Do you use an isolation box?

[mmorrison55]

If you do, please reply with how long you keep them isolated before releasing them into your display.

 

[Puggz]

If you do, please reply with how long you keep them isolated before releasing them into your display.

Best idea ever!

 

[sgdnycct]

I do not. I feel it’s too stressful for the fish.

I adapt the newbies to the biome and keep the quarantine tank next to the DT for a while depending on the fish and how they are responding. 2-10 days.

 

[LPS Bum]

Yes. Every time I add a fish. I made my own large one out of egg crate and zip ties. I keep the new fish in the box for at least 3 days, but often for a full week. And this is after a 30 day QT.

It makes a huge difference with acclimation and aggression. Especially with Angels and Tangs.

 

[dedragon]

depends on the type of fish and other fish in the aquarium. if you are adding say a new clownfish to a tank with an existing 1, i would 100% use an acclimation box

 

[mmorrison55]

I never did before and was lucky until the last fish I added. It was a fairy wrasse, and I already had a different type of fairy wrasse. Ive never had another fish get harassed as much as this poor wrasse. It was a pita to catch it, but I did and took it back to the LFS.

So now, I look to use a box for any new additions where I have same species being added.

I currently have a convict tang, cleaner wrasse, and royal gramma coming from dr reefs. I think I can get away with adding the gramma and cleaner wrasse but since I have a yellow tang and hippo tang already, I probably should isolate the convict tang. Just not sure for how long. Thinking 3 days.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I use one. Length of time varies from 1-3 days, depending on whether I think the existing fish are being honest with me (about their disinterest in the new arrival), or they are just 'pulling my fin!'

 

[dank.reefer]

I will always use an acclimation box until I am no longer in the hobby. Once upon a time I introduced a new Diamond Goby to my display he was fresh out of quarantine and ready to fly in his new forever home. I dropped him into the tank and he was immediately attacked and ripped apart by my Starry Blenny before he even made it to the floor.

Maybe I am just a big softy, but I felt and still do feel great remorse at the loss of that fish. To think of all that he went through to be removed from the ocean, put in a holding facility, then into a bag and shipped to another holding facility half way around the world, then through a 30 day quarantine and final transport to my home. Only to be dropped into the tank and killed. The poor little guy lived for 2 months or more in terror just to be killed by my negligence.

Ever since that I always use an acclimation box. I haven't had any introductory fights since.

Edit: I have had plenty of fights but no casualties because the fish cannot get to each other.

 

[mmorrison55]

I will always use an acclimation box until I am no longer in the hobby. Once upon a time I introduced a new Diamond Goby to my display he was fresh out of quarantine and ready to fly in his new forever home. I dropped him into the tank and he was immediately attacked and ripped apart by my Starry Blenny before he even made it to the floor.

Maybe I am just a big softy, but I felt and still do feel great remorse at the loss of that fish. To think of all that he went through to be removed from the ocean, put in a holding facility, then into a bag and shipped to another holding facility half way around the world, then through a 30 day quarantine and final transport to my home. Only to be dropped into the tank and killed. The poor little guy lived for 2 months or more in terror just to be killed by my negligence.

Ever since that I always use an acclimation box. I haven't had any introductory fights since.

Sorry to hear that. I hope we all feel remorse at the loss of our fish, especially if we feel it’s something we could have avoided.

 

[mmorrison55]

I use one. Length of time varies from 1-3 days, depending on whether I think the existing fish are being honest with me (about their disinterest in the new arrival), or they are just 'pulling my fin!'

Nice looking box

 

[dank.reefer]

I will always use an acclimation box until I am no longer in the hobby. Once upon a time I introduced a new Diamond Goby to my display he was fresh out of quarantine and ready to fly in his new forever home. I dropped him into the tank and he was immediately attacked and ripped apart by my Starry Blenny before he even made it to the floor.

Maybe I am just a big softy, but I felt and still do feel great remorse at the loss of that fish. To think of all that he went through to be removed from the ocean, put in a holding facility, then into a bag and shipped to another holding facility half way around the world, then through a 30 day quarantine and final transport to my home. Only to be dropped into the tank and killed. The poor little guy lived for 2 months or more in terror just to be killed by my negligence.

Ever since that I always use an acclimation box. I haven't had any introductory fights since.

Sorry to hear that. I hope we all feel remorse at the loss of our fish, especially if we feel it’s something we could have avoided.

I think a lot of issues can be avoided just by using acclimation boxes. IME it really is just getting the fish past the first 2 weeks. If you can get there by any means the fish usually figure out how to get along just fine.

2 weeks is my new addition protocol now. I use a large OctoAquatic's SHU and put a peice of rock in there for the fish to hide behind and give them a couple of weeks to acclimate. This gives them a chance to fatten up, learn the hierarchy in the tank, and settle any introductory disputes safely.

I had a purple tang fight with a tomini tang through the box, both violently attacking each other through the box for 10 days straight. I thought I was going to have to return the tomini. On the 11th day they showed no interest in each other. On the 14th day I put up a mirror on the tank and released the tomini at night. The 2 fish fought themselves in the mirror for 2 more days then just gave up. They were all out of fight. Now they swim side by side and couldn't care less about each other. If I would have put that tomini in the tank without the box he would have perished for sure. With patience and proper introduction techniques the 2 fish learned to respect each others boundaries and are now freinds.

 

[Pats reef tank 727]

I use one. Length of time varies from 1-3 days, depending on whether I think the existing fish are being honest with me (about their disinterest in the new arrival), or they are just 'pulling my fin!'

How big is that box and where did you get it from

 

[richserpe]

Absolutely. I have an acrylic box that sticks to the glass with suction cups. One of the posters relayed an experience with a diamond goby being shredded by a starry Blenny despite using an acclimation box. I had the exact same situation with a Bella goby and a starry Blenny. That being said, there is no guarantee that the acclimation box will prevent bullying. If the current tank residents charge the box and try to get at the new occupant, you can pretty much see which way the wind is blowing. The only hope you have is you have enough caves and holes in your rockwork to provide shelter and safety from the bully. Just remember to get food to the new guy until he’s brave enough to venture out.

 

[ReneReef]

Long enough and not too long.

 

[mmorrison55]

How big is that box and where did you get it from

Looks to be

Octo Aquatics - Custom Acrylic Products - Octo Aquatics

I have been in the saltwater industry since 1996 and have been working with wood and plastics since 2004. Every product I sell has been fabricated by myself, right here in Arizona! I specialize in custom products that nobody else offers. Don’t trust just anyone! Plastic and wood fabrication is...

octoaquatics.com

 

[sgdnycct]

I will always use an acclimation box until I am no longer in the hobby. Once upon a time I introduced a new Diamond Goby to my display he was fresh out of quarantine and ready to fly in his new forever home. I dropped him into the tank and he was immediately attacked and ripped apart by my Starry Blenny before he even made it to the floor.

Maybe I am just a big softy, but I felt and still do feel great remorse at the loss of that fish. To think of all that he went through to be removed from the ocean, put in a holding facility, then into a bag and shipped to another holding facility half way around the world, then through a 30 day quarantine and final transport to my home. Only to be dropped into the tank and killed. The poor little guy lived for 2 months or more in terror just to be killed by my negligence.

Ever since that I always use an acclimation box. I haven't had any introductory fights since.

Edit: I have had plenty of fights but no casualties because the fish cannot get to each other.

Sorry that happened. I feel the same whenever I have a loss or see one of my babies suffering.

 

[sgdnycct]

Absolutely. I have an acrylic box that sticks to the glass with suction cups. One of the posters relayed an experience with a diamond goby being shredded by a starry Blenny despite using an acclimation box. I had the exact same situation with a Bella goby and a starry Blenny. That being said, there is no guarantee that the acclimation box will prevent bullying. If the current tank residents charge the box and try to get at the new occupant, you can pretty much see which way the wind is blowing. The only hope you have is you have enough caves and holes in your rockwork to provide shelter and safety from the bully. Just remember to get food to the new guy until he’s brave enough to venture out.

I have a Diamond goby. Been in the tank a couple of months now and is constantly bullied by my yellow goby, Tomini and Checkerboard. Poor thing only comes out at night now.

 

[exnisstech]

I'm a firm believer in them. I added a male CBB without one and the female immediately pinned the male in a corner attacking him non stop. I caught the male and after healing up put him back in using a box made from a reptile carrier. After a week I opened up the box and the female CBB swam inside and escorted the male out and I never saw another sign if aggression.

I recently added my hippo that has been growing out in an observation tank. I thought it would head to the rocks never to be seen again. Instead it swam out and started swimming around with a group of chromis and even ate right away. 8 other tangs in the tank and with the exception of the purple introducing itself as the boss they pretty much ignored the new guy.
I find it helps to feed the box so the other fish are chasing food but the new guy gets their share without having to fight for it. I think it gives them more confidence to compete for food after being released.

 

[mmorrison55]

When my recent order from Dr reef arrived yesterday. I started the fish in the box but they didn’t stay in it very long. The other fish had zero interest in the fish in the box so I took a chance and let the fish out and so far the only harassment has been between the two cleaner wrasses that came in the order.

By the way, I only ordered one, but I’m guessing they may not ship well and they included an extra as “just in case” . Idk, but I appreciated the bonus.

 

[mmorrison55]

One thing I would add is that if I were starting now, and building a tank and planning an aquascape. I would be sure to account for a large acclimation box in the planning

I dislodged two corals getting this one in and out