I am wondering how everyone acclimates new fish to their water conditions?

I usually float the bag for 10-15 min or until the temp matches, then I start adding tank water to the bag a little at a time every 5-10 min until the bag is about 75% tank water, I then net the fish out of the bag and release the it into the tank, making sure that none of the bag water goes into the tank.

So how do you do it?

10-15 minutes of temp aclimation. Net and release.

I float the bag for anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes, and then start adding water from the tank to the bag for around five minutes. If the fish looks fine, I put it in the tank, if not, I continue acclimation :)

I use the drip method, putting the fish and water into a pitcher or bucket depending on the size of the fish. Then use an airline tubing with a clamp on it and let the water drip into the container from the tank. It takes longer but they are truely acclimated to the tank.

Im with susan on this one. I drip feed into the bag, until the bag is around 3/4 new water, 1/4 bag water. That can take up-to 30-50mins. Generally, you need to take alot more care acclimating SW fish, when compared to FW. I still take my time with both though. IMO, 10-20mins is pushin it a bit.

Very good of you to bring up saltwater. I am typically acclimating cichlids and no matter where they come from in the area the tap water is all the same. My tank's kH is just a little bit higher than tap water so temperature is my concern.

Like the drip method, but more like a very slow stream, as I don't have any airline tubing around at the moment, only a very thin vaccum, that I knot. I bung 'em in a bucket. Normally takes 20-30minutes. :) Then I net them out the bucket.

AH, good point glaive. Its very beneficial to either shop as local as possible, or ask your LFS on their water params. It might reduce the acclimation period. :tup:

Also, invertebrates, snails, echinoderms, and starfish should be acclimitised very carefully. Unlike fish, they have a touhg time acclimating to new water conditions. If done in-correctly, they will die! :tdown: And you dont want that lol!

I float them in a bucket or jar in the tank for awhile, adding a little water every 5 mins, until 30 mins has passed, then i use a special net to take the fish out ( im always scooping out snail shells, so the normal nets are nasty)

i float the bag for about 15 minutes then net and release. all the fish i have come from the same water parameters i use. hell the last couple have come from around the corner at the LFS. i have never had a problem but i usually stick to the hardier fish(mainly run of the mill cichlids). my Geo's didn't seem to be stressed in the least and i think they are the most sensitive fish i own.

I float the bag 15-20 min. and release. Never had a problem. It's always fun to watch new fish when I first put them in. My tank "IMO" is so much better than where they were that they swim around going "Oooooo" on an oxygen high. That and it's a whole lot bigger. Maybe it's more of an "Ooooooo, Ahhhhhh" thing. :wow: