Help!! Can I use an airstone in a fish bag??

[PirateLove]

Hey guys I just picked up two clowns approximately four hours ago. It was a long drive and I now have them being temp acclimated. For my peace of mind can I put a air stone in the little bag with them?? It will be another hour before I can start the acclimation. Just want to know if the air bubbles with hurt them. I think I read this somewhere. Thanks!!

 

[Xxero]

I don't know the definitive answer for this, but I do know that I wouldn't.

I also know that micro-bubbles can be abrasive to fish.

Once the bag is open, there should be plenty of oxygen received from the surface alone I would think. GL!

 

[Irishman360]

It will help give them more oxygen definitely. You could run into ammonia problems since the space it real small and you have nothing filtering out the waste they are producing. Once you open the bag they say you should get them out of the bag as fast as you can because the gas exchange will increase. Your post says that you have them temp acclimating now and then you say it'll be another hour before you can get them acclimated, so are they sitting in the bag now or being acclimated?

 

[Taahirs]

No!

 

[Taahirs]

Do not add an air stone. The rise in pH will convert the non toxic ammonia into toxic ammonia. Resulting in the death of your fish.

 

[firemountain]

DO NOT DO THIS!! If you add an air stone to a newly opened bag, the ph will rise and convert ammonium to a toxic form of ammonia. It will burn the fishes gills and kill your fish.

 

[firemountain]

If you are in the process of still doing this, take out the air stone immediately. If the SG of the bag water is close to your tanks water, and you already floated for temp, I would get that fish out of that toxic bag water ASAP, and put him in your tank.

 

[PirateLove]

Thank you all for the fast responses. I have removed the air stones. I should state that this fish came from a local club/friend and not from shipped or from a store so there is no extra oxygen or air put in the bag it was just bagged and brought home from another tank.. Does this matter?

 

[snorvich]

When doing local transport (such as from another reefer) use buckets rather than bags.

 

[gone fishin]

I agree with the the buckets. I personally save all those little foam coolers that fish orders come in. Makes for great transport, I just tape the lid onto the cooler. Good luck

 

[Isaacs55]

Even if there is extra oxygen or not, the moment you open the bag is when the clock starts ticking for ammonia to turn into toxic ammonia. Fish pee and poop while being transported and in a closed bag it's even worse due to no gas exchange. Anytime I buy a fish locally I use a 5 gallon bucket filled half way for gas exchange to occur. Good luck and I hope your fish is doing well.

 

[Indymann99]

I subscribe to the theory that drip acclimation for fish does more harm than good....

When I am going to purchase a fish I use the following procedure.

1. setup my QT and get it cycled... couple of weeks (this also helps prevent "impulse purchases")
2. order fish (online) or pickup local
3. float bags to adjust temp if necessary
4. open bag and immediately test SG of the water.
5. adjust my QT to be equal or LOWER than the bag water.
6. drain bag water through my QT net (over sink) then into QT goes the fish.

Quicker you get the fish into good water the better.
Ph and other params don't matter. Temp and SG are most important. As said above the minute you open the bag the clock starts with Ammonia.

 

[hkgar]

I subscribe to the theory that drip acclimation for fish does more harm than good....

When I am going to purchase a fish I use the following procedure.

1. setup my QT and get it cycled... couple of weeks (this also helps prevent "impulse purchases")
2. order fish (online) or pickup local
3. float bags to adjust temp if necessary
4. open bag and immediately test SG of the water.
5. adjust my QT to be equal or LOWER than the bag water.
6. drain bag water through my QT net (over sink) then into QT goes the fish.

Quicker you get the fish into good water the better.
Ph and other params don't matter. Temp and SG are most important. Ases said above the minute you open the bag the clock starts with Ammonia.

+1, Yes, yes.

but before getting the fish I confirm the sg of the source from which they are coming so the QT will already be at that sg. I do then reconfirm the sg of the bag water when I get the fish home.

Also I have begun doing 12 day TTM for Ick and Prazi Pro treatment before a shorter QT stay.

+1 Y