Since you’ve spent your valuable time and money understanding the requirements of the aquarium fish you wish to have. You certainly want to protect this purchase by adhering to a proper acclimation process once the fish arrive at your door.
The reason why you acclimate is simple: The water that your new aquarium fish are packaged in has different temperature, pH, and hardness parameters than your existing aquarium. Freshwater Tropical Fish, and especially invertebrates, are quite sensitive to even slight changes in these parameters, therefore properly acclimating your aquatic life is the key to ensuring their successful relocation into their new home.
Below are two recommended acclimation methods and either can successfully work for any type of freshwater aquarium.
We highly recommend that your new aquarium fish be quarantined in a separate aquarium for a period of up to two weeks in order to reduce the likelihood of introducing new diseases and parasites into your aquarium. Fish can become stressed during shipping and make them susceptible to problems. Fish Acclimation also helps to ensure that your tropical fish are accepting food, properly eating, and are in the best health before their transition into your aquarium display.
Acclimation Via Floating:
1. We place the rubber bands on the bags, so you can simply pull on the folded over portion of the bag under the rubber band and the rubber band will pop while remaining uncoiled around the bag. Remove rubber band.
2. Now, add a half cup of aquarium water to the shipping bag by either using a cup or simply submerge the bag into the aquarium and allow around a half cup to mix in with the water already in the bag. Note: Repeat this step every four to five minutes until the shipping bag is full.
3. Then, lift the shipping bag from your aquarium and drain exactly half the water from the shipping bag.
4. Then, float the shipping bag again in your aquarium and add a half cup of your aquarium water to the shipping bag every four to five minutes until the bag is full again.
5. Now simply pour the fish and the water into their new tank.
6. After about an hour offer the new arrivals some food. Frozen Bloodworms are among a favorite food for all fish and inverts.
Acclimation Via Dripping
1. This method is used mostly for highly sensitive aquatic life. First off, you will need airline tubing and you need to be able to monitor the complete process. Also, get a clean, 3 or 5-gallon bucket that will is designated for aquarium use only. If you are acclimating both fish and invertebrates, make sure to use a separate bucket for each.
2. Start off by using Steps 1-3 of the floating method to in order to properly acclimate water temperature.
3. Next, you need to carefully empty the fish and water in the bags into the bucket(s), and make sure not to expose sensitive invertebrates to the air. Depending on the amount of water in the shipping bag, you may be required to tilt the bucket at a 45 degree angle so that you can make sure the aquarium fish are fully submerged. Also, you may need a prop or wedge to help hold your bucket in this position until there is ample liquid in the bucket to put it back to a level position.
4. Using the airline tubing, you need to set up and run a siphon drip line from the main aquarium to each bucket. Please Note: You’ll need separate airline tubing for each bucket used. You will need to tie several loose knots in the airline tubing, or use a plastic or other non-metal airline control valve, so that you can properly regulate water flow from the aquarium. You may also find it helpful to secure the airline tubing in place with an airline holder.
5. Next, start a siphon by sucking on the end of the airline tubing that you will be placing into each of the buckets. When the aquarium water begins flowing through the tubing, adjust the drip (by tightening one of the knots or adjusting the control valve) to a rate of about 2-4 drips per second. Please Note: When the water volume in the bucket doubles, you should discard half of the water and begin the drip again until the volume of water doubles once more. This takes about about one hour to complete.
Now, the freshwater tropical fish can finally be transferred to your aquarium.
