Do we really need to acclimate new fish?

I have always just foated the bag in the tank for about 20 mins and then dumped the whole thing in. I'm always trusting of PetSmart to have healthy tanks. Just recently have a started to do the method of adding my tank water into the bag slowly for a spell and then adding them in. I live about 45mins from town so I would imagine for me it would be a big shock just to throw them right in. Not to mention well water v. city water.
 
Our lfs water usually tests higher on ph, rates, and AMMO, so we do try to acclimate the, we never dump lfs water in our tanks, if your wondering about QUARANTINING fish, put them in there own tank for 2 - 4 weeks just to be sure there ok ...........:)
 
The PH and Temp is what you need to be careful of. I find the best method is to slowly, (over say....45 min?) put in some of my tank water into the bag.

This allows the fish to adjust to the PH and temp change without having the shock of just being thrown into it.

Then I dump all the water into a net I've placed over my bucket. The wate goes through the net, the fish does not. Take the fish, put it in the tank. I also leave the lights off for the first day.
 
I go with the drip method.....

I run a airtube from my main tank, to a 3 qt. pitcher I put the fish and store water in. Let it drip at about 2 drips per sec, for at least 1/2 hour(but usually a full hour), then I dump the water from the pitcher and hand deliver the fishy to his new home....I also feed the others at the same time as dropping the newbie in. Seems to me the other fish are too distracted by the feeding to take much notice in the new guy, thus giving him a chance to find a safe place before the rest of the gang starts pressing up on him.

I DO NOT TRUST PETCO WATER/MOST PETCO ETC'S EMPLOYEE INFO.....
 
a lot of how you acclimate fish has to do with logistics. in your case you get them from a LFS.
some advocate drop and plop. where you simply drop the fish into the new tank.

the issue can come depending on what or how the fish are treated at the location they come from.

I never drop and plop marine fish..the change in temp, pH etc can be too drastic fro them to adjust to. I use drip acclimation for them.
I also use drip acclimation for the harder to keep fish. rams, discus and angels(tho some would argue angels are hardy, mine are wilds)

I never drop fish into the main tank..but rather quarantine the fish for 4-6 weeks.

ich can manifest itself in 28 days folks. if you fish is freshly infected..you may not see the signs and that is just one possible issue.

Fish I transport from my tanks into another of my tanks..may get plop and drop..especially if the parameters are the same.

issues the fish has from plop and drop may not be seen for a few days or even a week.
 
Wow if you have never had problems just by bringing them home and dumping then in you are LUCKY.
It takes me a good hour to acclimate them.
I float the bag and add my tank water to it 3 times to get them use to the change. Then I gently dump them into a bucket and net them out and put them into the tank. I don't like pouring them into the net because you get all that fish poop from the bag and transfer it to the tank.I guess I am just anal about that. Don't need extra poop in the tank.:)
 
I match temperature by floating the bags when I get them home. Other then that, the only fish that I have that I've acclimated via putting tank water into the store bag were the 3 Ottos that I have in my 10g planted tank.
 
Doesn't sound like many are QT'ing...bad on you...
 
I would love to have a QT....just don't have the space
 
I don't worry about the LFS water as ALL of my new fish are QTed for at least 4 weeks. I do acclaimate slowly - adding a bit of water over time, but I don't worry about putting the water in the tank as the only one in the tank will be the new fish.

There will always be two differing groups on these topics:

Those who HAVE been caught.....

and....

Those who WILL be.

It is just a matter of time.
I thought the very same way until one day....
 
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