How to do a drip method when introducing new fish? NEON TETRAS ESPECIALLY

Digital

Digital

IC3D
Nov 18, 2007
574
0
0
Fairfield County, CT
www.ic3d.net
Real Name
Marc Digital
I just bought 20 neons, 5 lemon tetras, and 3 angelfish. I was reading about a drip method that one used to aclimate the neons to the tank better over a 5-6 hr period of time. I am willing to do this, just need to know how to.

Right now, I'm just thinking of doing a 5ml add of water every 10 - 15 mins.

ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED, the fish are sitting in the bag now.
 
Place them in a large container with the water they came in. This gives room for tank water to be added. Use an air line with a valve in it to siphon water into the bucket from the tank. As soon as it gets started, shut the valve almost all the way so that you get a drip going. You can adjust the drip rate to be as fast or slow as you need for the desired time. Come back after 15 minutes and you will have a very good idea of how fast the drip is filling the bucket. That will let you judge whether you need to change the drip rate.
 
I have a airline but no valve. :T I really dont want to leave and go back to the LFS. :(

Any other method?
 
Place the fish in a bucket. Fill a plastic bag with tank water and hang it over the bucket. Poke a small hole in the bag, should get a nice slow drip.

Also, that is quite a bit of fish to add at one time.... be prepared for water changes to keep parameters in check.
 
deadxero said:
Place the fish in a bucket. Fill a plastic bag with tank water and hang it over the bucket. Poke a small hole in the bag, should get a nice slow drip.

Also, that is quite a bit of fish to add at one time.... be prepared for water changes to keep parameters in check.
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I will, and I have a diatom running on it now, to help eliminate any parasites, ammonia, etc.
 
You could also tie a knot in the airline tubing; the tightness of the knot will regulate how fast it drips. Not quite as easy as using a valve or hose clamp, but it works.
 
soobie said:
You could also tie a knot in the airline tubing; the tightness of the knot will regulate how fast it drips. Not quite as easy as using a valve or hose clamp, but it works.
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I just made a video of what I did for documentation sake, maybe it will help someone in the future.

What I did was this...

  • Stopped soaking the bag in aquarium water, and emptied the fish and the water into a waiting bucket.
  • Took one of the bags and filled in with water from my tank and wrapped it around the handle of the bucket tight so it won't fall.
  • Took a pin and poked a small hole once, then twice to get a small drip going.
  • Moved the bucket over next to a electric space heater so the fish won't get cold and when I put them into the tank, it should be good to go.
But! I have a question! Should I dump the fish with the water straight from the bucket and into the tank, or should I net them then place them in?

I normally net them then put them in the tank. I'm unsure if I should have a different approach since this is a different method of introducing more sensitive fish to their new environment.

Thanks everyone for your help! :)
 
Safer to net them in my opinion. I'm paranoid about other peoples water in my tank.

Good idea with the space heater as well.
 
deadxero said:
Safer to net them in my opinion. I'm paranoid about other peoples water in my tank.

Good idea with the space heater as well.
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Yeah, that's what I wanted to know. Cause even though I know the owner of the LFS, I worked there, known him for about 10-12 years now, he's very experience, 65 years old, very kind fellow. Even with that said, I prefer netting.

I just wanted to be sure that with this method, I wouldn't add the water to the tank, because of the process it was going thru.

I'm charging my battery on my DVC so I can transfer the video to the Mac and upload it.

Also... should I let it drip for that long? Or what do you guys think is best. You know how it is, we are always eager to get the fish into their new home and out of a bucket or whatever, but patience is what it's really about.

So input on that would be great, thanks again! :)

Edit: Yah, I thought the space heater would be good since it is winter.
 
becareful the space heater dosent get them to hot. its not real close is it? good luck. cant wait to see the vid!
 
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