"Acclimation"

omard · 10-23-2003, 02:13 AM

Am interested finding recommended method of introducing new stock to a tank...

Seems to be consideralble differences in methods published on dealer sites and posted on forums...

This is obviously one of the most overlooked and important aspects of reefing to a newcomer ("me&quot

...not to mention both an expensive and "heartbreaking" lesson if taken lightly (again "me"...two clowns, 1 coral "gone"

- because of lack of attention to...these animals are much more sensitive then the fresh water varieties that most of us have handled in past)...

Initial urge to "rush" new arrivals to new tank a BIG mistake...

Have read about "drip" method, turning down lights, etc. etc..

Would like to know what are the most important "keys" to a successful "tank introduction"

While at LFS I observed owner unpacking a newly arrived shipment...he was just cutting tops off shipping bags and dumping fish into a plastic bucket...he seemed so "tense" and "involved" I at time (stupidly) did not ask him what he was going to do next...and I had to leave so could not watch...

But seemed like good idea...not using small shipping bag as the "transition" container...which is what I tried to do...awkward...bags floating away...bag water slopping into tank, difficult to take water out...put back in...etc..

Thoughts?

Rgds,

OmarD

Matt Rogers · 10-23-2003, 07:40 AM

THat LFS's method is lame. * >

Mixing all that water not to mention the fish in the same bucket seems stressful.

I've worked at a couple stores before and we never did it like that.

We would float them in their bag in the tanks we were going to put them in for sometimes close to half an hour, then cut them open and add water every 10 - 15 minutes or so to the bag increasing it's volume by about 20% each time. We would do this about 3 times before releasing.

I would fold the excess of the bag over the edge of the tank to keep it from moving around.

I still do it this way at home for everything including inverts. If you have reason to be concerned about *the water they were packed in, you can always pour it through a net (carefully) into a bucket after acclimation and net the fish, and quickly put him in the tank.

The drip method is cool too.

Turning off the lights is a good idea for less stress. Sometimes it's neccessary to reset territories by moving some rock around before introduction as well.

(Did you lose the Colt?)

hth

omard · 10-23-2003, 08:01 AM

Colt "Gone"...

- guess a "lesson" that had to be learned...will pay much more attention to "acclimating" in future - am sure that was problem...

My "only" LFS does leave something to be desired..."young guy" - just starting business who does not seem too interested in spending time with or talking much with a "new" hobbiest (very strange for one taking on such a profession) --- (think he was unhappy with me when I told him I bought most of my "starting stuff" via the internet)...but he has "captive" market as next closest is a ferry boat ride to Seattle...

Has big "captive" market...is about 1/2 mile from gate of large Trident Submarine Base (Bangor) --- those sailors love fish...and are rolling in $$$...always a few in shop.

Jason McKenzie · 10-23-2003, 08:32 AM

I agree with matt's method. But because my LFS always coppers there fish I had to ensure I did not let any bag water get into the tank. I have a sump so this works for me. It can be adapted for your tank. I place the bag in my sump and allow the water to reach the same temp as the tank (20min) then I open the bag and with two cloths pegs fasten it to the sump wall. I then get airline tubing and run it from the tank down to the sump. I start the siphon and tie a knot in the tube. It then only drips (tighten the Knot to slow the drip. and let it run for about an hour. I check it ever so often to ensure the drip has not changed. If it is an invert I adjust for slower drip and leave it for longer. If I have to get water out of the bag before acclimation is complete I siphon it out with another airline tube.

J

Craig Manoukian · 10-23-2003, 01:56 PM

The discussion on this issue can be very complicated as it is not a one size fits all. *I hope I can recall all of this from memory.

Always float the bag to temp and turn out lights to reduce stress.

The drip acclimation *or 20% water addition is very good for fish that have not been bagged too long. *Usualy like a short trip from the LFS.

With fish that have been in a bag for a long period of time, when the water is exposed to the air, the Ph can go off the chart and be very toxic to your fish. *I have had great success with fish that have been bagged for a long time, around 24 hours, when I drain the bag and add them directly to my tank.

Alot of people worry about differences in specific gravity, but you can see angel fish that will move into water of different salinity to feed. *This suggests that fish may not be as sensetive to specific gravity/salinity as we might think.

Phil5613 · 10-23-2003, 07:08 PM

I am a great believer in drip acclimation. The way I do it I use airline tubing, a couple airline valves and 2 buckets. I also use a stepladder but a third bucket or anything taller then one bucket works. The setup works like this.
Set whatever you use as a stand (ie ladder , bucket or etc) up in front of the tank.
Place first bucket on the stand and empty bag holding fish into the bucket water and all.
set up 2nd bucket next to the stand and under first bucket.
Take airline tubing and run from tank to the first bucket put a valve on the end.
Take more airline tubing from first bucket to second bucket put vavle on end.
start siphon from tank to first bucket and adjust valve in first bucket to rate desired.
adjust valve in second bucket to match valve in first bucket and let it all flow.
After you have tripled the original amount of water(from fish bag) in bottom bucket. net and release fish into tank.
I then dump water from the buckets and top off the tank. This method acclimates the fish, never allows lfs and or qt water into the tank and gives me a very small water change and has been very successful for me.
Thanks,
Phil

Phil5613 · 10-23-2003, 07:09 PM

I should clarify I trow out the acclimation water and top off with new water

Matt Rogers · 10-23-2003, 08:14 PM

[quote author=Phil5613 link=board=Newbie;num=1066911228;start=0#5 date=10/23/03 at 22:08:04]
set up 2nd bucket next to the stand and under first bucket.
[/quote]

Phil don't you mean OVER the first bucket?
The 1st bucket had your fish. [smiley=goldfish.gif]

Phil5613 · 10-24-2003, 11:13 AM

No I drip into first bucket with the fish and then use the second airline and bucet as over flow and catch basin. That way the water the fish was bagged in is slowly mixed with tank water then overflows into second bucket. once I get the water exchange I prefer, about 3 times the bag water in the second bucket I am finished and i can intro the fish to the tank. The water in the first bucket shouldn't rise greatly more then the original bagged water amount. you adjust the rate of water flow and height with the airline valves. I drip very slowly with fish that are sensitive to ph salinity, and such. if you have a heartier fish you can go a little quicker. i also use this metod for my inverts especially snails.

Matt Rogers · 10-24-2003, 11:57 AM

Wow that's kinda cool.
I hadn't heard of that way before.
So you have water made up to replace the water you took out of the tank - thus what you were saying about a mini water change?