Freshwater Dip

Mar 29, 2007
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Can someone give me a step by step instruction to do a freshwater dip for fish?

Tank water ph will probably be 8.4
Tank water sg 1.025
Tap water ph 7.6-7.8
 
all water qualities must match the aquarium except the salinity obviously.
-catch the fish
-dip the fish-if it seems calm enough leave it for 5-15 mins. if it starts to freak out remove it and put it back into the aquarium slowly
-repeat later if needed usually a days wait is best unless fish is highly infected

some fish may not be able to handle this method so individual times and if they can even be dipped should always be first researched.
 
well im planning on dipping when they are introduced into my tank, i'll acclimate them into my water, then dip them in the freshwater, then put them in the main tank.

What should i use to bring the ph of the tap water up? Should i just use RO water and 8.3 ph stabalizer that should have everything in it?
 
Match the pH and the temperature of your dip water to the same as your saltwater tank.
 
only the ph or do you need to match kh, gh etc? Should i used dechlorinated tap water or RO water? I need help on this
 
Whatever water you use for your tank, you should use for your dip. You can just take a bucket (or whatever) and put your water in. If the tank the fish is going into has RO water, then use RO water. Just use the same water you would use for your tank and make sure it's the same temp and pH. Acclimate your fish to your tank. After you're finished with the acclimation, put your fish in the dip water for as long as he can stand (few minutes). Watch him closely and if seems to struggle, take him out early. Then add him directly to your tank.

I know it can sound scary but it's really easy and a lot of people use the freshwater dip before adding fish to their main tank. Do you have any other questions?
 
yeah, do i need to match kh and gh or just ph and temp? Im guessing i should drip acclimate the fish to be ready for the main tank, then do the dip right?

So drip acclimate the clownfish to the main tanks water params
Dip
Set free in main tank
 
If you're using the same water and pH buffer (if you use one), then those should be about the same anyway. Your main concerns are the temp and pH.

From wetwebmedia....

-I highly recommend performing a freshwater dip on each fish before being placed in the treatment tank. The freshwater should be properly buffered and heated to the same temperature as the tank that your fishes have been residing in. Use of a non-toxic anti-bacterial agent, such as Methylene Blue, is encouraged during the dip. Use enough Methylene Blue to color the water a deep blue. The duration of the dip should be from 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the tolerance of the individual fish(es) being dipped. Keep a close eye on the fish during the dip process, and be prepared to remove them to the treatment tank quickly, should they show extreme distress during this process. The freshwater dip is a standard part of the acclimation and quarantine process at most public aquariums throughout the world, and is an effective procedure that can reduce or eliminate many external parasites, including Cryptocaryon. The reason that freshwater dips are so successful is that the parasites simply cannot make the osmotic "stretch" to freshwater as well as the fish can.-

I've done fishwater dips many times and I've never had a problem. Most of the time the fish just hangs out and barely moves. Sometimes they swim around like normal. Sometimes they freak out (like my powder blue did, but he was okay afterwards). Just use your judgment and if you think something's wrong, then take him out and just put him in your main tank.

Do you have a QT? Are you doing the dip after you get them from the store and before you're adding them to your main tank?
 
there going into the main tank but they will be the first fish to go in there so i wont quarantine them since i have nothing to protect. What if i dont use a buffer, should i buy some?
 
do a pH test on the fresh water that you are going to be using for the freshwater dip. You will then be able to see if you are going to need a pH buffer...Technically, you should need to buffer the pH as tap water ( depending on the quality ) will be around 7 ( +/- 5 )....

Niko
 
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