My fish almost suffacated!

[RachPreach]

I had two angels in quarantine and I was about to switch them over to my 100 gallon tank. I let the bag aclimate and then I slowly added water from the 100 gallon tank to the bag they were in. I put them in the tank and they were fine at first. I then noticed after a couple of minutes that they were despriately gasping for air and one of them was even going upside down. I have co2 in my tank which apparently they arent used to. But all my other fish are fine that are already in the 100 gallon. So I took them out really fast and put them back in the quarantine tank and they are fine. What caused the and what can I do to prevent this?

[RachPreach]

my kh is 4 and my ph is 6.7

[Martin Schellinck]

I had a problem with introducing my new fish directly into a co2 tank after they had never been in one. they were shipped to me and pretty stressed also, so I ended up removing the co2 and raising the pH a little higher until they adjusted to the water. they were guppies so I also added some salt, which may or may not be recommended for angels. I'd consider adding a co2 line to the quarantine tank so they can adjust to the pH. what is the ph in the quarantine tank?

[RachPreach]

well theres no way of adding a co2 line...the tanks are on seperate stories of my house. The ph in the q tank is about 7-7.1. I thought I was doing good by slowly adding water to the bag before I just dumped them in there. I need some more options. I cant just leave them in the q tank.

[jhoetzl]

You could try a long slow drip acclimation...

[the_noobinator]

if you slow down your co2 for a little it won't be as drastic to the new angels. you can acclimate them and then pump it back up to where it was?

[RachPreach]

yeah that sounds good....anyone else?

[RachPreach]

You could try a long slow drip acclimation...

how exactly do you do that?

[jhoetzl]

Put the angels and the qt water in a smallish container, or most the qt container near the other tank and empty half the water. Keep the water temp nearer the main tank's water. Take some airhose, and either tie a small knot in it, or use an air valve and start a siphon (like a mini gravel vac). Tighten the knot, or close the valve so you just have a slight steady drip. When the water in the qt tank doubles, empty about a quarter of it and let the drip continue. When tank is full, they should be used to the water. I have done this over the course of an hour or 2 for more sensitive fish going into one of my main tanks from qt.

[RachPreach]

That sounds great jhoetzl! Ill have to put them in a smaller container(a bucket) and set them beside the tank. Ill do it tomorrow because i already have them settled in for the night in the q tank. Thank you! Ill let you know what happens!

[the_noobinator]

yeah, the slow drip acclimation is a way better idea than affecting co2 levels in your main tank. i'd go with that.

[turbosaurus]

I always drip my new fish- but if you actually "Drip" so it splashes the surface it will relaease most of the CO2 from the water going in.... defeating the purpose. Make sure the air line is long enough so the water comes in below the surface.

I would turn down my CO2, then raise it a little each day until its back to where you started- Won't take more than a week. Why risk killing your fish?

[RachPreach]

good thinking turbo! thanks!