So you went to PetBig and decided your aquarium needed new fish. Now what? You need to put them into the tank. Easy enough. Float them in the bag for 20 minutes, then dump them into the tank. Right? Wrong. In order to properly introduce fish into an established system one of the easiest things to do is to put them directly into the fish tank. Although, the safest thing to do is to observe them in a quarantine tank for a week or two and then introduce them into your established system.
A quarantine tank does not need to be fancy. A 15-20 gallon bare bottom tank, meaning no gravel or decorations, with a heater, and a simple hang on back power filter or an air powered sponge filter will do. Now when introducing the fish to the quarantine tank place the bag in the tank for 20 minutes. Open the bag and fold the top of the bag over, like if you were cuffing your pants. Now add about a cup of water from the tank into the bag and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Repeat this process 4-5 times. At this point the water chemistry in the bag and the tank should be about the same. It is now safe to net the fish from the bag and introduce them into the tank.
When the fish are in the quarantine tank observe them closely. If you see any signs of fungus and/or white spots treat them accordingly. From my experience, any medication with a formalin/malachite green combination works well in freshwater applications. Depending on the species and/or ailment for saltwater fish, different medications are recommended. After the quarantine period is over you now have the peace of mind that the fish you are introducing to the main system is free from disease. When transferring the fish from the quarantine tank to the main tank, repeat the acclimation process using a clean plastic bag.
Watch and enjoy.
Love your fish.
aqf.
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