Beginners Guide to The Aquarium Hobby Part 4: How to Add New Fish (Science-Based)
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- čas přidán 31. 12. 2020
- Hello Everyone,
In this video we talk about how to add new fish to an aquarium We will also briefly discuss the science behind why we add fish to new tanks using the process explained in the video.
If you want to learn more about how to quarantine fish check out this video: • How to Quarantine Fish...
If you want to learn more about ammonia check this out: • Why Your Ammonia Test ...
Here are some really information-packed videos from the beginners series:
Part 1: What to do before buying an aquarium: • Beginners Guide to The...
Part 2: What you need for your aquarium: • Beginners Guide to The...
Part 3: How to properly set up an aquarium: • Beginners Guide to The...
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For more cool behind the scenes stuff consider becoming a member!
/ @primetimeaquatics
If you want to see all the cool stuff Joanna does with other types of scapes check out her channel!
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We would like to thank our channel sponsors for 2020: Flip Aquatics and Fritz Aquatics. For 2020 our fish are being fed Northfin Foods from flipaquatics.com! They help make what we do here possible and are worth checking out!
Thank you so much for watching!
#aquariums #fishtank #aquariumfish
If you want to learn more about how to quarantine fish check out this video: czcams.com/video/S_-8UETrQv8/video.html
If you want to learn more about ammonia check this out: czcams.com/video/m20Jn6-ppro/video.html
Here are some really information-packed videos from the beginners series:
What to do before buying an aquarium: czcams.com/video/W_mD6P_UPfA/video.html
What you need for your aquarium: czcams.com/video/KS8dQtwQdzw/video.html
How to properly set up an aquarium: czcams.com/video/1K04OlCOaEg/video.html
Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch
For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics
For more cool behind the scenes stuff consider becoming a member!
czcams.com/channels/YVN7EN0ALL6CE4U7NpMUTA.htmljoin
If you want to see all the cool stuff Joanna does with other types of scapes check out her channel!
czcams.com/channels/PEZk1MpOTGiBVh6BtWjlRg.html
So im new to fish keeping and have lots of questions, but I honestly am not sure if I feel comfortable trusting any fish stores in my local area. Being that you have masters degrees in the field that makes me more comfortable. I understand that you may be super busy as I try to do all that I can to stay busy as well. However I was wondering if there is anyway we could have a chat via phone, social media, or email about some specific questions I have. The videos have lots of good info im just not sure if I remember my specific questions being answered. I'd love to hear back at your earliest convenience but either way im now subscribed and will be looking forward to future videos!
Thank you.😁
Nice video, quarantine is definitely the way to go but for those who only have a the one tank and no means to quarantine, I would suggest you only ever buy your fish from your LFS who you know quarantine before putting them in their display tanks. This is probably your second best option.
Thank you for this - I was wondering what to do about that.
Just go buy a 10 gallon (38 liter) CLEAR Rubbermaid-like tote and cut some holes for a sponge filter and heater cord to go through and another at the other end for a feeding hole. I never lock the lid down just sit it on top so the fish don’t hop out. Use a gallon milk container to fill it with water the first time and use a sharpie to mark each gallon level as you fill it. It makes a great hospital tank and after you are done you can use it to store supplies in until the next time.
Why waste time? I totally agree with haitch04, just buy from a store who quarantine their fish. The main, which i bought most of my fish from doesn't sell any of their fish before they are quarantined.
so you may not need another tank but I'm guessing then following your method would need an extra filter and heater at the minimum right? also won't the plastic body melt because of the heater?
@@AakritiAgarwal25 for a hospital tank I have used a 5 gallon bucket with a heater, and bubbler :)
I love these guides! So helpful! As always, thank you for the great information! :)
Thanks Jason, we can always count on you to drop the science.
Omg so helpful. I never knew the science behind the alternatives. Thank you!!
I have always used the plop and drop method for 30 years. Now I know I was right! Thanks for the science lesson
The information you give all of us has always been such a great help. Thanks again for Sharing. 😀
Your such a great guy and taught me about my cyps and how to breed them keep it up
Great video very educational even for someone like me that has kept fish on and of for over a decade. Thanks for the great content bro keep it coming
Greetings from South Carolina! Your channel is my absolute favorite! I have learned so much from you and Joanna. Thank you!
Thank you for being here!
I love your scientific explanations!
That's a very interesting explanation I needed to get. I wanted to use the dripping method before, not gonna do it now.
Excellent to know the chemistry behind the reasoning to use the plop and drop method over drip acclimation. Hope you and your fish have a happy and healthy new year 🎉🥳
Really interesting and informative as to reasoning. Great video!
This is such a wonderful series!! Full of lots of information and help for beginners and even experienced fishkeepers! Thank you for this and I hope you all are having an amazing and happy New Year!!🙏♥️🤗🌿🐟🌿
Thank you! Have a great New Year!
thank you for talking about the actual science behind some of these things, I learned a lot in this video! I didn't know half this much when I kept fish in my teenage years.
Thank you!
Thank you for your posting, it was very helpful!
Your content is incredible for us beginners! You explain things so well. Thank you 🙏
Thank you!
I’ve been watching your channel for last couple of months and your information has been so helpful! I was never a big fan of science classes in high school/college, but you would be a wicked amazing professor to learn from in a classroom setting. :) If you’re still teaching, your students are mad lucky to have you as an educator.
Thank you for being here :-)
Thank you so much a very helpful video! Getting started with our new tank and tropical fish in London.
Good luck!
Thank you for a well explained video 😊
Just starting my new hobby. And this is so useful ! Thank you. I'm glad I browsed around and found you guys ! 🙏🏿
Have fun!
Nice video! Thanks!
Wow really good video. When buying fish I take a dark canvas type bag like the ones you use at the grocery store. I place the bagged fish in the grocery bag to reduce light and the movement the fish sees. These bags can (somewhat) act as insulator against temperature changes and they help keep the fish bags from flopping around inside bag like the thin, white plastic bags that you usually get from your fish store.
Just started into Shrimp tank and your videos are helping a lot! Thanks!! Already subscribed!
Cool! Good luck!
Greetings Jason and Joanna. Happy New Year! I too float my bag in the quarantine tank for about 15-20 minutes, cut the bag, pour them into the net then into the tank.I never knew the science behind why this is the better way than drip acclimation. This science based explanation was great. Love this video. Sincerely, Marty Borst 🐠
Thank you Marty - Happy New Year!
Nice video as i am recently adding a red eyed puffer to my 20 gal planted tank😀😀
Wow thanks for this excellent video
Thanks 🙏 for the video tiger 🐅 you’re the king 🤴
Just starting the tropical journey. I'm already hooked haha. Unfortunately a few fish died in the first week. This video has given me a lift, cheers man!
Have fun!
Thanks bud 🤜🏻🤛🏻
Amazing help
i am starting with what you describe as a quarentine tank I FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT THIS THANK YOU! incredible
Good to hear!
Thank you for your vedios, watched all 4 took notes sting up my new tank, enjoy your video s
Good luck!
Happy New Year primetime aquatics
Happy New Year!
Thank you for providing the science behind acclimating fish! I like to keep the net over a jar secured with a rubber band so I don't have to hold it with my chin!
Bro this dude is so legit man.
You can add Prime to the bag of fish to combat the ammonia. I have lost fish doing the plop and drop because of different hardness and ph. I believe drip is best.
How fast does that detoxify the ammonia?
Happy New Year!
Saw that awesome T-shirt to many times. Just got it off the store :)
Awesome - thank you!
Love this channel. Starting my year off by getting a prime time shirt!!
Woohoo! Thank you for the support. :-)
man you should be a professor. your great at explaining science
Actually I am! I’m an Associate Professor of Biology and Microbiology.
Happy New Year.
I have been acclimating my fish wrong this whole time 🙈 Thank you for the great video, science,
and share!! 🙏
Is this still true for adding fish from one home tank to another? I can def see for online fish purchases, but what about swapping fish in tanks? Does acclimating with temperature only still apply?
@@Fishnkitts i would think so
Happy new year
One of the most informative set of videos I have seen yet , I have always used the Drip system, never heard anything to the Contrary up until now.
You explained it beautifully , I will take your advice & I will do it the same way as you do it .My favorite Fish Video channel. A question if I may , They always suggest the Drip method with Shrimp ?
Shrimp are a little different because they tend not to produce as much ammonia and are more sensitive to water parameter changes.
COOL VIDEO🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Jason, as usual thank you so much for the information. With that said, I made a huge new fishkeeping mistake. As you know, I bought a 125 and have started the fishless cycle. (It's going great.) Unfortunately, my first love and tank (the 38 bowfront) with 8 Tiger Barbs an EB Acara and a Clown Pleco, had a catastrophic failure. I have been battling a big ammonia spike for weeks now. I worked tirelessly to try and right the tank but couldn't get it fixed. Thursday morning I woke up to one of my Barbs dying right in front of me. (Heartbreaking) I went to the chiropractor with the intent of coming home to figure things out. I suppose I didn't realize that the stress of the ammonia battle was taking it's toll and more Barbs were declining. (I made the gut wrenching choice to euthanize the barbs. Again, absolutely heartbreaking.) I made the decision to move the Acara and Pleco, which seemed to be at least less stressed and relatively healthy, to my 125 which is already showing signs of a minor cycle. (Ammonia coming down and the appearance of some Nitrates) They are both happy and healthy at the moment. My question is, should I even attempt to treat them with general cure, salt or anything else for that matter, or let them be and let the 125 continue it's cycle? I've completely taken the 38 down and cleaned it with tap water, (Everything) In an effort to cycle it properly, this time.
ONe thing you could try is Fritz Turbo Start? That should help bring down the ammonia and avoid nitrites. Sorry you lost the other fish. :-(
Great info as always. I notice that several of my fish suppliers are using breather bags that tell you not to float them? I still use the float method and haven't had an issue so far. Happy New Year to you and your family!
The breather bags are a little different because they allow for gas exchange. If they float for too long it can cut off gas exchange (O2). I generally don't like them unless someone is shipping fish. LFS really shouldn't be using them for local customers.
This is great, thank you. I will never drip acclimate again
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I absolutely LOVE your set-up! How do you ever leave that room?!
It can be hard sometimes :-)
Thank you for addressing this issue w drip acclimation. My lfs has lower ph water than the local tap water and they still recommend people drip acclimate despite me explaining the ammonia to ammonium ratio at different ph. You did a great brief explanation in your video.
Drip acclimation can be good for wilds and caridina shrimp. Usually the LFS and the customer tanks have similar water parameters.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I was wondering what if the LFS water pH is different than my aquarium, say 7.8 pH from LFS to my tank 8.2. Would a drip acclimation be better if it is that different or would you still recommend the floating bag and plop method?
I bought 7 guppies, when putting them into my tank I did the drip method because I had t yet seen this video. I’ve had them for less than 2 weeks and they keep slowly dying off. All of my levels look great. Are they dying because of the way I acclimated them? Or is there something else wrong with my tank?
@@juliapaul1180 what are your current water parameters(ammonia,nitrites,nitrates,temperature)
@@jaredl2239 nitrites and nitrate are at 0, ammonia was a little lower than 0.25 so I did a water change, it’s now at 0, and PH is between 7.0 and 7.2
I’ve been having aquariums for years and I was always doing both methods before putting the fishes in the tank. Never knew that the drip method was bad. Thanks for the info, it will be faster and easier now :)
happy new year2021
cool
I agree with the plop-and-drop method, I have always done that with fish and shrimp and have had great success... :)
I love your videos. Do you have a video showing when to add new fish to a new tank? Thanks in advance
This may help: czcams.com/video/rVQTib_SbZw/video.htmlsi=BkLQOJ7IVodAjfis
You almost squished that Molly haha
Glad I watched. I've been floating the bag to acclimate the temperature but then just cutting the bag and tipping them in.
I never gave a thought to the fact there might be issues with the water in the bag.
Will do the net method next time. (At least I used a quarantine tank 😄)
Really like this but I received some pea puffers in the mail in a breather bag and couldn't float it. I did drip acclimate then added to the tank. This seemed to work fine for this application as I though you weren't suppose to take puffers out of the water? Thanks again so informative. Happy New Year!
Ya, breather bags are a different story :-)
Anyone else laugh at the “pour slowly”? 😂😂 thank you for the information, it was very helpful
Hey, my bday is coming up soon. So im getting maybe a 20g tank. I was wondering how many fish i could get and which ones. Loves the vids!
Cool - take a look at our 20 gallon stocking ideas video. That should help a lot.
Thoughts on adding other species to a tank, such as shrimp/newt/frogs ... My kids fell in love with these pinky nail sized aquatic frogs... scares me they would be smaller than our guppies....
Fish will often eat smaller animals. You can try it?
Can you do a video on how to make an air pump quieter because mine is quite loud
As always, thanks for the video and your insight.
The net with the container is an elegant approach with common sense, and will definitely be part of our routine in the future.
As a med and biochem nerd, I appreciated the discussion of the chemistry of the bag and its opening.
Some questions:
1. What is your opinion on breather bags?
2. What is your opinion of adding agents to the bag? Example "API Stress Coat"
3. I have noticed fish shipped and packaged from stores with a dye presumably a anti-parasite or antibacterial agent. Is this advised?
4. Is there a preference for a store that uses oxygen to fill the bag versus compressed air, especially for long duration transit?
5. Does buffered water help the CO2 and pH issue in transit?
Thanks again,
Jim
PS: I did view your "How to Move a Fish Tank and Minimize Fish Stress!" video before this comment and found many answers to other questions.
czcams.com/video/Lu7qkJ64-tk/video.html
These are great questions! Sounds like I have a members only video topic :-)
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Luckily, I am a member. :)
Awesome video thank you! Quick question .. How to acclimate very sensitive fish such as otocinclus since what I've heard and read online that is important to drip acclimate them. I did that method and the next day I lost one of them and a week later one of them developed what I think white wool disease, I immediately quarantined him and treated him but unfortunately, didnt make it due to starvation even tho I kept giving him an algea wafer "sad" 😞but the other four are doing great. Beside ottos, they say we have also to drip acclimate shrimp as well.. Is there a specific acclimation method for sensitive fish and invertebrates? 😊
I don't know how this factors in, but I have heard that Otos can be a problem because the vast majority are wild caught an not really fed before the get to the LFS. By the time you buy them they may already be on their way to starving to death and won't start eating again. Its important to only buy Ottos with little bulging belies which indicates they are eating. Ask your LFS to make sure the Otos are eating before you buy!
We're did u get ur 4/24/24 filtters 4 your sup tank u made out I think 20 gal tks 4 ur help
Hello! I've really been enjoying your new Beginner's Guide series but in this particular video, English subtitles are not enabled. I am severely hearing impaired and require subtitles to understand what I'm watching. If you could go into your video settings and enable them, I'd really appreciate it!
Hope to see u at a swap this year
Guess I've been lucky,I might lose 2 but I get them out quick that's amazing 🤔
Thanks for the video. This method seems to against all established methods. Please confirm that you don't mix any of the tank water with the bag water simply acclimatise the temperature rather than the water??
I don't mix the water for fish.
Professor I really feel for you, I have spent the day answering fish questions one simple trip to LFS to get some plants and drift wood for new tank and I swear it was walk in the door and people I thought were my friends pointed and it was nuts. Got home and twelve more messages on messenger. Met a person that was buying fish from me and I’m doing everything I can to keep bag warm,he takes them and just stands there in parking lot asking all kinds of questions. Think he was upset when I asked him to put them in his car with heater on and I would answer any questions. I love to talk fish but I also take pride in what I breed and want to see them do well for people.
Ya, that can certainly happen. :-)
Would you still use drip acclimation for shrimp since they don't do well with drastic changes?
For the caridina I might.
Now that's a BEARD!
Love this content. I use the plop and drop method as well. I know we shouldn’t put the store water in the tank. My question is for those that don’t quarantine don’t you ever worry about the water from the net touching your show tank? Isn’t that a form of contamination? I have a quarantine tank but I was just thinking about that.
Yes, the net touching the water can be, but usually the bigger issue is the fish themselves.
Do you have to quarantine the fish if they come from the same shop (fish/aquatic specialist shop) & the same tanks?
I just got a new German ram today living with my danios and neon tetras, and boy, as soon as I put her in the water it was like she lived there her whole life,all the fish where swimming around her and just being friends
so starting my 1st tank the year and don't have the funds and more importantly the space for a quarantine tank (will still watch your video thou) will i be ok? i only plan on buy my fish from a small fish store not a chain one like petco. also do you/ should you do the same with plants?
One thing you can do is ask the fish store ppl how long the fish you want have been there and if theyve been treated at all or showed any signs of sickness. If theyve had em for a couple weeks or so and have stayed healthy, they should be ok
Would plop and drop still be the best method for fish in regular bags that have sat in the mail longer than the heat packs can work? Or could you do a video on what to do if you get ice cold fish in the mail but are still visibly alive? Like a triage video? I've been temp acclimating. Then adding extra Prime to the qt tanks to "buffer" any ammonia from the temp acclimation, then plop and drop. I figure getting them in clean water ASAP is best after temp. Thanks dude!
I still like the plop and drop. Temp acclimate for 20 minutes and get them in the new tank.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Yes sir. Thank you!
My local shop from where I buy fish has pH around 7.7 and I have around 6.8 in my aquarium. I tested to see if there is any change in the bag when I open it and there seems to be almost none and the amonia is undetectable, but the pH difference would probably kill the fish if I did not drip ...
Usually ammonia doesn’t accumulate enough if the trip is relatively short.
What order should you add fish? Do you do bottom feeders first? Then middle tank fish? Then fish that like the top of the tank?
Good question. It’s not so much location as it is aggression. I try to add the more aggressive fish last.
Quarantine tank? Jeepers. I barely have room for my 10gal tank.
Would love to see how you deal with fish purchased online that have spent several days in the bags. Specifically one of the companies I buy from says their fish are shipped in "breather bags" and under no circumstances should the bags be floated. And drip acclimation is all they recommend. Have you ever heard if this? Thanks!
Yes - in that case I would follow their directions - breather bags are a different ballgame.
Usually when I see the drip method recommended it's for shrimp. Does the same issue apply, or is their bioload low enough that acclimating them to the water chemistry is more important?
You can drop acclimate shrimp if the water parameters are different.
My corys from Petco keep dying and idk how to make sure they survive the transition. Hopefully this video helps.
Do you recommend the same with puffers? I’m scared to take them out of water with a net so I was planning on slowly diluting the stores water with mine, but now I’m unsure
Yep - I do the same.
My fish store says to float the unopened bag for 15 minutes then float the opened bag for another 15 minutes, then release the fish. Thank you!
What about adding plants to an established tank?
I have never quarantined fish never had any issues the bag floating method has always worked out for me
Hi, in the video above at the end you talk about quarantine. so if im starting with a new tank with no fish in yet does that mean i have to get another tank to quarantine the fish for a month before starting in the new tank? Thanks Phil, Sheffield UK
Nope - the fish that go in first can use the new tank!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks for your quick reply buddy. 👍
So I have a 10 gallon and I just added water if I. Add quick start can I guppies right after? Or do I have to wait a few days
The Quick Start usually doesn’t do anything for us. We have had good success with Fritzyme 7 and adding a few fish after that.
So plop and drop is great for fish but what about shrimp? Shrimp are more sensitive so I hear people drip acclimate them, but are they not getting same ph and water swings?
I agree - caridina shrimp may be better acclimated using the drip method.
on stocking a new tank with fish do you recommend buying all the fish at once or one or two every week or so
It depends on how many fish the bacteria in the tank can handle. Key is not adding so many fish that there is an ammonia spike. Usually fewer fish at a time prevents that once the tank is cycled.
I always float the bag to achieve proper acclimation.
Hey Jason - could you clarify this?
So I’ve followed this method for years and had almost no losses until my last batch of fish when I lost two Aulonocara right away to pH Shock (they had all the visible symptoms of pH Shock: breathing issues, swim bladder & both died with 24hours.
So my store just use local tap water which is at 7.8pH. I use coral substrate which buffers at 8.2pH. So it seems that .4 is too much for some fish (both where fire fish I’m not sure if they’re more susceptible than other haps and peacocks?)
I’m still going to do the temperature match then drop in the net acclimation. But from now on I was going to add a scoop a day of coral sand to the quarantine tank thus slow lying bringing my fish form 7.8pH to 8.2pH.
I don't think that was it? It's a change, but not huge and the change would have been beneficial overall.
Plop and drop into empty tank from local fish store after floating bag for 20 minutes.
Drip acclimation for fish being shipped.
Science question: how long does it take for O2 to exchange with CO2 once a bag is opened? If there is no surface agitation, won’t it be awhile? In a breathable bag, is there any CO2 buildup at all?
That's a good question. I guess it would depend on how much has accumulated? I don't think there is much build up in the breather bag.
I do not have a quarantine tank and I am wondering if doing a salt dip/bath before adding the new fish to the tank would be a good preventative action for potential diseases and parasites. Or just adding them and treating the whole tank with aquarium salt or prazipro
Not really because it may not be effective for some bacterial infections and it won’t protect against any internal parasites. It can also be stressful on the fish.
Hey! Super helpful video. But what if you don’t have a separate tank for your fish to quarantine in? I only have the one tank in my room and was thinking about getting my 2 guppies some friends.
Obviously at that point you’re taking a chance every time you add fish.
@@PrimeTimeAquaticsSo would it be best to turn out the lights and let the bag float then?
@@whoislani.Yes.
Plop and drop works, only do temperature acclimating if fish are going into water that is colder, so far have not had any problems, if anyone has experience to the contrary please comment. As far as ph and hardness goes, they are less affected going into water that is higher ph and harder than lower ph and softer, water parameters should be close, please comment if your experience is different.