How long to acclimate different salinity

[Brieninsac]

Over the weekend I added three new fish (clown, wrasse and cardinal) to my QT. The salinity from the LFS was 1.018 and my QT is at 1.022. I did a drip acclimation for about 30 minutes (after 15 min. bag float). The next day the clown was dead and the other two aren't eating or being very active. So I'm wondering if I should have done a longer acclimation before adding them to the tank?

 

[anthonys51]

did you test the water from your lfs or just take there word for it. next time just match salinity from lfs to qt tank. no need to accumulate them

 

[MondoBongo]

don't acclimate fish to your QT salinity, acclimate your QT salinity to your fish.

drip acclimation can be a killer due to rapid ammonia build up. when i get new arrivals i sample the bag salinity with an insulin syringe, then match my QT salinity to that. i then float them for 15 minutes with sealed bags to match the temp, then cut them loose.

easy peasy.

 

[nuttyd]

how big is the qt. might be ammonia spike.

 

[Brieninsac]

I did check the LFS water and it was 1.018. In the future I will adjust my QT to the LFS's before adding the fish. Thanks.

 

[Cancun]

Hi there....yea I have learned that lesson the hard way myself. Yea set your salinity in your QT to match your LFS water...float them for temp and put them in.

I am not trying to be argumentative here.....but it is my understanding that if the OP gets his/her fish from their LFS......ammonia in the bag is not really a concern. Only if you order a fish online and the fish is sitting in a bag of water for 24 hrs....that is when ammonia becomes a problem.

 

[snorvich]

don't acclimate fish to your QT salinity, acclimate your QT salinity to your fish.

drip acclimation can be a killer due to rapid ammonia build up. when i get new arrivals i sample the bag salinity with an insulin syringe, then match my QT salinity to that. i then float them for 15 minutes with sealed bags to match the temp, then cut them loose.

easy peasy.

What he said.