Best way to acclimate fish

[Byron]

Fish adsorb/ absorb (which one is it Byron) water through their skin via osmosis. This happens very quickly, within minutes. Adding tank water to a bag of fish allows the fish to absorb some of the tank water into their body and to get use to the conditions of the new tank water.

Biologically this is not the case. Fish cannot "adapt" this quickly. The less the difference, the less difficulty for the fish, but the greater the difference the more difficult and stressful for the fish. This is in reality an aspect of evolution. The video Mike posted does correctly address this.

 

[Vorpal]

I follow a procedure described by several above... float the bag in the, gradually adding water from my tank.

I don't put shop water in my tank. I do, however recommend
-only introducing a few fish at a time
-putting them in a quarantine tank for a week or so before moving them to their new home
The quarantine tank allows them to get used to water parameters without the stress of socialisation, as well as reducing the likelihood that you will introduce illness from a shop.

 

[steelo]

I’m wondering if I acclimate fish correctly. I’ve always let the bag float for 30 minutes added water from the tank and then released after another 10 minutes pouring all the water from the bag into the tank. I’ve read some are against this due to the potential risk of introducing disease from the water etc. Any advice is appreciated, thank you.

I think people tend to over-complicate this. I always open the bag and let it float for about 20-30 minutes while the hood light is turned off. Then, I add a tiny bit of aquarium water to the bag every 10 minutes. I do this 5-6 times and then net the fish into the aquarium and let them rest. I've never lost a healthy fish with this method.

 

[Colin_T]

If you are going to turn the tank light off, you should turn it off before you float the bag of fish in the tank. Otherwise there is no point because the fish will be in the bag under the light while they are being acclimated.

 

[steelo]

If you are going to turn the tank light off, you should turn it off before you float the bag of fish in the tank. Otherwise there is no point because the fish will be in the bag under the light while they are being acclimated.

I misworded that, yes I do turn the light off while the bag is floating. I will correct that, thanks!