Can buying a fish from a tank with low salinity a bad idea?

vexeclipse2007 · 02/05/2011, 10:00 AM

A Guy is selling a fish but his salinity is at 1.016..mines at 1.023..just curious before I buy him

nanojg · 02/05/2011, 10:01 AM

I think most fish stores maintain low salinity. Just drip acclimate the fish and you will be fine.

vexeclipse2007 · 02/05/2011, 10:17 AM

K cause I was using myself as an example..I sold a mystery wrasse and apparently my salinity was low...and its been 4 days and the Guy thinks he's dead because he hasn't come out yet...so he's blaming me due to salinity being low...the reason why it was low was because hydrometer apparently is way off..it stated it was at 1.022

Orcrone · 02/05/2011, 10:22 AM

Salinity is one of three things, along with temp & pH, that should be as close as possible when acclimating. I do think 1.016 to 1.023 is a large difference. Personally I always use a QT and think everyone should. Aside from the obvious reasons it gives me the ability to adjust my QT to the same parameters that the fish is coming from. After the fish is in the QT I then slowly adjust the salinity in the QT to that of the DT.

One other thing. Fish can handle a drop in salinity better than an increase so in thihs case you'd want to bring the salinity up slowly.

maikoa02 · 02/06/2011, 03:02 AM

Slow acclimation is key.

Metal Man 1221 · 02/06/2011, 03:11 AM

If the fish died because of the salinity, then in no way is it your fault. He should have acclimated RIGHT if even at all.

jformani · 02/06/2011, 08:17 AM

Not your fault if the guy didnt drip acclimate. Every fish I purchase from LFS has low salinity and copper in the water. I acclimate no less then an hour - two hours depending on fish. If you acclimate slow, over a two hour period and make sure the temp is the same as the tank, no reason the fish wouldnt survive.

peasofme · 02/06/2011, 09:21 AM

if a guy has a fish at 1.016, it most likely has ich

shrimphead · 02/06/2011, 09:49 AM

lower salinity is easier on the fishes metabolism maybe thats why LFS's keep them at lower gravity, maybe there's another reason? but 1.016 is pritty low isn't it? i can't remember what they say the salinity range for keeping marine fish is.

BEEKER1 · 02/06/2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vexeclipse2007

K cause I was using myself as an example..I sold a mystery wrasse and apparently my salinity was low...and its been 4 days and the Guy thinks he's dead because he hasn't come out yet...so he's blaming me due to salinity being low...the reason why it was low was because hydrometer apparently is way off..it stated it was at 1.022

Hydrometer's are not an accurate way to measure salinity.

BEEKER1 · 02/06/2011, 09:55 AM

Lower salinity or hypo salinity is a method fish stores use to keep fish from getting ich or stressing the fish. One of my LFS keeps salinity at 1.019 and whenever I get fish from him I just do a slow drip to bring the fish up to my tanks salinity at 1.025. I have not had any issues unless I rush the acclimation process.

BEEKER1 · 02/06/2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peasofme

if a guy has a fish at 1.016, it most likely has ich

This is not necessarily true and is often used to keep fish from developing ich.

snorvich · 02/06/2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcrone

Salinity is one of three things, along with temp & pH, that should be as close as possible when acclimating. I do think 1.016 to 1.023 is a large difference. Personally I always use a QT and think everyone should. Aside from the obvious reasons it gives me the ability to adjust my QT to the same parameters that the fish is coming from. After the fish is in the QT I then slowly adjust the salinity in the QT to that of the DT.

One other thing. Fish can handle a drop in salinity better than an increase so in thihs case you'd want to bring the salinity up slowly.

Excellent advice. Many online vendors ship at 1.019 so ideally having a quarantine at the SG would be the easiest transition. I personally feel that NSW 1.0264 is the best goal, just not for the initial quarantine.

snorvich · 02/06/2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peasofme

if a guy has a fish at 1.016, it most likely has ich

No, that is not correct.

snorvich · 02/06/2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEEKER1

This is not necessarily true and is often used to keep fish from developing ich.

1.009 is hypo. 1.016 will have no effect on ich.

02/05/2011, 10:00 AM	#1
vexeclipse2007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 506	Can buying a fish from a tank with low salinity a bad idea? A Guy is selling a fish but his salinity is at 1.016..mines at 1.023..just curious before I buy him

02/06/2011, 03:11 AM	#6
Metal Man 1221 FMMAS Executive Director Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fargo ND Posts: 1,504	If the fish died because of the salinity, then in no way is it your fault. He should have acclimated RIGHT if even at all. __________________ "My advise is, always look at their aquarium before you take their advise. Because alot of people give advise and they havnt got a clue" ~David Saxby~ "Only after the last tree's cut and the last river poisoned only after the last fish is caught will you find that money cannot be eaten" ~Lamb of God~ Current Tank Info: 125g DT, 45g sump ---- 57g Illuminata, custom sump

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
mixed tank - sps lps softies - bad idea?	FishTruck	Reef Discussion	4	10/21/2009 03:39 PM
Buying Fish Corals Tanks, LR Accessories	drlucky4life	Upstate Reef Society	19	05/26/2008 05:11 PM
Want to add 2" sand bed into my BB tank. Is it a bad idea?	Jar*Head	SPS Keepers	20	08/10/2007 01:57 PM
SW tanks and laminate floors, bad idea??	Izsabelle	New to the Hobby	3	03/22/2006 04:43 AM

02/05/2011, 10:01 AM	#2
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	I think most fish stores maintain low salinity. Just drip acclimate the fish and you will be fine.

02/05/2011, 10:17 AM	#3
vexeclipse2007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 506	K cause I was using myself as an example..I sold a mystery wrasse and apparently my salinity was low...and its been 4 days and the Guy thinks he's dead because he hasn't come out yet...so he's blaming me due to salinity being low...the reason why it was low was because hydrometer apparently is way off..it stated it was at 1.022

02/05/2011, 10:22 AM	#4
Orcrone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 646	Salinity is one of three things, along with temp & pH, that should be as close as possible when acclimating. I do think 1.016 to 1.023 is a large difference. Personally I always use a QT and think everyone should. Aside from the obvious reasons it gives me the ability to adjust my QT to the same parameters that the fish is coming from. After the fish is in the QT I then slowly adjust the salinity in the QT to that of the DT. One other thing. Fish can handle a drop in salinity better than an increase so in thihs case you'd want to bring the salinity up slowly.

02/06/2011, 03:02 AM	#5
maikoa02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: RSM Posts: 456	Slow acclimation is key.

02/06/2011, 08:17 AM	#7
jformani Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 730	Not your fault if the guy didnt drip acclimate. Every fish I purchase from LFS has low salinity and copper in the water. I acclimate no less then an hour - two hours depending on fish. If you acclimate slow, over a two hour period and make sure the temp is the same as the tank, no reason the fish wouldnt survive.

02/06/2011, 09:21 AM	#8
peasofme Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: usa Posts: 1,405	if a guy has a fish at 1.016, it most likely has ich

02/06/2011, 09:49 AM	#9
shrimphead Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 552	lower salinity is easier on the fishes metabolism maybe thats why LFS's keep them at lower gravity, maybe there's another reason? but 1.016 is pritty low isn't it? i can't remember what they say the salinity range for keeping marine fish is.

02/06/2011, 09:55 AM	#11
BEEKER1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 58	Lower salinity or hypo salinity is a method fish stores use to keep fish from getting ich or stressing the fish. One of my LFS keeps salinity at 1.019 and whenever I get fish from him I just do a slow drip to bring the fish up to my tanks salinity at 1.025. I have not had any issues unless I rush the acclimation process.