This might sound like something everyone should know and be taught in the hobby, but surprisingly not so. Most of us are taught the floating bag method to acclimatize our fish. Basically, have the bag float in the aquarium water for 30 minutes. Then add some water to the bag and then have it float again for another 30 minutes before adding the fish to the aquarium. But there is another method which is called “drip acclimatization.” And it is a much safer method to introduce your fish than the old bag method, and it also stops you from adding the dirty aquarium water from the shops into your aquarium. Below is what you will need to put together a drip acclimatization system:
- A small bucket or container that is big enough to have fish and double the amount of water in it, with a lid. (Make sure the container was not used for any chemicals.)
- Some airline tubing. (Enough to reach the bucket/container which will be sitting below your aquarium.)
- One of those one-way plastic air valves you get for controlling airflow on your air pump.
- Two clamps or clothes pegs to attach the airline to the side of your aquarium.
- Large cup for removing water from the container.
Once you get home with your new fish, get out your container ready and carefully empty the contents of the plastic bag into it, both the fish and the water. Once your fish have been transferred to the plastic container, your next step should be to start up the siphon using the airline tubing. The process is the same as when you use a siphon to remove water from your aquarium while doing your water changes. Attach the air valve to the end of the airline tubing going into the container and attach it with a clamp or clothes peg. Now take your clamp or clothes pin and put the other end of the airline tubing into your aquarium and secure it in place with the clamp or clothes pin. Now open the valve and slowly suck water into the airline tube once it starts flowing down the piper quickly close the valve so that what doesn’t come rushing out.
Then slowly open the valve till it releases around 4-5 drips per second. You can increase this rate slightly (6-7 per second) if you are worried about keeping the fish in the bucket for a long period of time. Put the lid on the container to avoid the fish jumping out, it does not need to fit perfectly since the airline tubing will be in the way. Now all you need to do is wait patiently till the water in the container has doubled in volume. Once this is done, close the valve and top the siphon and remove half the water from the container using a cup. Then start the process over again. Once the water volume in your container has doubled again, your fish should be properly acclimated to your tank water. The process should take between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the drip rate you have set. It is important to be patient during the process, but if you are worried about your fish being in the container for an hour, simply increase the drip rate slightly.
Your first instinct would be to just dump all the water into your aquarium, don’t! While most of it is now your own tank water, some of it still came from your pet shop. You may trust your pet shop, but you do not know anything about their aquariums, including the water quality. You may be introducing diseases or other undesirable parasites into your aquarium. Take the container with water and slowly pour it into your net, have someone else help you while doing this. Before releasing the fish into the aquarium, make sure to turn off the lights and leave them off for 3-4 hours. This will help reduce the stress on them. Also, remember, do not throw or drop the fish from above the surface of the water. But slowly introduce them into the water with the net and have them swim out.
[Editorial Note:] The drip method of acclimating your new aquarium fish may not be a quick process, but it is easy to do and it is the best way to ensure that your new fish are properly acclimatized to your aquarium.
