How to Acclimate New Fish: The Drip Method (Step by Step)

Bringing new fish home? The first 30 minutes matter. Here is how to acclimate fish properly so they survive the move from shop to tank.

Why acclimation matters

The water in the bag from the shop is almost always a different temperature, pH and hardness from your tank. Tipping fish straight in shocks them, and that shock - not the journey - is what kills many new fish in the first days. Acclimation lets them adjust slowly and safely.

Quick float method (basic)

Float the sealed bag in your tank for 15-20 minutes to match the temperature. Then open the bag, add a small cup of tank water every few minutes for about 20 minutes, and finally net the fish into the tank - without pouring the shop water into your tank. This is fine for hardy fish.

Drip method (best, especially for shrimp and sensitive fish)

Gently pour the fish and bag water into a clean bucket. Set up an airline tube as a siphon from your tank to the bucket, and tie a loose knot in the tube (or use a control valve) so it drips at about 2-4 drops per second. Over 45-60 minutes the bucket water slowly becomes your tank water. When the volume has roughly tripled, net the animals into the tank and discard the bucket water. This slow approach is essential for shrimp, which are very sensitive to sudden changes.

Don't skip quarantine

Whenever possible, acclimate new fish into a separate quarantine tank for 2-4 weeks before adding them to your main display. This stops you introducing diseases and parasites to your established fish - the single best habit for avoiding outbreaks.

Frequently Asked Questions