Re: Acclimating fish to softer water (Newbie question)

[sal <chas33@optonline.net>]

Tomoko,
I found that the slowest and most effective method is the DRIP method. By
this I mean.. use an airline tubing and tie one end (a knot) which you can
adjust so that water drips from the tank to the container that hold the fish
ONE drop at a time.  This procedures usually takes a couple of hours and it
has always worked for me when acclimating delicate fish to water of
different ph and hardness.
Good luck
Sal
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----- Original Message -----
From: Tomoko Schum <tomokoschum@earthlink.net>
To: <apisto@listbox.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 9:57 AM
Subject: Acclimating fish to softer water (Newbie question)


> Hi everyone,
>
> Can someone tell me about a common method to
> acclimate fish to softer water?
>
> I believe that my new tank (20 gallon long) with
> half tap and half DI water is cycled out and now
> ready to accept my apistos.  But there is one
> problem.  I did not take into a consideration that
> my fish are used to moderately hard water before I
> got the tank ready.  In the process of cycling the
> tank, I moved a few juvenile platys and an adult
> guppy with three neon tetras.  I tried to
> acclimate these fish as if I am introducing them
> to my regular tank, slowly adding a small amount
> of new water to the container they are in (the
> same water temperatures and similar pH values)
> over a period of time.  Platys and guppy made it
> through but two of the neon tetras died while
> acclimating to the new water or shortly
> thereafter.  I am afraid that they could not
> handle the osmotic pressure difference.  It was a
> total oversight on my part since I have never had
> to do this before :o(
>
> Because of what happened to the neon tetras, I am
> thinking about doing 50 to 75% water change using
> tapwater before moving one of my borellii male to
> the tank.  This will raise the conductivity and
> hardness of the new tank water back up to the
> similar level to the tank he is currently in.
> Before his brides arrive (hopefully soon), I will
> try to find out the hardness and pH of the water
> that they are used to and gradually acclimate my
> male to it.  How long should I take to acclimate
> my borellii, provided I have to change 50% of
> water to DI water?  One gallon a day every two to
> three days or should I take even longer to do
> this?   Any help will be greatly appreciated!
>
> TIA,
>
> Tomoko
>
>
>
>
>
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