Adding Fish To A Cycled Tank

[NickT24]

Forgive my naivety but I thought adding fish was as simple as laying their bags in the tank and letting them become used to the temperature before releasing them. Since joining this site, I realise it's not that straight forward, but does anyone have any tips for how to do this properly?

I am hoping to add 6 rosy barbs to my 15 gallon tank over the weekend. Do I just need to add some tank water in to their bags and then release them a few hours later?

I DO NOT have a second tank of any description.

Thanks in advance and happy holidays.

Nick x

 

[Gremily]

There seems to be a bit of debate about adding new fish, some suggest adding water from the tank into the bag while floating it., but I've also read from others that this doesn't really make much difference and it's best just to get the fish out of the bag and into the tank, especially if they've been in transit for a while.

Basically, I'm sure people will give you a few different answers, I personally just float the bag for about 30 mins and then net the fish out and it's always worked fine for me.

 

[SJ2K]

For rosy barbs just float the bag for 15 mins, add a cup of tank water to the bag, float for a further 5/10 mins then release

 

[NickT24]

Gremily, thanks, why net them out, can't they just be poured? Or do I not want to mix the two waters in the tank?

Thanks SJ2K, seems all my questions are answered by you, saviour!

 

[SJ2K]

Lol, by all means dont take my word for anything its just my way and yes, I just pour the lot in (minimise stress and hassle).

 

[Gremily]

I wouldn't just pour the water in, especially in a newly cycled tank as you don't want to add any waste that might be in the bag (although I suppose this depends how long the journey from the shop is). Again I'm sure people's opinions will vary on this and at the end of the day the fish are going to experience a bit of stress no matter what you do.

 

[NickT24]

It's about a 5 minute drive. Is a stress coat recommended?

 

[SJ2K]

It's about a 5 minute drive. Is a stress coat recommended?

Thats the sort of product only newer fish keepers bother with, hint hint

Good luck however you go about it.

 

[NickT24]

It's another product I inherited with the tank and original fish, apart from some food I haven't bought anything new.

I'll see how they go!

Thanks both of you!

 

[Tobigara]

i was told to float the bag to even out the temp and net them out of the bag because of illnesses in the lfs water. i realize that adding the fish is a risk anyway but whatever illness the new fis have might not spread to the others. while pouring the lfs water in adds more risk. this is what i was told so this is what i do. i don't know if it's the correct way but it works

 

[Dunkal]

Float the bag for 25 mins, add a cup of water from tank water from tank to the bag and then repeat every 10 mins for the next hour, this way the fish will acclimitise with the tank water.
This is the way most people do it.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Float the bag for 25 mins, add a cup of water from tank water from tank to the bag and then repeat every 10 mins for the next hour, this way the fish will acclimitise with the tank water.
This is the way most people do it.

Agreed. About an hours acclimatisation is what I always go for. The change in pH is what is most stressful for fish from what I've read. Mixing in the tank water with the the water in the bag help slowly change this although there is some debate as to how long it takes fish to get used to new water chemistry. Some fish such as Rams / Rummynose tetras and also shrimp are well known to be very sensitive to water conditions and often need a couple of hours before adding to your tank.

 

[SJ2K]

Float the bag for 25 mins, add a cup of water from tank water from tank to the bag and then repeat every 10 mins for the next hour, this way the fish will acclimitise with the tank water.
This is the way most people do it.

Thats got to be the most tedious way of doing it, if you need a slower acclimatisation for more sensitive fish just look up the drip method allows you to slowly add tank water to the bag over a period of several hours without having to go back to it every 10 mins and fanny about with cups of water

 

[Gremily]

Float the bag for 25 mins, add a cup of water from tank water from tank to the bag and then repeat every 10 mins for the next hour, this way the fish will acclimitise with the tank water.
This is the way most people do it.

Thats got to be the most tedious way of doing it, if you need a slower acclimatisation for more sensitive fish just look up the drip method allows you to slowly add tank water to the bag over a period of several hours without having to go back to it every 10 mins and fanny about with cups of water

But if these fish are so sensitive to conditions surely being in a bag for over an hour with no filtration is also bad?

 

[NickT24]

Remember I'm getting rosy barbs, are they particularily sensitive?