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Acclimating New Fish to Your Aquarium
Before introducing new fish into your aquarium, you'll want to ensure their successful transition from their previous environment and the stress of transport to the new water parameters, food, and other aquatic inhabitants they'll encounter. Quarantine is highly recommended but not required in the acclimation process. You may introduce the new inhabitants by either of two methods.
To use the floating method, turn off the aquarium lights and keep them off for a few hours after the fish are introduced into the tank; turn all the lights down before opening the package because fish can't take exposure to sudden bright light; then float the sealed bag in the aquarium for 15 minutes so that the water temperature in the shipping bag can match the temperature in the tank and maintain a high level of dissolved oxygen. Now cut the bag open just below the clip or rubber band and roll down the top edge of the bag so that it can float. Add half a cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag every few minutes, until full, then remove the bag and pour out half the water, but not in the tank! Float the bag again and refill with half a cup of aquarium water every few minutes till full. Take the fish out of the bag with a net and release into the aquarium. Dispose of the bag and water, but again, not in the aquarium.
The advanced drip method is used for corals, shrimp, and other sensitive organisms and requires careful monitoring. Take a small bucket for aquarium use only and keep separate buckets for fish and for invertebrates. Turn off all lights and float the unopened bag in the aquarium as in the floating method. Empty the bags and the water into the buckets, keeping the fish and invertebrates submerged and not exposed to air. Create a siphon drip line with airline tubing connected from the aquarium to each bucket. Secure the tubing with an airline holder. Tie several loose knots in the tubing or use an airline control valve to regulate the flow and adjust the control valve to a few drips per second. After the water volume in the bucket doubles, discard half and begin the drip again till it doubles. The process takes about an hour. Now the specimens can be transferred to the aquarium. Transfer them from the buckets to the specimen bags filled with water from the buckets. Submerge the closed bag in the aquarium for a few minutes till the water temperature of the bag matches the aquarium temperature, then open the bag and remove the specimen from the bag by net. Do not let the bag water get into the aquarium water. Seal off the bag and remove it, then dispose of the bag and water in a utility sink. Test for specific gravity with a hydrometer or refractometer and adjust the parameters to avoid harm to sensitive invertebrates and marine animals. Do not touch the fleshy part of corals to avoid damage.
Although some fish and invertebrates may appear to be dead or closed up after shipping, they usually revive after being successfully introduced into the aquarium. If the newcomer is bullied by an existing inhabitant, net and place the bully in a perforated floating basket until the new arrival has time to adjust to the aquarium.
To use the floating method, turn off the aquarium lights and keep them off for a few hours after the fish are introduced into the tank; turn all the lights down before opening the package because fish can't take exposure to sudden bright light; then float the sealed bag in the aquarium for 15 minutes so that the water temperature in the shipping bag can match the temperature in the tank and maintain a high level of dissolved oxygen. Now cut the bag open just below the clip or rubber band and roll down the top edge of the bag so that it can float. Add half a cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag every few minutes, until full, then remove the bag and pour out half the water, but not in the tank! Float the bag again and refill with half a cup of aquarium water every few minutes till full. Take the fish out of the bag with a net and release into the aquarium. Dispose of the bag and water, but again, not in the aquarium.
The advanced drip method is used for corals, shrimp, and other sensitive organisms and requires careful monitoring. Take a small bucket for aquarium use only and keep separate buckets for fish and for invertebrates. Turn off all lights and float the unopened bag in the aquarium as in the floating method. Empty the bags and the water into the buckets, keeping the fish and invertebrates submerged and not exposed to air. Create a siphon drip line with airline tubing connected from the aquarium to each bucket. Secure the tubing with an airline holder. Tie several loose knots in the tubing or use an airline control valve to regulate the flow and adjust the control valve to a few drips per second. After the water volume in the bucket doubles, discard half and begin the drip again till it doubles. The process takes about an hour. Now the specimens can be transferred to the aquarium. Transfer them from the buckets to the specimen bags filled with water from the buckets. Submerge the closed bag in the aquarium for a few minutes till the water temperature of the bag matches the aquarium temperature, then open the bag and remove the specimen from the bag by net. Do not let the bag water get into the aquarium water. Seal off the bag and remove it, then dispose of the bag and water in a utility sink. Test for specific gravity with a hydrometer or refractometer and adjust the parameters to avoid harm to sensitive invertebrates and marine animals. Do not touch the fleshy part of corals to avoid damage.
Although some fish and invertebrates may appear to be dead or closed up after shipping, they usually revive after being successfully introduced into the aquarium. If the newcomer is bullied by an existing inhabitant, net and place the bully in a perforated floating basket until the new arrival has time to adjust to the aquarium.
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