Acclimating Divers Den fish?

[Bill Nye]

I just made my first online fish purchase today. Previously all of my fish came from local fish stores. Usually I drive them home and start drip acclimating them in a Styrofoam cooler for about an hour or two (depends on salinity of their water) then in they go.

I have been doing a lot of reading prior to making my purchase but it seems that the consensus is split. Many people say drip acclimate your fish but others say you shouldn't drip acclimate if the salinity is close because there is ammonia built up in the bag that will become toxic when you open it.

From what I have read the salinity of the DD tanks is about 1.025 so it would be about the same as my tank. Should I drip acclimate or should they get temp acclimated then go in the tank?

 

[lhm nole]

Same salinity acclimate temp and off they go

 

[albano]

Same salinity acclimate temp and off they go

+1...going into QT...right?

 

[Bill Nye]

+1...going into QT...right?

I have never used a quarantine tank before but have thought about setting one up. I don't have many fish in my tank (2 clowns and a firefish) and never ran into any problems so I guess I've been lucky thus far. My current tank has all of the live rock from my last tank in the sump so conceivably I could cycle a 20 gallon long instantly I would just need to buy an ac filter.

 

[rjallen]

Its time to set up a QT tank. Besides the obvious, it makes acclimation easier. DD does a great job packaging fish for shipment. DD fish come in with a specific gravity close to 1.025- but check it anyway. Have the QT tank at 78 degrees and above SG. Check the ph and adjust with buffer [in tank...very important for inverts]. Float them for 20 minutes if they look good and healthy in the bag then add water from tank until you have doubled the bag volume then release into tank. With a empty QT, you can even put the transport water into your tank. If you take more than 5 minutes with the water addition, I would put 1 drop of Prime or the equivalent to detox ammonia build up.

When you open that bag of fish that has been in transit for over more than a few hours, you will release ammonia and that can kill your fish. That is why I do not like to drip acclimate fish if they are shipped. If the fish are in distress or are hot or cold you may have to modify but don't dump a cold fish into a tropical temp tank float them as above or even let them warm up for a short time to room temp. before floating.

Good luck and I think you will be happy with your DD fish.

RJA

 

[Bill Nye]

So I have been doing some reading about QT tanks. It seems most people set up temporary QT tanks and don't really use and type of seeded media. Are these people just using a ammonia badge and doing >25% water changes every day?

How long should fish be QT'd there seems to be a lot of discrepancy when you search the subject.

 

[Bill Nye]

double post

 

[snorvich]

Fish from Divers Den (or any source) should be quarantined for a minimum of four weeks. No fish purchased online should be drip acclimated. As noted, set the receiving water SG to the transport water SG, then temperature acclimate for 15 minutes.

 

[mecheng]

I never quarantine divers den fish. That's why you pay a premium price for them. Never had a problem. Again as previously stated never drip acclimate fish. Match salinity and temp and put in. I find that divers den runs about 1.025 specific gravity FYI.

 

[alprazo]

Fish from Divers Den (or any source) should be quarantined for a minimum of four weeks.

I couldn't agree more. Had a near total wipe-out from a fish purchased from DD. Totally changed my approach to The hobby.

 

[asudavew]

Fish from Divers Den (or any source) should be quarantined for a minimum of four weeks. No fish purchased online should be drip acclimated. As noted, set the receiving water SG to the transport water SG, then temperature acclimate for 15 minutes.

This^^

 

[asudavew]

I couldn't agree more. Had a near total wipe-out from a fish purchased from DD. Totally changed my approach to The hobby.

Yes and once you start to quarantine you will actually enjoy it IMO.
It's really personal and allows time to get to know the fish and its habits.
Invaluable procedure.

 

[albano]

I never quarantine divers den fish. That's why you pay a premium price for them...

I believe that DD still suggests that ALL fish and corals are QTd upon arrival

 

[snorvich]

I believe that DD still suggests that ALL fish and corals are QTd upon arrival

They do so. They also run a low level of copper in their system. We all know (or should know) what can result from that!

 

[alprazo]

No fish purchased online should be drip acclimated. As noted, set the receiving water SG to the transport water SG, then temperature acclimate for 15 minutes.

I agree with this too. The pH drops in the bag. I've seen it as low as 5.5. Ammonia that has built up is less lethal at a lower pH. Drip acclimation adds buffers that can bring the pH up faster than the replaced water causing toxicity. Make new water and bring down the pH to match. If temp right, transfer fish and then bring up the pH before adding to QT.

 

[ca1ore]

Since drip acclimation is principally for salinity adjustment, if the salinity of the water in the shipping bag matches that of the destination tank then only a temperature float is required.

 

[bat21]

They do so. They also run a low level of copper in their system. We all know (or should know) what can result from that!

Of course I know. But let's just pretend for a second that I don't. What could result from the low level of copper that Diver's Den uses?

 

[Nina51]

Yes and once you start to quarantine you will actually enjoy it IMO.
It's really personal and allows time to get to know the fish and its habits.
Invaluable procedure.

i agree with this! i have quarantined every new fish and it's fun to observe them and especially to see them eating well. when my kole tang was in qt, he got to where he would take food from my hand. i doubt that would have happened if i put him straight into my 75g dt.

i don't keep a cycled qt. i always just set it up when i had a new fish coming in. an ammonia badge and small water changes every 2 or 3 days worked like a charm for me.

as for acclimation, i always just matched salinity and temp and into the qt they went.

bill, what fish are you getting from DD??

 

[East_St_Reefs]

QT all new fish for at least two weeks, in a bare bottom, low light tank. If showing any signs of distress, extend the QT. Admittedly, I've been guilty of violating this rule with DD fish and luckily have not paid the price yet. Either way though, direct addition to the show tank is not recommended.

For acclimation, I float for 20-30 min, punch a hole in the top of the bag and then do 2-3 turkey basters full of transport water out and 2-3 turkey basters of tank water in every 20-30 minutes or so. Usually takes about 2 hours. I then pour the bag water and fish out into a net over a bucket, then release fishy into whatever tank he's going into (QT or show tank). I haven't had any go belly up using this method yet.

Good luck!

 

[sde1500]

They do so. They also run a low level of copper in their system. We all know (or should know) what can result from that!

For those of us that are new and don't.... Can you elaborate?