Moving QT Fish to DT

MatthewLaw · 02/25/2009, 09:33 AM

Greetings All- Hopefully in about 4 days I will be able to move my valentini puffer and kleini butterfly to the DT. they are doing great in the QT and have been there for a few weeks.

before this move, would it be a bad idea to do water changes using water from the DT? that was less stress on the fish when the actual move does occur.

only downside I see is that I am putting 'dirty DT' water into the QT. DT is fully cycled with nitrate around 20.

tm613 · 02/25/2009, 10:05 AM

I usually do a simple acclimation just like when they are coming out of the bag....put them in a bucket and use drip method or pour small amounts in periodically

MatthewLaw · 02/25/2009, 10:31 AM

i usually do this with new fish too but wasn't sure if the slow 4-day conversion to DT water would be better.

reefergeorge · 02/25/2009, 05:53 PM

I do a 25% wc from the dt, and just go from qt to dt with no acclimation.
I use a 29 for qt. If yours is much bigger it may be a hassle.

MatthewLaw · 02/25/2009, 06:14 PM

thanks for your help. how soon before the 'final move' do you do the 25% WC from the DT?

reefergeorge · 02/25/2009, 06:36 PM

Within the hour.
This has worked for me many times, but there are a lot of different ways to get the same result.

Recty · 02/25/2009, 07:39 PM

I dont think it is going to hurt at all to move your DT water into the QT.

If it DOES hurt, then you have something seriously wrong with your DT water anyway... if a 25% change makes your fish sick, just think how it would be if you did a 100% change (ie moved them into the tank).

I'm not saying you have to do it, but I cant think of a much easier acclimation process than changing out DT water into the QT over a couple days then just blopping them over into the DT.

MatthewLaw · 02/25/2009, 09:31 PM

I agree. THat was my original reasoning for this longer acclimation process.

i have a false perc, coral beauty angel and yellow tail damsel and chocolate chip starfish in the 50g DT. everyone is eatting very well and seems to be happy. So I am confident in the DT water.

02/25/2009, 09:33 AM	#1
MatthewLaw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Coast US Posts: 1,564	Moving QT Fish to DT Greetings All- Hopefully in about 4 days I will be able to move my valentini puffer and kleini butterfly to the DT. they are doing great in the QT and have been there for a few weeks. before this move, would it be a bad idea to do water changes using water from the DT? that was less stress on the fish when the actual move does occur. only downside I see is that I am putting 'dirty DT' water into the QT. DT is fully cycled with nitrate around 20.

02/25/2009, 05:53 PM	#4
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	I do a 25% wc from the dt, and just go from qt to dt with no acclimation. I use a 29 for qt. If yours is much bigger it may be a hassle. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

02/25/2009, 06:36 PM	#6
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	Within the hour. This has worked for me many times, but there are a lot of different ways to get the same result. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

02/25/2009, 10:05 AM	#2
tm613 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fairless Hills,PA Posts: 407	I usually do a simple acclimation just like when they are coming out of the bag....put them in a bucket and use drip method or pour small amounts in periodically

02/25/2009, 10:31 AM	#3
MatthewLaw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Coast US Posts: 1,564	i usually do this with new fish too but wasn't sure if the slow 4-day conversion to DT water would be better.

02/25/2009, 06:14 PM	#5
MatthewLaw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Coast US Posts: 1,564	thanks for your help. how soon before the 'final move' do you do the 25% WC from the DT?

02/25/2009, 07:39 PM	#7
Recty Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 6,584	I dont think it is going to hurt at all to move your DT water into the QT. If it DOES hurt, then you have something seriously wrong with your DT water anyway... if a 25% change makes your fish sick, just think how it would be if you did a 100% change (ie moved them into the tank). I'm not saying you have to do it, but I cant think of a much easier acclimation process than changing out DT water into the QT over a couple days then just blopping them over into the DT.

02/25/2009, 09:31 PM	#8
MatthewLaw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Coast US Posts: 1,564	I agree. THat was my original reasoning for this longer acclimation process. i have a false perc, coral beauty angel and yellow tail damsel and chocolate chip starfish in the 50g DT. everyone is eatting very well and seems to be happy. So I am confident in the DT water.