How to Acclimate New Fish to Your Aquarium

How you introduce a new fish to your tank in the first hour matters just as much as the tank conditions themselves. Rushing this step is a common and avoidable cause of early losses.

Float the Bag

Float the sealed bag in your tank for 15-20 minutes to equalize temperature gradually, preventing thermal shock.

Drip Acclimation

For sensitive species, a slow drip acclimation over 30-60 minutes gradually adjusts fish to your tank’s water chemistry, reducing the shock of moving between different pH, hardness, and salinity levels.

Never Add Bag Water to Your Tank

Discard the transport water rather than pouring it into your aquarium, since it may carry pathogens, ammonia, or medication residue from the store or shipping.

Turn Off the Lights

Dim lighting for the first few hours after introduction to reduce stress while your new fish gets oriented.

Quarantine First

Ideally, acclimate into a separate quarantine tank rather than directly into your main display, giving you time to confirm the fish is healthy before it interacts with existing stock.