Putting New Fish In Your Tank

[Ukfan]

Right I just wanted to know, when you buy a new fish in a bag, is it safe for the fish to be left in there? and how long maximum?

Also When you put the bag in the water, whats the right way to introduce your fish to your water and fish?

leave them in there for say 20 mins? then slowly add water bit by bit?

I've been told by lots of people but I want to hear from the experts!


thanks

 

[Amunet]

If you just want to get the fish used to the water temp, then you would just leave the bag floating for about 15mins or so, then make sur enot to let any of the water in the bag into your aquarium when you transfer the fish.

A better way though is when you slowly start putting some of your tank water into the bag so the fish will get used to your water.
You take a little bit of the water out of the bag, and replace it with some of your tank water. Then after a while, do it again. Take some water out, put some of yours in and so on and so forth until nothing but your water is left in the bag.

About how long inbetween all of this, I'm not sure though. I'm sure someone will come and tell ya that

 

[Ukfan]

ta for that

I just did what you said for my 2 community sharks and my 4 neon tetras

 

[dominicbeha]

well ive learnt summit new! ive just been putting them straight in

 

[Robbo25]

i let the bag float on my water then at 3 ten minute intervals i add my own. then after that i add the fish to my tank.
I dont let any of the LFS shops water go into mine.

This has seemed to work fine everytime for me.

 

[supraking]

i let the temp get up for 20mins, add some of mine wait 10 reapeat twice then tiped the bag up and let out the fish, and the water. should i leave the water in there and just net the fish out?

 

[paul_219]

New thing i had learn. But how can i keep the water of my Lfs not to flow in my tank.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

I have a container that my net fits over...I just slowly and gently pour the water out of the bag through the net until the fish comes out which I then gently transfer to the tank. This seems a bit less dangerous than trying to net a fish in a tight bag.

 

[*Fishkies*]

i let the temp get up for 20mins, add some of mine wait 10 reapeat twice then tiped the bag up and let out the fish, and the water. should i leave the water in there and just net the fish out?

Yea it is best not to add the fish store water to your own tank, as who knows what could be in the fish stores water. It is better to net them out then to leave the water in the bag go into your tank.

 

[Ukfan]

but why net them out?

 

[Robbo25]

aye its a nightmare using a net in them tight bags.

The container idea sounds a good idea actually. would save stressing the fish out.

 

[fmervin]

Not sure if any of you guys have tried a product called fintro http/www.maidenheadaquatics.co.uk/eshop/...roducts_id=2048, basically you pop the fish with the water into this unit and it gradually releases your tank water into the container and when it sinks the fishes are free in the aquarium. Sounds hassle free. I have purchased one of this myself but have yet to try it.

 

[Lynda B]

The only thing about this product is that it requires to put the fish store water into your tank. That's never recommended.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

if i don't trust the water from the lfs i wouldn't buy fish from there!!!

i let lfs's water into my tank.

the acclimitisation process basicalyl depends on how much different your parameters are to the water they are in.

if they are very similar and the fish are not sensitive you can just float the bag for the temp to adjust for 15 mins or so. if the conditions are very different you should do a drip acclimitisation where you float the bag in the tank and use a peg or something to hold it against the tank wall. then get a jug of tank water and place it near the bag and above, get a length of airline and tie a loose knot in it. start a siphon going through the airline then tighten the knot so the water comes through slowly in individual drops, then let the drops fall into the bag with the fish. so the water conditions very slowly and gradually adjust. this can then be left for hrs, topping up the jug so there's plenty of water to go into the bag.

 

[vinylman]

I acclimatise any new additions very slowly in a bucket; I usually take at least an hour before I add them to the tank.