fresh walter dip

clownsntriggers · #1 12/05/2006, 05:37 PM

How do I go about preparing the water for fresh dip prior to QT?

bertoni · #2 12/05/2006, 05:47 PM

I use RO-DI water, and warm it to tank temperature. Finally, I add a bit of baking soda to get the pH near that of the tank. I use a pH meter, so I don't really keep track of how much baking soda to use.

papagimp · #3 12/05/2006, 06:12 PM

Try to get that PH more than just "near" the tank's ph. Get an exact match if possible. Freshwater dips are a bit stressful to the fish so keeping stress to a minimum helps. If you read up on PH, you'll find that there is a massive difference between a ph of 8.3 and 8.2. last time I freshwater dipped a fish, I used more like 90% ro/di water and 10% tank water. I read somewhere it's better to do that, but I have no basis other than "so and so said it".

acwilson · #4 12/05/2006, 09:43 PM

you can also put a little bit of the alkalinity part of the 2-part calc/alk supplement instead of putting in baking soda.

Jerry W · #5 12/06/2006, 01:24 AM

Why are you dipping the fish? As stated, it can be quite stressful and some don't survive. If the fish are not ill, then properly quarantining them is sufficient. The only time I've done dips is for hurry cases of crypto. It can provide some immediate relief. It's just not a part of my routine quarantine process.

pete620 · #6 12/06/2006, 04:12 AM

Good water quality will typicaly help a fish much more than a fresh water dip. I'd reserve it only for extreme cases.

sunfishh · #7 12/06/2006, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jerry W
Why are you dipping the fish? As stated, it can be quite stressful and some don't survive. If the fish are not ill, then properly quarantining them is sufficient. The only time I've done dips is for hurry cases of crypto. It can provide some immediate relief. It's just not a part of my routine quarantine process.

I agree. I think it often hurts fish more than it helps.

bertoni · #8 12/06/2006, 03:41 PM

There are varying opinions on the freshwater dips. They do help remove parasites, but they can be stressful. I've generally not done them in the past, although I do them now. Hard to say.

UrbanSage · #9 12/06/2006, 04:31 PM

I wish I could find the link, but I can't. In the past I read an article saying that tests had shown that marine ich was still found alive on a fish after 30 hours or so in freshwater.

The stress caused to the fish is in my own opinion not worth the to me doubtful benefit.