Utilizing my quarantine tank

LOUIE ACES

Hello again, I've been using my quarantine tank for my new little angels and I think its time to move them to my big 75 gallon community. Both tanks have been running for months and are very healthy and stable. Do I still need to acclimate them to the new tank water or can I just scoop them out and put them in the big tank? I always acclimate my fish when I buy them from the fish store b/c I know you're never supposed to trust the water from their tanks and always have to acclimate them to your tank but I've been controlling these tanks and keeping them perfect....thanks!

stephanieleah

Since both of my tanks have very different water parameters (mainly pH) i'd acclimate them slowly. Some people would advocate for just dumping them in as to not prolong the stressful process. But it is as stressful for them p hysically to not be given ample time to acclimate.

imo.

congratulations on the new fish!

aunt kymmie

If it were me I'd test both tank's water parameters. If they are close then you'll know you won't have to do as serious an acclimation as you would if you were bring them in from somewhere else. If your ph and temps are the same I don't see a problem.

Mean Harri

Is it ok to ask for expansion in this drip acclimation? I did what the guy at the lfs told me. Float the bag for a half hour. Every 5 minutes add about 2 oz of my tank water to the bag. After 30 minutes pour them in to a net and drop the net full into the tank. I did and had no problems. All 15 fish that I added to the tank are all still there and healthy.

aunt kymmie

Sure, you can ask but that doesn't mean you're going to get it. J/K


When I do the drip method I use a bucket, a vegetable/seaweed clip with a suction cup on it for holding the tube in the tank and a length of air tubing that is long enough to go from my tank to the bucket. I put one end of the tube into the veggie clip, and then attach the veggie clip to the side of the tank. I tie a knot in the tubing to regulate the amount of water flow coming out of the tank. Once the siphon is going you place the other end of the tubing into the bag (containing the fish) that's sitting in the bucket. You want a slow drip, drip, drip.
My LFS keeps all their fish in a ph of 6.5 and mine at home is 7.8. Depending on the type of fish I've brought home I've done drips that lasted three hours. The neon tetras got a three hour drip. To me, it's better safe than sorry and avoids any ph shock to the fish.

PS. When I brought home loaches that were being kept in the same PH as mine I did the acclimation that you did, Eric. For me the whole process depends upon the PH. I always test their water and mine right before I decide which method to use.

Mean Harri

Thanks Kym. I forgot about this post. This is one busy forum. I can't keep up.

LOUIE ACES

Just to fill everyone in, I moved my angels to the big tank, didn't acclimate them due to the info you guys told me about the tanks having similar pH levels and all....anyway, they're doing great! They got chased a little big by the bigger guys (I have about 13 angels total in there) but the next day I did a water change and moved some things around and now they're all one big happy family! Thanks for all the help.