A Tale of Two Tanks -- Acclimation Necessary?

[Vitaly]

Okay so I have two small tanks currently running. One with fish and a seperate one with my corals.

With the help of <B>Rick (medic29)</B>, I now have a drilled 65 gallon. I am planning to move my livestock into the 65 within the next couple of days.

So here is the question.

The two (seperate) tanks with the fish and the corals are at similar pH, salinities and temperatures (other basic parametes are identical as well).

If I bring the 65 gallon, that everything is being moved into, to the same values...do I still need to go through acclimation of the animals that I am transferring? I am not being lazy...I just want to avoid unnecessary stress.

I realize there may be some (subtle) difference in some parameters. But, if pH, salinity and temp are identical...can I just do a direct and quick transfer out of the small, seperate tanks into the new one?

Thanks...

 

[Katana_user]

Sorry for the confusion, but does that mean the new 65 will not have cycled yet?

Thats another problem.

 

[medic29]

Vitaly,

As you know I just went through this. First of all you need to make sure your bigger tank has cycled, if it is going to. I cannot remember if you were putting established live rock and/or live sand in there. But I would suggest, even if you are using established live rock and live sand to let it run for a day or two and check your parameters...esp check for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and your ca. If it remains the same for a couple of days it may not cycle.

As far as acclimation, it was suggested I do at least a short acclimation, so I acclimated over about an hour. Everything seems to be doing fine. I may not have had to, but I figured better safe than sorry.

I hope this helps.

 

[Vitaly]

Yeah, I am using all old stuff...established live rock and live sand (will be adding new Southdown sand just to increase the bed depth).

I was planning to let the tank run for a few days, just to clear any mini-cycles and let the "dust settle." So I am not worried about the tank as it will be fully cycled when I do trasfer the livestock.

Really I am wondering about the <I>"established tank to established tank transfer"</I> itself. So if the pH, SG, and temp are the same between to tanks...is acclimation necessary? Again, I am not opposed to acclimating (the IV bag thing works great), but just want to avoid uneeded stress on the fish.

I guess the real question for the experienced, mad reefers out there is...other than pH, Salinity (osmotic shock) and Temperature (thermal shock) are there other physiological stressors that acclimation helps reduce?

 

[rick rottet]

IMO, i would do the acclimation. even good things should happen slowly in a reef (going from a well fed organic rich tank to a new one with cleaner water and a "new reef" to navigate). IMO, an appropriate acclimatoin is less stressful than a quick plunge into a new tank. if it was an emergency like...ooops, i just spilled half a bottle of pine-sol into my tank, that's different. as long as there is time, i would do it slowly.
there are many water parameters that we don't/can't test. do any of them cause stress in fish?...how would we know if we can't test for them.
you are corrcet that pH, temp, SG are the main three stressors. if they are the same, it's is probable that nothing will die in a quick transfer, all i'm saying is that i would do the acclimation if it was my tank.

 

[Vitaly]

Yeah <B>Rick</B>...I think your reasoning is best and safest. For there is obviously little harm in acclimating, though I suppose it is a bit stressful to the fish.

Could you, or anybody else recommend an acclimation protocol for this scenerio.

For example, would it be sufficient to:
<LI>transfer the the livestock from there current tank (20 gallon) with ~ 2 gallons of tank water into a clean bucket.
<LI>drip in another 2 gallons of water from the 65 gallon over a period of 40-60 mins.
<LI>introduce into the 65 gallon

Would this be sufficient or should I allow more time and volume to establish equalibrium?

 

[rick rottet]

sounds like a good plan to me and should be plenty, i usually allow for an equal volume of new water compared to the container that the old water is in...when the above main 3 parameters are close.

 

[medic29]

Vitaly, are you ready to transfer your stuff yet or are you just getting info so that you are prepared in the next couple of days?

 

[Vitaly]

Well I got all the plumbing done on the 65 gallon (silicone and PVC cement). So I am going to let it cure overnight. Tomorrow I will turn on the pump, and see how the overflow and return hold-up.

The tank is 3/4 full (right up to where you drilled it) and has been circulating with a fluval canister and powerhead for about a week with my old, established live rock and sand.

Therefore, pending no leaks anywhere...I hope to transfer the corals from their tank Wednesday night...followed by a Thursday transfer of the fish.

 

[medic29]

Transfer fish and eat turkey. Sounds like fun!!