How do you introduce new fish into your aquarium?

[Twinbot]

I've read about several ways of placing new specimens into a tank from many so-called reputable sources, but none are clearly in agreement. What's your method?

 

[fishface]

what do u mean by 'drain bag'?

 

[Gomer]

I float in the tank for around 15 min. Then I dump the fish into a net over the sink. Then I rinse them off with my tank water before putting them in the tank. This is just to help limit the introduction of "piggy backers"

 

[Twinbot]

Originally posted by fishface
what do u mean by 'drain bag'?

Pour the water out of the bag into a sink or what-have-you, leaving the fish in it, then releasing the fish from the empty bag directly into the tank.

 

[beaver8888]

screw um just dump um lol i float for 15MIN then dump

 

[HanshaSuro]

I mix in a separate bowl. It's just as important to gradually acclimate your fish to your water parameters as it is to get them used to the water temperature.

 

[AndyL]

I use a bucket and airline drip - acclimatization has never been less than 1 hr - into the QT tank, 4-6 weeks in quarantine, before they even get NEAR one of the 'good tanks'

Tho there is a lot of discussion when shipping fish about the 'dump' method. I wouldn't trust it though.

Andy

 

[fishface]

oh well i float them for 15, let some tank water into the bag leave for anther 15 them just pull the bag away and there in.

 

[catfishmike]

i use andyl's method as well

 

[Anike]

I stand about 20 ft from my tank, place the fish on a super-bendy plastic spoon and slingshot them into the tank. Sometimes they get splat on the wall. Really though, I float them in the bag for 15 min, net them out and put them in the tank. I've read from serious fish aficionados that the way I do it is not the best way. If ever a fish dies on me during acclimating then I guess it'll be time to change my ways. =P

 

[bluegourami2]

i usually don't bother with netting or dumping at all. i just let them adjust to the temp for 15mins, put some tank water in the bag for 15min, and let the fish go, water and all.

i'm not too concerned about disease because i always check the tanks at the LFS for signs of anything on other fish. Also I ask a lot of questions about any recent problems with tanks at the LFS and I try and pick the healthiest-looking fish.
It's worked so far, the worst thing my tank has caught is MTS disease.

 

[tramca]

Anike's method sounds like fun.

 

[420Loach]

i usually do the second one. our water quality is pretty good here though.

 

[wethead]

Andyl has the right method except for the lengthy stay in the hosp./quar. tank. I only have the in there for 3/4 wks., maybe only 2 if i know where they came from. (aquar.club etc.) I lost too many WHOLE TANKS by just tossing them in after warming the bag.........Rich

 

[FroggyFox]

I float the bag for as long as I feel like...usually at least 15 minutes, sometimes more. Depending on where I got them from I might or might not mix some tank water in the bag before netting them out and putting them in the tank. The stores that are real close to me have very similar water parameters to what I have, so I'm not incredibly worried.

I have had a couple of problems with putting new fish in my tank that must have been sick when I got them and then spread the disease...which wouldn't have happened had I had a quarentine tank...so I think if you have the patience/resources to go through a qt process it is well worth it.

 

[SoulFish]

5 gallon bucket with airline drip, acclimates very slowly over a few hours then release

 

[wethead]

It's not the tank water from your lfs thats my main worry, but the unbelievable conditions these fish are kept in some breeders & distributors tanks that is my concern. They come into the store sick & diseased so they don't stand a chance of survival.
Don't get me wrong, some go-between people are very good at what they do, BUT many are not.
I'd just rather be on the safe side, i've been keeping fish for 45+yrs. & have learned most of MY lessons the hard way....Rich

 

[AndyL]

Originally posted by wethead
Andyl has the right method except for the lengthy stay in the hosp./quar. tank. I only have the in there for 3/4 wks., maybe only 2 if i know where they came from. (aquar.club etc.) I lost too many WHOLE TANKS by just tossing them in after warming the bag.........Rich

Too Long in the QT? there's no such thing! You can never be too careful; some diseases take a while to incubate.

Also gives me better photo opportunities The fish never get out of QT until I get a good pic!

Andy

 

[Twinbot]

But, by week 6, the return policy can't be enforced. By that time, the quarantine tank might as well be a main display unit. Just buy a new tank with each batch of fish (LOL).

I'm going to catch some flack for this, but as much as I don't like to see a preferred specimen die, I can't help but see the bright side ... it gives me the opportunity to buy a new fish! There have been occassions where I just hoped one or two would bite the big one during the night just so I could replace them w/o guilt.

I will also euthanize for any and all diseases, unless I've spent more than $10US. Then I'll make the effort to protect my investment.

 

[revfred]

Depends where I buy them. I usually go to one place that is exclusively fish. Each tank has the water parameters for a given species. For that place, I float 15 minutes, add tank water and wait 15 minutes, net and release.

All other places, I quarantine for 7 days and observe the behavior.