Drip acclimation question???

Dundermifflin · 03/21/2015, 11:24 AM

What is the proper way to acclimate fish? How many drops per minute per fish and for how many minutes before putting in QT? Is it okay to put 2 or 3 fish in a bucket and acclimate all three with one Drip acclimator? Since going in QT do you drip the QT water?

ca1ore · 03/21/2015, 11:27 AM

No need to drip acclimate if fish is going into a QT. Just adjust the salinity of the tank to that of the shipping bag. Then all you need to do is float the bag for 15 mins to equalize temperature. You can bring the salinity of the QT back up slowly over a couple of weeks.

Sk8r · 03/21/2015, 11:30 AM

^ This. IMHO, overzealous acclimation has probably killed more fish than ich does in this hobby.

Dundermifflin · 03/21/2015, 01:52 PM

Thanks for feedback. So when is the proper time to acclimate fish?

snorvich · 03/21/2015, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

No need to drip acclimate if fish is going into a QT. Just adjust the salinity of the tank to that of the shipping bag. Then all you need to do is float the bag for 15 mins to equalize temperature. You can bring the salinity of the QT back up slowly over a couple of weeks.

I agree.

gone fishin · 03/21/2015, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dundermifflin

Thanks for feedback. So when is the proper time to acclimate fish?

If you are QT the fish the acclimation to the DT takes place gradually while in the QT. Once done with the QT simply drop the new fish into the tank.

If you are not QT then I suppose it depends on how long the fish has been in the bag. The longer the fish has been in the bag the more ammonium builds up in the bag. Once the bag is open, the ammonium is converted to ammonia. I would not leave the fish in that water longer than a half hour. Just my 2 cents.

Dundermifflin · 03/21/2015, 07:01 PM

So should one dip acclimate if they're going into the QT?

Sk8r · 03/21/2015, 07:15 PM

Definitely not longer than half an hour. No matter what.

DO NOT DRIP ACCLIMATE. Find out the salinity of the shipper, pre-set the qt to that salinity, float the sealed bag for 15 minutes to adjust temperature, open and test the bag. If within .002, you're good to put him right on over to the qt with no drip acclimation whatever, because the SALINITY is the same in bag and qt. Then over the next 4 WEEKS use evaporation and topoff to re-set the qt salinity gradually to that of the DT.

For a fish to suffer a rapid salinity fall is ok. For a fish to suffer a rapid salinity rise is dangerous.

What is even more dangerous is that if there is ammonium from fish excrement and breathing in the bag, opening the bag will convert it to ammonia, which will kill the fish within 3 days from organ damage.

This is why no drip acclimation. Drip Acclimation is still the only recourse you've got when your info is wrong and the salinity you were told is dead wrong. That's why you test the water. Be sure. But if you've done your homework your fish doesn't need to undergo that dangerous adjustment. He can go straight into safe, clean water.

Dundermifflin · 03/21/2015, 08:01 PM

Will be getting these from LFS. Thanks for that advice! Appreciate it!!

las · 04/15/2015, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Definitely not longer than half an hour. No matter what.

DO NOT DRIP ACCLIMATE. Find out the salinity of the shipper, pre-set the qt to that salinity, float the sealed bag for 15 minutes to adjust temperature, open and test the bag. If within .002, you're good to put him right on over to the qt with no drip acclimation whatever, because the SALINITY is the same in bag and qt. Then over the next 4 WEEKS use evaporation and topoff to re-set the qt salinity gradually to that of the DT.

For a fish to suffer a rapid salinity fall is ok. For a fish to suffer a rapid salinity rise is dangerous.

What is even more dangerous is that if there is ammonium from fish excrement and breathing in the bag, opening the bag will convert it to ammonia, which will kill the fish within 3 days from organ damage.

This is why no drip acclimation. Drip Acclimation is still the only recourse you've got when your info is wrong and the salinity you were told is dead wrong. That's why you test the water. Be sure. But if you've done your homework your fish doesn't need to undergo that dangerous adjustment. He can go straight into safe, clean water.

So if the salinity is way off between ur QT and shipping bag, how long would you acclimate? Still 30 min max?

snorvich · 04/15/2015, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by las

So if the salinity is way off between ur QT and shipping bag, how long would you acclimate? Still 30 min max?

I would adjust the SG of the quarantine to that of the shipping water and acclimate for 15 minutes.

las · 04/15/2015, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Definitely not longer than half an hour. No matter what.

DO NOT DRIP ACCLIMATE. Find out the salinity of the shipper, pre-set the qt to that salinity, float the sealed bag for 15 minutes to adjust temperature, open and test the bag. If within .002, you're good to put him right on over to the qt with no drip acclimation whatever, because the SALINITY is the same in bag and qt. Then over the next 4 WEEKS use evaporation and topoff to re-set the qt salinity gradually to that of the DT.

For a fish to suffer a rapid salinity fall is ok. For a fish to suffer a rapid salinity rise is dangerous.

What is even more dangerous is that if there is ammonium from fish excrement and breathing in the bag, opening the bag will convert it to ammonia, which will kill the fish within 3 days from organ damage.

This is why no drip acclimation. Drip Acclimation is still the only recourse you've got when your info is wrong and the salinity you were told is dead wrong. That's why you test the water. Be sure. But if you've done your homework your fish doesn't need to undergo that dangerous adjustment. He can go straight into safe, clean water.

So if the salinity is way off between ur QT and shipping bag, how long would you acclimate? Still 30 min max?

las · 04/15/2015, 08:38 PM

Sorry double post

ca1ore · 04/15/2015, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by las

So if the salinity is way off between ur QT and shipping bag, how long would you acclimate? Still 30 min max?

Why would it be off? I 'set' my QT for incoming fish at about .03 (usually 1.020) above what the shipper claims his shipping salinity to be. Once the fish arrives, I check the shipping bag water, and adjust the QT to match by adding FW (in most cases). If the shippers info was way off, and my QT is lower than the shipping water (very unusual), then it depends on how much. Fish tolerate high to low salinity better than low to high, so if my QT is lower by less than .02 I don't worry.

Sk8r · 04/16/2015, 09:09 AM

If it SHOULD happen, the rule is still 30 minutes. Ammonia is lethal. That part of the equation doesn't bend. Avoid ammonia.

las · 04/16/2015, 09:12 AM

Thanks sk8r

design1stcode2n · 04/16/2015, 12:17 PM

Here is an issue I've come across, (Obviously you could use two QT's or 2 TTM's). You have a fish from a LFS or online that is at say 1.024 and another one at 1.019. you need to drip acclimate them to somewhere in between in my opinion.

Nick_P · 04/16/2015, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by design1stcode2n

Here is an issue I've come across, (Obviously you could use two QT's or 2 TTM's). You have a fish from a LFS or online that is at say 1.024 and another one at 1.019. you need to drip acclimate them to somewhere in between in my opinion.

I would set the QT to 1.019 and drop both fish in. Then slowly bring up the level through top offs.

ca1ore · 04/16/2015, 12:46 PM

Personally, I wouldn't QT fish from different places in the same tank. Problem solved

design1stcode2n · 04/16/2015, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Personally, I wouldn't QT fish from different places in the same tank. Problem solved

Bought from the same place. Just one of the fish was in hypo-salinity. They run hypo, copper and prazipro.

bat21 · 04/16/2015, 08:44 PM

Advice I was given previously was that if the fish is from your LFS, you can take your time with acclimation since there hasn't been much time for ammonia to accumulate in the bag. But if you ordered online, and the fish has been in the bag for many hours, then getting it out of that bag as soon as possible is the most important thing.

ca1ore · 04/16/2015, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by design1stcode2n

Bought from the same place. Just one of the fish was in hypo-salinity. They run hypo, copper and prazipro.

OK, but that isn't how you posed your question .....

las · 04/16/2015, 10:06 PM

[QUOTE=ca1ore;23677789]OK, but that isn't how you posed your question

Nevermind

AdamSabina · 06/28/2015, 06:34 PM

Made a small video on this today.

http://youtu.be/D3maWFivSQM

ericarenee · 06/28/2015, 06:48 PM

I do a but different then most of above but kinda the same.

From over night shipping
I get the fish out of the bag into a 1 gallon tank. with the water in the bag plus about 1/4 more water from tank.I will add some reef prime to the water and Drop at a steady DRIP DRIP DRIP. Kinda fast rate until the water Doubles..
Then i will slow the rate and remove half the water and double it again.. the whole proscess is now about 30- 40 minutes..
I Will agree the Ammonia is the big issue..
I have not lost any fish like this that looked somewhat healthy when opening the bag.
From LOCAL FISH STORE. i will temp and Salinity and put in the QT Tank
Our LFS i buy the most fish from. Has several systems. One the put new arrivals.. One they keep more delicate fish. and then one for OLD STOCK FISH. Each fish has a date of arrival card. I go on Mondays and look at the old stock tank.. There the fish are always perfectly healthy and will only buy if the arrival date is 3 week old..and i remember the fish from before . I ask them to feed it and watch it for a bit each time. IF I Am lucky and it makes it 3 weeks in there. that is 5 weeks in the store.
Then i buy it and Put it right in my Display usually.. Never had a issue Like this. I WISH MOre lfs Would Date there fish and use this method..
The odd part is its a way for them to keep new stock not keep the fish healthier..

03/21/2015, 11:24 AM	#1
Dundermifflin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 272	Drip acclimation question??? What is the proper way to acclimate fish? How many drops per minute per fish and for how many minutes before putting in QT? Is it okay to put 2 or 3 fish in a bucket and acclimate all three with one Drip acclimator? Since going in QT do you drip the QT water?

03/21/2015, 11:27 AM	#2
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	No need to drip acclimate if fish is going into a QT. Just adjust the salinity of the tank to that of the shipping bag. Then all you need to do is float the bag for 15 mins to equalize temperature. You can bring the salinity of the QT back up slowly over a couple of weeks. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

03/21/2015, 11:30 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	^ This. IMHO, overzealous acclimation has probably killed more fish than ich does in this hobby. __________________ 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%.

03/21/2015, 07:15 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Definitely not longer than half an hour. No matter what. DO NOT DRIP ACCLIMATE. Find out the salinity of the shipper, pre-set the qt to that salinity, float the sealed bag for 15 minutes to adjust temperature, open and test the bag. If within .002, you're good to put him right on over to the qt with no drip acclimation whatever, because the SALINITY is the same in bag and qt. Then over the next 4 WEEKS use evaporation and topoff to re-set the qt salinity gradually to that of the DT. For a fish to suffer a rapid salinity fall is ok. For a fish to suffer a rapid salinity rise is dangerous. What is even more dangerous is that if there is ammonium from fish excrement and breathing in the bag, opening the bag will convert it to ammonia, which will kill the fish within 3 days from organ damage. This is why no drip acclimation. Drip Acclimation is still the only recourse you've got when your info is wrong and the salinity you were told is dead wrong. That's why you test the water. Be sure. But if you've done your homework your fish doesn't need to undergo that dangerous adjustment. He can go straight into safe, clean water. __________________ 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%.

04/16/2015, 09:09 AM	#15
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If it SHOULD happen, the rule is still 30 minutes. Ammonia is lethal. That part of the equation doesn't bend. Avoid ammonia. __________________ 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%.

03/21/2015, 01:52 PM	#4
Dundermifflin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 272	Thanks for feedback. So when is the proper time to acclimate fish?

03/21/2015, 07:01 PM	#7
Dundermifflin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 272	So should one dip acclimate if they're going into the QT?

03/21/2015, 08:01 PM	#9
Dundermifflin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 272	Will be getting these from LFS. Thanks for that advice! Appreciate it!!

04/15/2015, 08:38 PM	#13
las Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: chicago Posts: 1,012	Sorry double post

04/16/2015, 09:12 AM	#16
las Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: chicago Posts: 1,012	Thanks sk8r

04/16/2015, 12:17 PM	#17
design1stcode2n Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 89	Here is an issue I've come across, (Obviously you could use two QT's or 2 TTM's). You have a fish from a LFS or online that is at say 1.024 and another one at 1.019. you need to drip acclimate them to somewhere in between in my opinion.

04/16/2015, 12:46 PM	#19
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Personally, I wouldn't QT fish from different places in the same tank. Problem solved __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

04/16/2015, 08:44 PM	#21
bat21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 701	Advice I was given previously was that if the fish is from your LFS, you can take your time with acclimation since there hasn't been much time for ammonia to accumulate in the bag. But if you ordered online, and the fish has been in the bag for many hours, then getting it out of that bag as soon as possible is the most important thing.

04/16/2015, 10:06 PM	#23
las Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: chicago Posts: 1,012	[QUOTE=ca1ore;23677789]OK, but that isn't how you posed your question Nevermind Last edited by las; 04/16/2015 at 10:18 PM.

06/28/2015, 06:34 PM	#24
AdamSabina Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,426	Made a small video on this today. http://youtu.be/D3maWFivSQM

06/28/2015, 06:48 PM	#25
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	I do a but different then most of above but kinda the same. From over night shipping I get the fish out of the bag into a 1 gallon tank. with the water in the bag plus about 1/4 more water from tank.I will add some reef prime to the water and Drop at a steady DRIP DRIP DRIP. Kinda fast rate until the water Doubles.. Then i will slow the rate and remove half the water and double it again.. the whole proscess is now about 30- 40 minutes.. I Will agree the Ammonia is the big issue.. I have not lost any fish like this that looked somewhat healthy when opening the bag. From LOCAL FISH STORE. i will temp and Salinity and put in the QT Tank Our LFS i buy the most fish from. Has several systems. One the put new arrivals.. One they keep more delicate fish. and then one for OLD STOCK FISH. Each fish has a date of arrival card. I go on Mondays and look at the old stock tank.. There the fish are always perfectly healthy and will only buy if the arrival date is 3 week old..and i remember the fish from before . I ask them to feed it and watch it for a bit each time. IF I Am lucky and it makes it 3 weeks in there. that is 5 weeks in the store. Then i buy it and Put it right in my Display usually.. Never had a issue Like this. I WISH MOre lfs Would Date there fish and use this method.. The odd part is its a way for them to keep new stock not keep the fish healthier..