How to acclimate new fish?

[myjohnson]

Ok, so I recently got some new fish. I was at Jim's house. The fish came from LA and had been in their bag full of water for hours.

Jim let the bag float and then 15 mins later netted the fish out and put them in the holding tank.

Common practice for most prudent people I thought. But not me. When I got the fish to my house from Jim's, I just dump them into my tank. I just dump my fish straight into the water. I have no other reason besides the fact that I'm lazy and don't bother with the "temp acclimation" process. I also been doing it this way for 15 years of my fish keeping life and NEVER had an issue.

So I did some research. Interestingly enough I found some info on the topic.

http://aquascienceresearch.com/APInfo/Acclimate.htm

Most important info that has direct applications is this:

"For tropical fishes, be sure the water in the receiving tank is the same temperature as, or warmer than, the water in the bag."

"For cold water fishes (e.g. goldfish and koi), be sure the water in the receiving tank is the same temperature as, or colder than, the water in the bag."

[mark razmandi]

i never acclimate my fish, i just dump them in as long as my tank is warmer...never had an issue....unless the fish are coming from a Co2 injected planted tank to a non co2 injected tank then ill acclimate.

[ssrprelude]

Don't listen that's why your fishes having problems. Hahaha

[eklikewhoa]

Temp is the only thing I would worry about... thermal shock is a beech.

[Darbex]

I only worry about temp as well but I will worry about pH shock I always make sure what the water source is of new fish.

[geoff_tropheus]

QT time is very important

[Gene D]

I believe QT is important, not so convinced about acclimitization. I ordered some small Malawi fish via mail. The shipper placed 6 fish in a bag. Upon arrival 2 were dead. When I opened the bad the smell of ammonia was overwhelming. I netted the fish from the bag and dropped them directly in the tank. I couldn't see any advantage in leaving them in water with such a high ammonia content. I have done this with most fish and not had any problems.

[gotticgs]

quit being lazy

[Gene D]

quit being lazy

Call it what you want but I will put it to you like this -
If you were locked in smoke filled room taking in more ash and soot with each breath would you want me to:

A) Slowly pump in fresh air, so you could breathe in a small percentage of good air with the smoke
B) Remove you from the smokey room so you could breathe in fresh constantly circulated air

The bag is equivelant of the smoke filled room for the fish

[myjohnson]

yup!

Anyone that unpack fish for Mike will know.

The best thing for those fish that been stuck in a bag for 3 days is not to get temp adjusted.

Best thing for them is fresh clean water.

[ssrprelude]

In cases like that, yes, fresh water makes or breaks the fish. But if you have time, its best to get them adjusted.

[76dragon]

It's that oil slick water That they like

[geoff_tropheus]

Depends alot also on the species. If you got sensitive fishes, it would be better to acclimate them, unless they are dying in the bags or look stressed out.

I also check pH of shipping waters before I add them to my tanks. As long as the pH is not more than about 1.0 off you are in good shape for hard water species. Acidic species would need acclimation to hard water.

Temperature is also important. There is a big difference between spending a week in a bag and experiencing 10 degF water temperature change, versus 12 hours shipping or even overnight. If you got the time, then float their bags for 40minutes to get the temps accilmated.

[gotticgs]

Call it what you want but I will put it to you like this -
If you were locked in smoke filled room taking in more ash and soot with each breath would you want me to:

A) Slowly pump in fresh air, so you could breathe in a small percentage of good air with the smoke
B) Remove you from the smokey room so you could breathe in fresh constantly circulated air

The bag is equivelant of the smoke filled room for the fish

yup!

Anyone that unpack fish for Mike will know.

The best thing for those fish that been stuck in a bag for 3 days is not to get temp adjusted.

Best thing for them is fresh clean water.

its a case by case issue if you have the time and the fish are ok then do it right

[bethesdaboy]

Those of you that have unloaded an order with me know how it is done.