Drip Acclimation?

[TastierWay]

I've heard this referenced many times when acclimating fish to your tank. I knew it had to be more than making sure the temperature was right, so I would add a little of the tank water to the bag every now and then and now I'm wondering if that's what this is or is it something different?

Also, I've heard this is good for snails but how would you go about doing this if you have received them wrapped in wet paper towels from an online purchase?

[sumthin fishy]

Drip aclamation is simmilar to adding a little water every now and then, but an a different scale. You use a piece of air tube, start a syphon from the main tank into the container with the new fish.(instead of the bag, I use a plastic container specifically for my tanks.) Use a knot or clamp on the tube to slow the flow of water from the main tank to a drip. This lets your tank water slowly mix with the new fishs' water over time.

[CaptnDan]

Sounds like a pretty good technique to me SF. Many people don't consider the fact that temperature is only one variable that fish have to acclimate to.

So once the water has done this for a while, I assume you net the fish out and add it to the tank?

[Marinemom]

I use drip acclimation for everything that goes into my tanks. Ever since I started to use this method, I have not had the losses in livestock that I once had when intoducing new anything into my aquariums. I would recommend this method over the other method of adding water to the bag any day of the week.

Marinemom

[TastierWay]

Alright, thanks. :) I figured when I start adding more to my 55 gallon, this would be the best idea now that I know what it is.

No ideas about the snail thing though?

[plah831]

There's not really a way to acclimate the snails if they didn't come in any water, but just a moist towel. I mean, the whole point of acclimation is to mix your water with the old so changes in water chemistry are gradual. But if there's nothing of the old water to work with, you're outta luck. I don't know what to tell ya, but I've never lost snails by just dropping 'em into my water.

[coupedefleur]

I even use that method for moving fish between my own tanks. It's easy and seems to help.

I suppose for the snails you could set the damp towel in a container and let water drip into it. Though keeping snails alive is not something I worry about!

[sumthin fishy]

I suppose for the snails you could set the damp towel in a container and let water drip into it.
My thoughts exactly.

And yes dan, you want to scoop the fish out, don't dump the petstore water into your tank. With sensative fish, I also wait till a day after waterchanges to bring them home, this makes sure the tank is nice and clean, and that it wont be getting the fluxuation you would have if you did a waterchange the day after adding it.

[icecubez189]

Liveaquaria is a reseller but has pretty good guides, especially on drip acclimation
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=19&ref=3319&subref=AI

Snails aren't very picky on water chemistry, probably because they breath air from the atmosphere and not the water.