How long to acclimate different salinity

Brieninsac · 03/28/2016, 11:55 AM

Over the weekend I added three new fish (clown, wrasse and cardinal) to my QT. The salinity from the LFS was 1.018 and my QT is at 1.022. I did a drip acclimation for about 30 minutes (after 15 min. bag float). The next day the clown was dead and the other two aren't eating or being very active. So I'm wondering if I should have done a longer acclimation before adding them to the tank?

anthonys51 · 03/28/2016, 12:00 PM

did you test the water from your lfs or just take there word for it. next time just match salinity from lfs to qt tank. no need to accumulate them

MondoBongo · 03/28/2016, 12:10 PM

don't acclimate fish to your QT salinity, acclimate your QT salinity to your fish.

drip acclimation can be a killer due to rapid ammonia build up. when i get new arrivals i sample the bag salinity with an insulin syringe, then match my QT salinity to that. i then float them for 15 minutes with sealed bags to match the temp, then cut them loose.

easy peasy.

nuttyd · 03/28/2016, 12:16 PM

how big is the qt. might be ammonia spike.

Brieninsac · 03/28/2016, 01:46 PM

I did check the LFS water and it was 1.018. In the future I will adjust my QT to the LFS's before adding the fish. Thanks.

Cancun · 03/28/2016, 11:20 PM

Hi there....yea I have learned that lesson the hard way myself. Yea set your salinity in your QT to match your LFS water...float them for temp and put them in.

I am not trying to be argumentative here.....but it is my understanding that if the OP gets his/her fish from their LFS......ammonia in the bag is not really a concern. Only if you order a fish online and the fish is sitting in a bag of water for 24 hrs....that is when ammonia becomes a problem.

snorvich · 03/29/2016, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MondoBongo

don't acclimate fish to your QT salinity, acclimate your QT salinity to your fish.

drip acclimation can be a killer due to rapid ammonia build up. when i get new arrivals i sample the bag salinity with an insulin syringe, then match my QT salinity to that. i then float them for 15 minutes with sealed bags to match the temp, then cut them loose.

easy peasy.

What he said.

03/28/2016, 11:55 AM	#1
Brieninsac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 782	How long to acclimate different salinity Over the weekend I added three new fish (clown, wrasse and cardinal) to my QT. The salinity from the LFS was 1.018 and my QT is at 1.022. I did a drip acclimation for about 30 minutes (after 15 min. bag float). The next day the clown was dead and the other two aren't eating or being very active. So I'm wondering if I should have done a longer acclimation before adding them to the tank? __________________ Red Sea Reefer 350 (73gal/18gal sump) / Kessil a360WE Lights

03/28/2016, 12:10 PM	#3
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	don't acclimate fish to your QT salinity, acclimate your QT salinity to your fish. drip acclimation can be a killer due to rapid ammonia build up. when i get new arrivals i sample the bag salinity with an insulin syringe, then match my QT salinity to that. i then float them for 15 minutes with sealed bags to match the temp, then cut them loose. easy peasy. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

03/28/2016, 01:46 PM	#5
Brieninsac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 782	I did check the LFS water and it was 1.018. In the future I will adjust my QT to the LFS's before adding the fish. Thanks. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 350 (73gal/18gal sump) / Kessil a360WE Lights

03/28/2016, 11:20 PM	#6
Cancun Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Saint Louis Missouri Posts: 527	Hi there....yea I have learned that lesson the hard way myself. Yea set your salinity in your QT to match your LFS water...float them for temp and put them in. I am not trying to be argumentative here.....but it is my understanding that if the OP gets his/her fish from their LFS......ammonia in the bag is not really a concern. Only if you order a fish online and the fish is sitting in a bag of water for 24 hrs....that is when ammonia becomes a problem. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL...I love wrasses....have leopards....several Coris....China Wrasse, Dejardini and purple tang... Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL

03/28/2016, 12:00 PM	#2
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	did you test the water from your lfs or just take there word for it. next time just match salinity from lfs to qt tank. no need to accumulate them

03/28/2016, 12:16 PM	#4
nuttyd Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Coral Gables Posts: 520	how big is the qt. might be ammonia spike.