the next time you bring fish home. Do regular maintnence and keep your yourself and your fish healthy and happy.
