Acclimate for Success! 9 Easy Steps for Drip Acclimating New Saltwater Fish! Ep. 34a

[@Tinnerito]

This is a very high quality video! More aquarists should know about this channel!

[@taryndeclyn1474]

Over 18 years I have tried everything. This is my $.02….definitely temp acclimate. Then always find out the salinity of the water in the bag from the shipper. Match you QT tank or go slightly lower. Fish can handle the drop in salinity no problem. Temp and salinity are the biggies. pH is really a non factor as it days days to weeks for them to acclimate to pH. The highest reason for drip acclimation is salinity and if you match it or run hypo then it is easy peasy! Great video!

[@BriansAquariums]

Wow! Thank you for explaining how ammonia rises once we open the bag to our fish. I've always heard that this happens but finally understand how and why. Thank you!!!

[@MASTERPPA]

Add Seachem prime as soon as you open the bag. It reduces the toxicity of the ammonia. Than drip acclimate. if you are using a QT tank that already has copper in it, make sure its a copper that is safe for Prime (copperpower for example)

[@balkin33]

Great explanation, I have never had drip acclimation go wrong... It's key to starting out with healthy fish!

[@TrevorHiller]

Testing the drip acclimation ammonia theory should be pretty easy now with the Hanna Marine Ammonia checker out. Definitely need to see BRS test this out.

[@dusk1947]

Good video, and yes there is no definitive "yes" or "no". I'm with you, it's better to err on the side of caution and just acclimate all new additions. Do you need to drip acclimate everything? probably not. But it is simply about matching conditions slowly. Matching pH, temp, salinity, and dissolved forms of N. We have hardy and non-hardy vertebrates. So it comes down to the individual species ability to tolerate a fast swing in all of those 4 categories. The more hardy the species, the less likely the need to drip. Conversely, the less hardy the species, the more likely the need to drip. For that reason, I think including this topic was a good decision. Good coverage Sir.

[@steelcowboy2751]

All the debate about how to acclimate a new fish and this weekend I set up a new tank, went to a pet store and bought live rock; brought it home in buckets of water; there was a no color blenny and a basslet that’s where hiding in crevices of the rock and came out once I put the rock in the tank; they are both doing great! lol. In it only didn’t acclimate them; I actually saw the basset’s tail and I actually assumed it was dead and tried to pull it out. I didn’t come out so I assumed it get it out later so that fish even had its tail pulled by me. 😆

[@jameskopp2563]

Yet another great video thanks

[@robalexander3959]

Your videos are the best!

[@nyxandnick9339]

I have always opened my bags immediately, oops😅but if there’s one chemical I stand by since starting it’s Seachem Prime. It’s can be used for priming water, reducing ammonia toxicity, and more. You could always put a single drop of the prime in the bag water with specifically sensitive species so you don’t have to be as stressed about the ammonia converting into it’s toxic form during the acclimation process, since that water isn’t directly entering your tank it shouldn’t affect it in any way after the fish is removed. Just thought I might let y’all know in case it’s helpful🤷

[@apss5736]

even though i keep freshwater most of these tips apply to freshwater so good job matthew

[@codyblade7872]

I have recently just shut down all my freshwater planted tanks after years I just got boared and started up one marine tank and I promise you even in this first month its MUCH more satisfying than freshwater and I don't really even have much live stock as yet just one mollie , 2 hermit crabs 1 nerite snail and a ton of copepods is already more interesting than freshwater, just give it a shot and you won't regret 🙃

[@mooosestang]

My first time ordering fish online i tried drip acclimation and 1 out of 4 died within the hour of opening the bag. I was pouring water into the bags slowly for about 30 minutes when i noticed one was at the top of the bag wanting out. At that point i immediately put them all in the quarantine tank. the one stressed fish darted around, swam in tight circles and settled to the bottom on it's side where it eventually stopped breathing. Next time, if there is a next time, i'll try plopping them in after floating to adjust temp. these were discus by the way and some large online discus sellers recommend one method while others recommend the other. the other 3 fish are doing fine.

[@mastergecko1178]

You only need to slowly acclimate inverts especially sea slugs and nudibranchs because drastic changes in salinity can severely damage or even kill them outright. But if the salinity of the store you are buying from is the same as your tank it should be fine just plopping them into your tank.

[@reeftheseaforever]

Great subject ! There are alot of great experienced reefers comments. I gotta say mail order is always a risk. I prefer my loycal lfs who have healthy disease free fish. those stores are out there. mai order of course is a always a risk im not opposed to mail order in some case thats the only way to get the fish that you desire. Good tips pracitices. I definitely watch ph and salinity on fish that come from the lfs . mail order I worry more about the temperature.

[@michaelbaldwin3356]

Ok to drip acclimate from 1.020 to 1.026 would take 72 hrs. Because coming out of hypo-salinity it is recommended to not raise more than .002 per 24 hrs. PH shouldn’t be raised more than 0.20 per day according alkalinity calculator. Which brings me to the 1.4 dkh rise per day for corals. To go from 8.5 to 11 you would be 2 days drip acclimating a corals not to mention they are closed up 99% of the time. To change perimeters in a aquarium it is recommended over days but your gonna do it in 30 minutes. The numbers don’t support a 30 minute drip acclimation benefits nothing. I do agree on floating the bag to temperature acclimate to a quarantine tank.

[@Arborpress]

I use the slam dunk method for my fish as I do with my coral. Any broken coral or rock in the display during the process makes for easy frags later.

[@Thatguynicoo]

It really depends on how long that fish has been in transport. I honestly havent dripped acclimated any fish in over 5 years, then again I have a main fish store that I go to and the water parameters in the store are spot on with my tanks at home. Temp and Salinity are most important in transfering fish to new aquarium.

[@BulkReefSupply]

yeah, good points all around here!

[@Emmanuel-rs7eu]

Saltwater fish (any species) I never drip acclimate, I let them float in bag for 15 mins to acclimate to temperature and drop them in Copper quarantine with no net, only with hands or gloves depending on species. No casualties ever in 6 years in this hobby. Inverts and Corals I drip acclimate.

[@FoolOfATuque]

I think it’s important to mention that quite a few online retailers require drip acclimation to get their guarantee.

[@dash_g9970]

I like the way u greet in Different languages!

[@aqhan]

If I'm adding my first fish to a display tank, followed by few weeks before I add another, do I have to have a quarantine tank? Or can my display tank be that, while I set up a proper quarantine tank for future fish?

[@jameskoinis1950]

I don't know if saying PETCO recommends it helps your argument.

[@BulkReefSupply]

😬

[@supriyobhattacharya679]

Need to get in touch with you Matthew

[@Naltharian420]

Can i get the empty tank in the background? :D My 20G RedSea is starting to be kinda crowded lol

[@Smoshylife]

Float the bag, temp acclimate. Add a little water, wait a few mins, then scoop em in. 20 years with no problem. Drip is a waste of time

[@itsanarchy6430]

What if you don’t have a quarantine tank?

[@DarthMalicius]

Ok I'm probably gonna get flamed for this but I set up my first feef this week. I buy the water for setup and changes from a lfs I've gone to since I got I to reptiles and fish. This said if all my water is coming from this one system it should just be a float acclimation

[@davidtranmedia5112]

I buy all my fish from a place where they buy the fish I want and quarantine my fish for months to make sure it's good and healthy. Then when I receive it then all I have to do it temp and drip acclimate the fish and out then right in. Never had a problem with any sick fish. Knock on wood!

[@samwimoe1620]

Wow you speak Indonesian hehe selamat siang. Good bro 👍🏻 Im from Indonesia and have the same hobby saltwater tank and freshwater ❤

[@G22-40]

„Keep the lights down when opening the box to not stress your fish“ next scene: opens box with fish and holds fish into bright studio light 😂

[@dobermanguy9437]

I have a 17 year old blue hippo Tang a ten-year-old yellow tang and lots of other fish I float the bag in the aquarium for about 30 minutes maybe a little more I put an ounce of water in the bag every 10 minutes I've been doing this for years been in the hobby since 86 never have lost the fish this is how I act lemite but I say whatever works for you

[@joe0813]

I match salinity to the LFS and then temp acclimate theen dump em in. Never once have I had a fish die or go into shock

[@nathanhutagalung4060]

Selamat malam BRS Dari kota medan, indonesia

[@JudicialMermaid]

Man. I’ve been reefing for over 4 years now and have only drip acclimated a few of my fish and inverts. Now I feel so bad after hearing the ammonia spike explained. Granted, they never stayed in the bag once opened for the ones I didn’t drip acclimate (straight to the QT tank), but I did temp acclimate. 😅 Never ceases to amaze me how much we learn and grow in reef keeping. 🪸

[@adnailsupply]

Dang I've being putting in heater and air bubbles when drip acclimating thinking it was good

[@MikiCab1]

Add eating a Jelly Bean for a step. It can be reward

[@ThaNewGenesis]

Does anyone know what kin of tank that is to the left when he is facing the camera?

[@MyFirstFishTank]

It’s a JBJ RF 65. It’s a macro algae, soft coral, seahorse tank! It’s my favorite!

[@seanpaterson1602]

What if you don't have space for a quarantine tank ?

[@BulkReefSupply]

In that case, I'd suggest going with a vendor that pre-quarantines the fish for you. Marine Collectors is who we generally work with, but many local fish stores have also been upping their QT game lately!

[@seanpaterson1602]

@@BulkReefSupply not many around here that offer that. I am in the Toronto, ON area.

[@aennulyaqin]

Siaangg 😂😂

[@rheljarrard9566]

My pet store just told me that they use copper in their water, so do not add the water to my tank. Huh? I'm a newbie.

[@syafiqizwan3839]

Selamat siang

[@htc148]

plop n drop in qt, corals dip plop n drop

[@neilsmith5883]

I never drip acclimate fish. For one the temperature drop will stress the fish out more than anything. 2 you drip acclimate then take the fish out out plonk in the tank. The parameters are still going to be sudden unless you drip acclimate for a whole day with a heater. Old fashion way is the best. Put bag with fish in tank first adjust to temp then cut the bag in a few places to let the tank water gradually mix in. Provided the fish came from a non copper or ick infested tank. 👍👍. Done it this way for years and never lost a fish to this method.

[@apss5736]

I'm currently not keeping saltwater but this is good to know

[@jon_the_1373]

Say “behg” instead of bag one more time I dare you 🤣

[@BulkReefSupply]

😆

[@justasimpleengineer96]

Will these fit on a rimmed tank? I have a 40 gal breeder with a rim.

[@ManiacalMangoes]

What are the main parameters drip acclimating is adjusting? Seems like temp is covered by floating the bag and if you tested the salinity of the water in the bag and your tank and they were the same, couldn’t you just add them? Also wondering the same question when moving fish from my new quarantine tank to my display, if the salinity and temp is the same, why drip acclimate?

[@BulkReefSupply]

It could be a whole host of parameter differences. Including the ones that you've already mentioned, you've got pH, nitrates, temperature, salinity, as well as other things that may not be as large of an impact on fish like phosphates and other various major, minor, and trace element levels.

[@vargagergely152]

Never did .. never died any fish ..if you use the same Salt they keep in then shouldnt be a problem ..a high difference in ph maybe but actually nothing else

[@CalcioFan4Ever]

My salinity and ph matches my lfs' so i just float them :v

[@peterkropp5603]

Chandler Bing ... ?

[@HyperGnar]

Drip acclimation is a scam. Juat stresses out thr fish. Best method is to add a little water every 10 mins until you double the water content