Acclimation accident. - Page 2

Sk8r · 07/07/2007, 07:22 AM

A fish in the wild can endure a little flux in salt or temp if a current sweeps through, or an upwelling, etc, not usually a big deal. The salinity threat is to the kidneys, which have to get the fish to excrete and thus intake water to get the body balanced for the ambient salinity. The kidneys can work only so fast, and if the fish's cells are at one salinity and the ocean at another, it could cause cell rupture---but a fish has a lot of exposed surface to 'sweat' out or absorb salt. So it has some trouble adjusting, but given minimal change, minimal trouble. A point of salinity is not a big problem. 3 points, that's approaching a problem...maybe fatality.

A little fish actually adjusts to a heat situation faster than a big fish---just a body mass issue; but when dealing with cold rather than heat getting to the body core, this can be a bit stressful.

Worst case is salinity for inverts: snails and such can't 'sweat' and have very, very limited ability to intake and expel salt---they're not as fast to adjust as fish are, because they have only one avenue for getting the inner flesh adjusted to the new salinity. As for temperature I'm sure their shells serve as a temperature buffer, slower to heat up and cool down, but salinity difference causes what is called 'osmotic shock,' as in osmosis, the process of absorbing fluid through a membrane, meaning they have one salinity inside them and the ocean is something else: result, kidney damage and death within a few days as body toxins build up and can't be cleared by damaged kidneys.

This is what I understand to be the case. Hope it clarifies.

If your son is under age 6, do discourage him from the tank area: children absolutely love to 'feed' things, and they tend to imitate/play at what they see when the notion and the opportunity hit. They can overfeed your tank by dumping in half a can of food, decide to clean your tank with dishwashing detergent, decide their toy truck would look interesting in it---some are fascinated with tv remotes as floatation devices; and the addition of half a jar of dry calcium isn't even to be contemplated. The future does not occur to the under-six,

except as re the wrath of mommy/daddy and the concept of 'mine' vs. 'daddy's'. Above 6, they're perfectly capable of caring for a small freshwater tank of their own.

And page 2 is mine.

GreyhoundTrish · 07/07/2007, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hmello@bermexin
Don't lock the doors. Get the son involved in the tank, show him what and why things are going on. Great bonding time and education for a future reefer.

First, it was an accident, so don't beat yourself up over it. Second, as other's said, the fish will do fine likely. 3. I agree get your son involved, the biology and chemistry he'll pick up without even cracking a book will give him a good foundation, plus a better appreciation of the ecosystem and animals (not just the soft furry cuddly kind).

I work with greyhound adoption, and a big issue with greys is them getting off lead. We even have an amber alert system set up for when they do escape. Sighthounds are unique in that they don't typically have good recall, and are tough to catch, even by a beloved owner. But we don't beat people up when one gets through a door, or out a gate. They're accidents. We do what we can to pull together to get their greyhounds home.

I raise Bettas also. One jumped ship somehow, despite lids on everything. I don't know how. I felt bad, but I knew I'd done everything I could to keep it from happening.

dannable · 07/07/2007, 06:00 PM

Well, the flame angel is happy and eating today with no visible ill effects. I guess it will be a few days before I know for sure but based on your experiences it should not be a tragedy after all.

I guess my son taught me something new about acclimation

The tang has settled down alot and I haven't seen him chase him once in the last 5-6 hours.

Young Frankenstein · 07/07/2007, 08:49 PM

skr8 you sure have a way of explaining thinks. Thanks for the answer to a question that has puzzled me for years.

dannable · 07/08/2007, 04:40 AM

Great info Sk8r and way to take page 2!!

07/07/2007, 07:22 AM	#26
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A fish in the wild can endure a little flux in salt or temp if a current sweeps through, or an upwelling, etc, not usually a big deal. The salinity threat is to the kidneys, which have to get the fish to excrete and thus intake water to get the body balanced for the ambient salinity. The kidneys can work only so fast, and if the fish's cells are at one salinity and the ocean at another, it could cause cell rupture---but a fish has a lot of exposed surface to 'sweat' out or absorb salt. So it has some trouble adjusting, but given minimal change, minimal trouble. A point of salinity is not a big problem. 3 points, that's approaching a problem...maybe fatality. A little fish actually adjusts to a heat situation faster than a big fish---just a body mass issue; but when dealing with cold rather than heat getting to the body core, this can be a bit stressful. Worst case is salinity for inverts: snails and such can't 'sweat' and have very, very limited ability to intake and expel salt---they're not as fast to adjust as fish are, because they have only one avenue for getting the inner flesh adjusted to the new salinity. As for temperature I'm sure their shells serve as a temperature buffer, slower to heat up and cool down, but salinity difference causes what is called 'osmotic shock,' as in osmosis, the process of absorbing fluid through a membrane, meaning they have one salinity inside them and the ocean is something else: result, kidney damage and death within a few days as body toxins build up and can't be cleared by damaged kidneys. This is what I understand to be the case. Hope it clarifies. If your son is under age 6, do discourage him from the tank area: children absolutely love to 'feed' things, and they tend to imitate/play at what they see when the notion and the opportunity hit. They can overfeed your tank by dumping in half a can of food, decide to clean your tank with dishwashing detergent, decide their toy truck would look interesting in it---some are fascinated with tv remotes as floatation devices; and the addition of half a jar of dry calcium isn't even to be contemplated. The future does not occur to the under-six, except as re the wrath of mommy/daddy and the concept of 'mine' vs. 'daddy's'. Above 6, they're perfectly capable of caring for a small freshwater tank of their own. And page 2 is mine. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. Last edited by Sk8r; 07/07/2007 at 07:32 AM.

07/07/2007, 06:00 PM	#28
dannable Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Guelph Ontario, Canada Posts: 430	Well, the flame angel is happy and eating today with no visible ill effects. I guess it will be a few days before I know for sure but based on your experiences it should not be a tragedy after all. I guess my son taught me something new about acclimation The tang has settled down alot and I haven't seen him chase him once in the last 5-6 hours. __________________ "Gentlemen; I put my pants on just like anyone else--one leg at a time. Except that once my pants are on, I make wicked aquariums." Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon FOWLR, 75Lbs of Live Rock, 1 OC clown, 2 pajama cardinals, 1 firefish, 1 cleaner shrimp

07/08/2007, 04:40 AM	#30
dannable Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Guelph Ontario, Canada Posts: 430	Great info Sk8r and way to take page 2!! __________________ "Gentlemen; I put my pants on just like anyone else--one leg at a time. Except that once my pants are on, I make wicked aquariums." Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon FOWLR, 75Lbs of Live Rock, 1 OC clown, 2 pajama cardinals, 1 firefish, 1 cleaner shrimp

07/07/2007, 08:49 PM	#29
Young Frankenstein Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami Florida. Posts: 3,842	skr8 you sure have a way of explaining thinks. Thanks for the answer to a question that has puzzled me for years.