How to Acclimate Fish from low salinity from shipping

[ReeferMan]

My question is: How do you acclimate fish that are shipped in a salinity of 1.010 to 1.026 without stressing them out? it seems like a big jump and not recommended to acclimate them right away but rather over a weeks time right? Would the drip method work or should they be dripped with fresh salt water with a salinty just a tad higher?

[JMsAquarium]

My question is: How do you acclimate fish that are shipped in a salinity of 1.010 to 1.026 without stressing them out? it seems like a big jump and not recommended to acclimate them right away but rather over a weeks time right? Would the drip method work or should they be dripped with fresh salt water with a salinty just a tad higher?

 

 

I would drip saltwater from the main tank, a little bit at a time over a few days period to get them acclimated to a higher salinity. You could do a fresh batch of SW at 1.010 to match the one they came in. Then every day you add water from your main tank til you reach the same SG as your main tank. Not only, IMO, this will get them acclimated to the higher SG, but also to the general parameters of your tank. It also enables you to quarantine the fish for a while.

 

JM

[gastone]

Take your time Chris. You can drop salinity fairly quickly, but you don't want to raise it too fast. If you use a 10g quaratine tank, start with 6.5 gallons @ 1.010 and then drip 1/2 gallon per day at 1.035. At the end of one week your would have ten gallons with a salinity of 1.01875. Now remove 5.5 gallons leaving yourself with 4.5 gallons of 1.01875. Drip 1/2 gallon a day of 1.035 and 11 days later you will have a salinity of 1.026. Of course this doesn't take into account evaporation, but it should get you fairly close.

 

Garrett.

 

 

... in fact, you could take the opportunity to lower the salinity to 1.009 for hyposalinity quarantine for a few weeks and then go about raising it.

 

Garrett.

[ReeferMan]

Take your time Chris. You can drop salinity fairly quickly, but you don't want to raise it too fast. If you use a 10g quaratine tank, start with 6.5 gallons @ 1.010 and then drip 1/2 gallon per day at 1.035. At the end of one week your would have ten gallons with a salinity of 1.01875. Now remove 5.5 gallons leaving yourself with 4.5 gallons of 1.01875. Drip 1/2 gallon a day of 1.035 and 11 days later you will have a salinity of 1.026. Of course this doesn't take into account evaporation, but it should get you fairly close.

 

Garrett.

... in fact, you could take the opportunity to lower the salinity to 1.009 for hyposalinity quarantine for a few weeks and then go about raising it.

 

Garrett.

 

 

COOL Thats what i figured. i have my QT setup going i will just have to lower the salinity alittle. I have plenty of time. Plus i need them to start eatting as well. I will post pictures once i get them settled in.

[Ne0eN]

I would drip saltwater from the main tank, a little bit at a time over a few days period to get them acclimated to a higher salinity. You could do a fresh batch of SW at 1.010 to match the one they came in. Then every day you add water from your main tank til you reach the same SG as your main tank. Not only, IMO, this will get them acclimated to the higher SG, but also to the general parameters of your tank. It also enables you to quarantine the fish for a while.

 

JM

 

Welcome back JM!

 

-- Rob

[JMsAquarium]

Welcome back JM!

 

-- Rob

 

Thanks Rob :wink:

[Der ABT]

make your own.....needle valve, airline tubing...either clip it on to the tank or bend a peice of rigid tubing to keep it in the water.

[Quantum Aquaria]

you could always use airline tubing and tie a knot at the end to control the drip rate or put a valve at the end to do so. 

 

If you want something commercially made, we have in stock the Innovative Marine Auqa Gadget - AccuDrip in our store.  works very well.