Float the bags?

[Brooxe]

So I'm to the point in my new saltwater world to start adding things like a CUC and fish to my tank. Back in my freshwater days, floating the bag for 20-30 min. usually did the trick. I know that is probably not the best option anymore or is it? Anyone have any suggestions or tips on introducing newbies to the tank?

Thanks!

[sdc19982002]

inverts like your clean up crew should be drip acclimated over a period of an hour or so after being floated for 15-20 minutes. or you can just add a 1/4 cup of tank water to the bag every 15 minutes for an hour or hour and a half. but the drip is better.

[Tyler1450]

i myself just do the float method on everything and have never had a death accure

[dwd5813]

i float things for a short while during my setup of the acclimation equipment (read: cup big enough to hold the bag in and some airline tubing with a knot tied in it). after that it's just the drip acclimation for me.

[circusink22]

i like to add a 1/4 cup of water to the bag over an hour

[reefscape15]

I float for about 20-30mins and then cut a few holes in the bags and let them sit for another 30-45mins. Works great for me

[Flipper62]

Originally posted by reefscape15
I float for about 20-30mins and then cut a few holes in the bags and let them sit for another 30-45mins. Works great for me

Adding a shot glass or so of your water to the bag every 15 minuets to acclimate everything is fine, then add the coral or fish to your tank. However its NOT a good idea to add the water from the LFS into your tank. You dont know what is in his water.

[SaltyDr]

The above statement doesn't make great sense to me. You are adding something that was in the water to your tank. So, whatever "bad" that may be in the water is probably in/on whatever you are adding. Then again, you should be QTing everything anyway, right? That being said, I still try to add as little water as possible because we are "supposed to" do it that way.

[Flipper62]

Originally posted by SaltyDr
The above statement doesn't make great sense to me. You are adding something that was in the water to your tank. So, whatever "bad" that may be in the water is probably in/on whatever you are adding. Then again, you should be QTing everything anyway, right? That being said, I still try to add as little water as possible because we are "supposed to" do it that way.

When you add a fish or coral to your tank your only adding a minimal amount of water. If you add a Qt or 1/2 gallon of water, thats a whole different story

[Cbravo212]

Unless you are checking the lfs water against your own dt readings, its a crap shoot. Most lfs keep their salinity really low.

Use a QT. If not, they say it is like playing russian roulette. You may be able to play for awhile, but you never can win. It will catch up with you if you do not QT everything.

Drip aclimate before putting in QT and then dip the fish/coral out and toss the lfs water.

[reefscape15]

well i guess oopsy by me! Thanks for the tip!

[Toddrtrex]

I will float my bags for about 20 minutes (( longer if needed )) to acclimate the temp.

Then I will open up the bag and pour the contents into a 5 gallon bucket. Will start a drip (( using an airline tube with a "knot" in it to control the drip )). Will drip for about an hour, and then move the livestock into the tank. I used either my hand, or an old tupperware container --- I never use a net, fish fins can get caught in the net.

[96p993]

Since its being talked about remember to NOT add the water you dripped into the bucket back into your tank....

[Alaskan Reefer]

+1 for float then drip acclimate. I use a 1 gallon serving pitcher for this and about 20 other things I do with the tank.

[Tyler1450]

I have never had a problem with just floating the bag, and i have done this over and over i myself do not even drip acclimate just float and realease

[phenom5]

+2 on the float then drip method.

**Edit** With the exception being zoa frags. Those get a 5 minute FW Lugols dip, then go straight into the tank.

[Dell2go]

Originally posted by phenom5
+2 on the float then drip method.

**Edit** With the exception being zoa frags. Those get a 5 minute FW Lugols dip, then go straight into the tank.

3+

[returnofsid]

I actually do it the opposite. I drip acclimate motile inverts for about 90 minutes and then float for about 20 minutes. I do it this way because, after dripping for 90 minutes, the water tends to be a little colder than the tank water. Floating, brings them back up to temp.

[BAYAREA25]

All you really do is float the bag for 15 or 20 mins. And then put the fish or inverts in a small bucket and use an airline tube to siphon water into it. A little at a time for 30+ mins.

Also it depends on the fish. And animal.

Like starfish takes longer. Some fish are more sensitive then others.

On corals, most just need to be floated.

So just ask about how sensitive an animal is to change in water.

[BAYAREA25]

Also don't put the water in da small bucket into your tank. Just the animal.

Aslo its better to add them in a qt to prevent anything bad entering ur display like ich.

[EllieSuz]

I float the bag in my sump and drip directly into the bag, removing bag water with a turkey baster as needed. This prevents the sudden drop in temperature that you get with the bucket method.

[Toddrtrex]

Originally posted by EllieSuz
I float the bag in my sump and drip directly into the bag, removing bag water with a turkey baster as needed. This prevents the sudden drop in temperature that you get with the bucket method.

That is a heck of an idea.

[NirvanaFan]

Or, float the bag in your sump, and clip the bag on the edge of the sump dangling in the water. Then you're drip acclimating and stabilizing the temperature also

Since we're talking about it, temperature fluctuations really won't hurt fish if the temp is within close limits (probably around 8 or 9 degrees). If I get a fish through the mail and it's been in a bag for over 24 hours, I want to get it out of the bad water as quickly as possible. You have to worry more about a sudden spike in ammonia than you do about temperature. I will take as much tank water as is in the bag and add it directly to a 5 gallon bucket, then I will add the fish. After 5 more minutes I will add another portion of water from the QT tank. After 10 minutes, the fish will get put in the QT.

[IMM3DOORSDOWN]

i think you get the picture i do the same float the bag for about 25 min then start adding my water to the bag

[BPKlein]

I don't add the LFS's water to my water when I buy fish, because some LFS's keep some copper in their "fish" systems. But, I don't mind adding the LFS's coral water to mine.