When purchasing new fish, it is crucial not to place them directly into the aquarium. First, the water temperature and quality in the bag differ from those in your aquarium. To prevent the fish from getting sick due to the new environment, we need to perform “temperature and water acclimation,” allowing the new fish to gradually adapt to the water temperature and quality in the tank before introducing them. Second, newly bought fish may not be healthy, so it is necessary to quarantine them to prevent the spread of pathogens to other fish in the aquarium.
Steps for Temperature and Water Acclimation
- Prepare a container, which can be a small fish tank or a plastic basin.
- Pour all the water and fish from the bag into the container.
- If you have a large number of fish, be sure to use an air pump to prevent them from suffocating in the confined space.
- Gradually add water from the aquarium to the container every ten minutes, for a total of three times. This way, the new fish can slowly adapt to the water temperature and quality in the aquarium.
Fish Quarantine Methods
Quarantine can be performed using “Japanese Ueno Yellow Powder” or “potassium permanganate”. The main difference between these two is that potassium permanganate can only be used when the fish have no external injuries; if the fish have external injuries, it is not suitable. On the other hand, Ueno Yellow Powder can be used in any situation, has strong versatility, and can treat a variety of fish diseases, which is why I prefer to use yellow powder.
Quarantine Steps
- When adding water for the last time, you can pour in a small amount of yellow powder to make the water slightly yellow.
- Wait for fifteen minutes, and then remove the new fish and place them into the aquarium.
Important Notes
Quarantine of new fish can only prevent pathogens on the surface of the fish, as the quarantine time is only fifteen minutes, which is too short to detect internal pathogens. Therefore, it is necessary to judge the health of the fish through long-term observation later on.
Original article by KPTer, if reproduced, please cite the source: https://www.kaipet.com/en/steps-follow-adding-fish-aquarium-temperature-water-acclimation-quarantine
Comments(2)
I really appreciate these steps! For temperature acclimation, is there a risk if the water is added too quickly or slowly?
@CriticX：Thank you for your question, CriticX! Adding water too quickly during acclimation can indeed stress or shock the fish due to sudden environmental changes. Following the gradual, timed steps in the article helps ensure a safe adaptation. We recommend sticking to the suggested intervals to prevent prolonged stress.