How should I acclimate my new shrimp
It can be confusing at times with all the new concepts and ideas of having an aquarium, and I always find the aquarium to be a source of magic once it becomes stable, but by no means is that magic just appear it is practiced and learned. This guide will help assist those in need of a simple but informative step by step instruction on how to acclimate your new fish to your home aquarium - assuming that your aquarium is ready.
“Drip Acclimation Method”
MATERIALS NEEDED:
1. 3-6 gallon bucket
2. Bagged Friend
3. Acclimation device
STEP BY STEP GUIDE:
1. Bring shrimp straight home, do not stop at the grocery store, or other places as time in the fish spend in the bag should be limited especially in extreme temperatures outside of tropical temperature values.
2. Place clean shrimp bag in aquarium to adjust temperature of bag water to aquarium water temperature while setting up the acclimation device.
3. Setup and start acclimation drip device and drip into the bucket
4. Remove the rubber band enclosing the bag of fish(best), or cut the bag just below the tied spot of the bag.
5. Place bag into a 3-5 gallon bucket.
6. Clip the bag to the bucket or prevent it from tipping over.
7. Measure starting pH (to compare to ending pH)
8. Add 1-2 droplets of water at the rate of 1 second on repeat until the original 100% volume reaches at least 300%-400% of its original volume within the bag. That means that it’s mostly your tank water inside the bag while there is less store water. This helps adjust pH values between the two water sources, and reduces chance of shock to your new fish. (If you’d like to learn how to create a DIY drip acclimation system, so you can walk away while acclimating your new friends, click here! )
9. Remove bag from bucket when water has overturned 3-4 times of the original volume.
10. Measure pH of the bagged water (if pH is the same as your tank, you can net your new friends into the tank)
11. Net shrimp out of bag into the tank.
12. Pour bag water into bucket and dispose of water.
During my visit to San Francisco, California, I visited my friend, owner of Ocean Aquarium. Here we talk about how he teaches how to acclimate fish and shrimp from his store. If you’d like to learn how to make his acclimation cup, click here!