Accilimation Fish?

[drillsar]

I just got my shipment from saltwaterfish and using the drip method. I have been dripping now around 2hrs. It seems like the fish not moving is this a bad sign? As of now the salinity in container is 30PPT and my tank is 35PPT.

Kole Tang; Flame Angel and Sea Hare I purchased by the way.

 

[Dmorty217]

Put them in the tank, the ammonia is building up in the water they came in. Acclimate for a hr tops, and that includes floating the bags. I have been keeping fish for 21 years and I only float the bags for 30 mins then take the fish out of the water in the bag and add to the tank. I never use the drip acclimating method.

 

[drillsar]

It told me to drip so that isn't the correct way?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

This explains it well: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1959576

 

[Sk8r]

Add more water: your drip is too slow. I don't use a drip---I just periodically pour off a tad of water and pour some in. Never let the process go more than 30 minutes unless you're overcoming a monster mismatch. At this point, you need to get that process going much faster. You can jump .002 on the hydrometer every five minutes in a pinch and still be ok if the fish starts healthy.

 

[drillsar]

Interesting. The info on saltwaterfish is way wrong I guess. I added the fish and seem to be ok now. Very good information it makes sense after reading this.

 

[hkgar]

This explains it well: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1959576

This is what you do with new fish. BUT do TTM first, before adding to DT.

 

[Dmorty217]

Interesting. The info on saltwaterfish is way wrong I guess. I added the fish and seem to be ok now. Very good information it makes sense after reading this.

It's not wrong, its what all places recommend. The only reason to do a drip acclimation is if the salinity in the bag is drastically lower than the salinity in the tank you're adding them too.

 

[MondoBongo]

like Dmorty and others have said, i don't bother with drip.

when i get new fish in i test the bag water, usually by poking an insulin syringe in to the bag. then i float for 15 minutes to match temperature.

since i always bring new fish in to QT, it's real easy to adjust the QT salinity to match the bag while it is floating to match temp. then after 10 - 15 mins i just cut them loose. i usually use a colander to separate the fish from the bag water. then over the next few days, i fiddle with the QT salinity to match my main tank. that way you can go as slow as you please.

 

[Oldreeferman]

Maybe the OP is speaking about a setup with no QT just a DT and that makes everything go south real fast on shipped items, no options for a slow salinity match & ammonia issues get ugly fast once bag is opened and the clock starts. In that case only option is what SK8r mentioned, several quick pours & additions of DT water making a salinity match under an hr. Ill mention if the salinity is way way off Prime can be added also to detoxify bad ammonia buildup due to shipping.( Not an issue with LFS purchases) This will add more time to make the match slower with less stress. Shippers must think everyone has a close matching salinity QT to state drip acclimation after a long shipping trip maybe?
Im no expert but i would think they ought to also mention if no QT go another faster rout but its a business i suppose they think they may loose nervous customers mentioning the dangers of ammonia from shipping verses in shop pickups.

 

[hkgar]

I always ask the supplier what the salinity they ship at, or the store keeps them at. My TTM tank is then at that sg waiting arrival. I absolutely verify the stated sg first.

 

[Oldreeferman]

I normally don't buy fish online but i was thinking about folks that don't have the luxury of a QT tank & believe i have a solution. What id do if buying online & had no QT is pre-mix low salinity seawater to what the seller is holding the fish at & then when the fish arrive id put the fish in its sealed bad in the DT along with a matching salinity bag of water also & allow them both to come to DT temp say 1/2hr. Then simply remove said fish & put it in the warm new matching bag of water, this way no ammonia issues, now you can either do drip acclimation or add DT water slowly till it matches having plenty of time now. Perhaps someone has already tried doing this & will chime in. Only thing else one might want to make sure is close is PH on a delicate fish maybe also. Anyway hopefully a better idea then leaving in shippers bag full of ammonia & other waste products.