To float or drip..that is the question!

[450rguy]

I too didn't vote because I do both. My first try with drip only, I couldn't get the temp up in the acclimation water.
Now I float the bags in the sump, and drip nice clean aeriated water from the fuge into the bags. It's easy, no mess, no buckets, and most of all, it works.

 

[grubsnaek]

D R I P

 

[boricua]

Drip.
I worked in the industry. We received at wholesale level and even we dripped! Yes we actually dripped HUNDREDS of fish and invert. We had a room just for that.

 

[xnikki118x]

Originally Posted by skipperdz
the vote is missing the best option BOTH
I agree. I float for 15 minutes and then drip drip drip drip drip.

 

[vtfishies]

i float for 20 mins add tank water from my tank for 2 hours on 20 min intervals..no measureing no mess...NO LOSSES so IMO both *so to speak*

 

[buffett]

i float and have been ok with it,my lfs floats everything that i know of, they get too much in at one time to drip them they get 2 shipments a week of various fish and whatnot.

 

[95harley]

I float for temp, then drip for PH and SG, then float for temp again.
So Float, Drip, Float.
How do I vote that?.. :thinking:

 

[bs21]

i say drip. if your not gonna drip atleast put the bag in a bucket and remove 1/3 of the water and replace it with tank water and repeat every 15 min. for 45 minutes or so.

 

[phishface]

I guess Ive gotten lucky, but Ive always floated and added tank water in 15-20 min intervals until the bag was full.

 

[julie853]

I float twenty minutes and then drip.

 

[pbienkiewi]

Originally Posted by julie853
I float twenty minutes and then drip.

Ditto

 

[fender]

I drip.
I picked up a serpent star saturday. SG in the bag from the LFS = 1.021 Mine is 1.025. An unhealthy difference for an invert. Floating won't fix that.

 

[the j.o.p.]

all my LFS float the new shipments. but drip trade ins.

 

[watson3]

I float to get the temp together, then drip

 

[mrsgoose]

First thing I do is test the lfs water for pH and salinity. Then while the bag's floating I begin to add about 1/2 cup of my tank water every 15 min for at least an hour. Then I test the water in the bag again to see how much closer it is to my tank water. I think it's important to know what the fish have been in compared to what thye're going into. Gives an idea if the need to acclimate for an hour or three. Anyone else do this?? I've had good luck so far.

 

[gmidd]

While I voted dripping I'm beginning to lean more to Floating. If done right floating is good, letting in a small percentage of tank water every 10 minutes or so, it allows for the temp to adjust, it lets the new fish check out its new settings and allows other fish to scope out its new roommate

I've heard some people Float then Drip? What purpose does this serve? If its to adjust the temp to the tank, you'll loose that adjustment when you drip as the temp will drop probably 5 degrees if your dripping more then an hour.

 

[lion_crazz]

I have always dripped and have never lost a thing due to acclimation.
I have worked at a few local fish stores and every one I worked at dripped all fish. One store that I worked at dripped all of the new animals (fresh and saltwater) for 3 to 5 hours (depending on the pH in the bag).

 

[fisherkid91]

I drip, im pretty sure the only thing floating does is acclimate to temperature, if you poke holes in the bag then you could get fish store water in your tank, i'd rather not.

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by fisherkid91
I drip, im pretty sure the only thing floating does is acclimate to temperature, if you poke holes in the bag then your mixing your water with the fish store water, you dont want to do this.
Mixing your water with the water in the bag is never a good idea for two reasons:
1.) Some stores have copper in their water. By putting that water into your tank, you also may be introducing copper into your tank.
2.) By the time you get that bag home, there is a good amount of ammonia in the bag, and you will be dumping ammonia-filled water into your tank.

 

[fisherkid91]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Mixing your water with the water in the bag is never a good idea for two reasons:
1.) Some stores have copper in their water. By putting that water into your tank, you also may be introducing copper into your tank.
2.) By the time you get that bag home, there is a good amount of ammonia in the bag, and you will be dumping ammonia-filled water into your tank.
my thoughts exactly! Also aren't most tanks in a fish store connected? That means if one fish gets a disease then the others could get it to, not sure though.