Adjusting ph

[Miss Dib Dabs]

My new fish arrived this morning. They are 5 golden zebra danios, 1 LDA31 (peach spot plec) and 1 L059 (orange spot ancistrus). The ph they have arrived in is around 7.2, whereas mine is just below 8. I'm acclimatising them slowly by adding 1 quarter pint of tank water every 15-20minutes and making sure it's mixed.
This sound about right? How long should this take? They're in buckets at the moment until the ph matches but I don't want them to get cold (no heaters, none to spare).
Hugs,
P.

 

[chishnfips]

I am not sure maybe an hour or so to a climatise, do you not have any bags to float them in your tank? That would keep the tempearture ok.

But if they aren't going to be in there long they might be fine. you always put them next to a window if its sunny.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

I would have but in the past the bags have had a habit of sinking after so much water is in them or fish jump out.
While it hasn't mattered since ph has always been almost identical, with the difference this time I didn't want to risk it.Hence the buckets.
Their water didn't feel all that warm when they arrived. Once they are equalised I shall scoop them up in their bags and float them in the tank to make sure temps match.
Hugs,
P.

 

[IMCL85]

a few degree different would hurt them much. You can use a water bottle and load it with hot water and put it in ur bucket. This way it will heat ur water with out using any heater. Its also good during black out.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Great tip! I'll remember that in case the electric goes out in winter. Thankfully it's rather warm today anyway and I kept the doors/windows shut while they were in the buckets. Are now in their tank and seem ok so far.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Vivid-Dawn]

You could also use the drip method (next time), to acclimate. Get some air-line tubing, and tie a couple knots in it. Start siphoning (I suck on one end, which probably isn't the best, but oh well), and tighten the knots a bit until the water comes out in either a trickle, or fast drops. I do this for either 1 hour, or until the fish are in a total of 2.5 gallons (including the water they came in). Then I net them out and into the tank.

Also, a good way to lower PH is with peat. I tried garden peat, and it clogged up my filter (of course, I used cheesecloth, which disintigrated in a week or so...feh!). Now I use the peat granulars that Fluval sells. It's about $10 to $15 depending on where you get it. Supposedly, it comes with a media bag, but my last two boxes didn't, so I bought seperate bags to put in my Whisper 10i. (yes, I have 2 filters...regular and peat!).
In three days, mine went from 8.2 to 7.6 ...haven't tested it lately, but I hope it'll get all the way to at least 7.0 since I want neons (and maybe breed 'em!)

I hope that helps!