drip acclimating

[jamest0o0]

stupid question, but how do you do this successfully, I am using vinyl tubing and tried tieing it together, but either no water came out or too much water came out....

[slicksammy]

You tie a loose knot in the tubing. Then you start the siphon once the water is flowing you slowly tighten the knot to restrict the flow.

[drparker]

I use an air hose gang valve so I can dial in the drip rate I want. I got the 3-line model that way I can drip three things at once, since I never buy just one thing.

[DazedandConfuse]

We have IV drip lines from a medical supply store.

[jamest0o0]

well I just got in a new fish and I just figured yeah no big deal tie my vinyl tubing and it'll do a simple drip and I will have no problems----not the case and I need to do something about it now because my fish is just sitting in the styrofoam(however you spell it) box he came in......

[slicksammy]

Lie the bag on top of the tank water to temperature acclimate for about 15 minutes. Then Slice the bag open and attack it to the rim of the tank with a clip. Then add about a 1/2 cup of the tank water to the bag every 5 minutes. Once the bag becomes full, pour out half of the water into a different container. Then keep on adding tank water once you fill the bag for the second time remove the fish and add him to the tank. Just don't mix any of the bag water in with your tank water. Those are the steps Live aquaria ships their livestock with. I usually acclimate my fish this way.

[jamest0o0]

thanks for info guys, I jsut drove out to my LFS fast and picked up some tubing with a valve and all is well now :)

[jamest0o0]

so how long does everyone usually acclimate fish?

[Kep]

I use the same technique as slicksammy described above.

[Gdubb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12199378#post12199378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamest0o0
so how long does everyone usually acclimate fish?

I use the drip method for about 30-45 min

[jamest0o0]

okay thanks very much, I just removed about half the water in it and I think I'll let it go for about 20 more minutes

[magic028]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12199485#post12199485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gdubb
I use the drip method for about 30-45 min

At least a hour. Some fish and inverts require 2 or more.

[jamest0o0]

most places I read an hour, but I know inverts are suggested for atleast 2 hours and some inverts can take up to 7 hours (one of them being linkia starfish)

[Gdubb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12199521#post12199521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by magic028
At least a hour. Some fish and inverts require 2 or more.

inverts as in cleaning crew inverts?

[drparker]

Yes, Inverts can't adjust to different salinities as fast as fish can. I drip my fish for an hour and all inverts for 1.5, if I've read that something is sensitive then longer. When the water level in the drip container doubles I dump out half and continue dripping and repeat the dumping half when it doubles again.

[Gdubb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12206722#post12206722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drparker
Yes, Inverts can't adjust to different salinities as fast as fish can. I drip my fish for an hour and all inverts for 1.5, if I've read that something is sensitive then longer. When the water level in the drip container doubles I dump out half and continue dripping and repeat the dumping half when it doubles again.

Thanks for the info, I need some more snails and crabs for my cc. I will drip them for much longer now.

[indydog1]

those who "drip" , is that only for shipped aquaria? since the lfs does this after they get them. i am not shooting this down, just curious because i dump half of the bag out and replace it with tank water every five minutes until the salinity matches the tank. should this bve cousidered "bad" practice? i have yet to lose anything due to acclimation. not hijacking just making sure that everyone gets as much info as possible.
thanks

[jamest0o0]

drip acclimating is probably the best method and I find it easier, that said the bag method is not bad either it is justt not recommended for more sensitive livestock like inverts and some fish..... I never acclimated my hermits/snails and they are fine though...

[BeesGoneWild]

I drip all the way, before i learned about dripping i would add like a cup full of water every half hour, i would loose tons of inverts that way.

As of right now i drip fish for an hour
All inverts ill drip for at the very least an hour and a half.

[Lotus99]

The fish store's water is almost certainly different than yours, so it's always a good idea to drip acclimate. Even if you're moving fish from one of your own tanks to another, there's certainly no harm in drip acclimating.

I know my LFS keeps its FO tanks at a much lower salinity than its coral tanks (which sometimes have fish in them). I always take this into account, and drip longer if a fish came from the FO tank.

[DazedandConfuse]

I drip acclimate everything. Even if I get it locally.

[Aqua Keepers]

How many drips per minute and how do you keep the temp ok when dripping into a separate container?

[heuerfan]

Thought it was important to mention that one should test the salinity in the bag to compare to your tanks salinity. Just dripping for 1-2 hours does not mean a thing if your salinity is 1.025 and the stores is 1.015. I personally drip until the salinity matches my tank, can take a long time :)

Just my 2 cents, good luck!

[jessicalynn1086]

i acclimate for atleast an hour

[SSpiro]

How are you guys acclimating coral?

[ihopss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12213909#post12213909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pito
How many drips per minute and how do you keep the temp ok when dripping into a separate container?

You can put a container in your sump, and the sump keeps it at the right temp.