Acclimating new fish with dips

[bluto]

Hey everybody,
I know the correct procedure for acclimating a new fish (mixing tank water with the new fish's bag water, etc.) but I'm a little unclear as to how to acclimate when employing a preventative dip.
In other words...if I purchase a fish and plan on QTing him for 2wks (either with or without copper in the QT) but would like to do a dip before QTing him, how does that work??
Should I go thru the normal acclimation procedure with the QT water (mixing QT water into his bag), then do the dip, and then move him directly from the dip into the QT?
Thanks.
BLuto

 

[slowest is fastest]

I would take the time to acclimate the fish first so that once the dip is completed it can go straight into the QT without the addition stress of acclimation back in the bag or container. The fish will recover from the stressful dip faster in a tank full of water with a hiding spot versus back to the smaller bag with no hiding spot that likely doesn' have the best water from the LFS to begin with. IMHO
SiF

 

[tonka]

Why QT and dip? That's alot of stress to put on any fish. That's the whole point of QTing. I would stick to the QT only.

 

[beth]

Well, the purpose of dipping before QT is to take that extra step to unload any parasites before actually putting the fish in the QT--just an additional measure to [hopefully] eliminate any parasites brought in from the LFS before the fish makes it to the QT [last stop before going into your main tank].
Perhaps this measure is better than just proceeding to the QT and waiting to see if the fish breaks out with parasites in the QT, then having to treat a sick fish with toxic meds [as opposed to dipping a healthy fish as a preventative measure up front].
If you are going to dip prior to QT, I would acclimate in the bag, dip then right into the QT. Also, you can give it another dip following QT before going into the main tank. If this doesn't get all those parasites before letting the fish loose in your tank, then nothing will !

 

[bluto]

Thanks for the help everybody.
This is my first saltwater tank, I bought three small fish to start and made the newbie mistake of not QTing or dipping. Now I'm trying to determine if I have a problem with one of them (see my prior post)...but I guess I learned the lesson that slowest really IS fastest (where have I seen that before? ).
Just trying to be as conservative as possible from here on out.
Bluto

 

[slowest is fastest]

Trey, why is it "alot safer" to wait 24 hours before the dip? What benifits are to be gained by the additional pre quarnatine period that outway the additional stress of another day in a small container? Will the stress from the initial move increase the amount of the fishes slime coat to the point that it reduces the effectiveness of the dip thus making the dip more effective the next day, while preventing any ick from falling off into the QT only to re infect the fish after dipping? While I personally believe the initial dip and any pre quarantine is unnecesary, in most cases like everything else it can have its uses. Every extra precautionary step one takes prior to adding anything to the main tank is benificial.
Maybe these are just fine points but one thing is for sure. Quaranting fish will increase chance for long term success.
SiF

 

[tonka]

Ahh, what's the point of QTing??? IMO you're still rolling the dice when you do both.