When you add new fish to your tank. DO you need to ....?

Question

put some thing like a stress coating ( i think its called) in water with them or something like cycle, says its good to add when adding new fish. Was wondering if this was just a marketing thing trying to get our money.

Answer 1

The only thing you really need to add is a good dechlorinator that also remove chloramines. All of the rest of the so called benefits are exactly as you suspect, marketing hype.

MM

Answer 2

You don't want to add any more chemicals to your tank than necessary--and Stresscoat will build up in your tank (it's like melted plastic) and coat everything in your tank and the sides of the tank, you'll need to scrape it off. If your fish are healthy, they are making their own stresscoat and don't need more--the manufacturers are just trying to make money. Assuming your tank is already fully cycled and ready for fish, just float the fish bags in the tank so the bag water becomes the same temp as the tank water (so the fish don't get shocked), pour the bag water through a net which will catch the fish and quickly release the fish into their new home. I try to put as little of the bag water into the tank. It used to be that they recommended you add a little tank water to the bag gradually over a period of time so the fish can get used to the new water but these days our water is pretty much alike unless you use well water (then do the gradual adding tank water to the bag for a while). I haven't lost a fish yet with my method. If your tank is fully cycled already, you won't need Cycle (it's useless anyway, only thing that actually instantly cycles a tank is Bio-Spira which has live beneficial bacterial which has to be kept cool so is usually in a refrigerator at the fish store). Save your money to buy more of the things you absolutely need--like more fish and more tanks and more......

Answer 3

Yes stress coat is good ( helps remove chlorine) and also a little freshwater salt to help promote healthy gill function. And don't forget to leave the fish in the bag and put the bag in the water for about 15 mins, so you don't shock your new fishes with water temperature shock when you put them in there new home. I started a new one at the beginning o f the year and I only waited until the temperature was right for the type of fish I was putting them in.

Answer 4

dont waste your stress coat on new fish. float them in their bags while gradually adding some of the tank water into the bag. that method has worked perfectly for me for years without using stress coat. the only times i use it is for tap dechlorination and when a fish has been getting picked on and is noticably hurt.

Answer 5

The reason they say to add it when adding new fish is because changing environment is stressful - stress weakens the slimecoat - this stuff is supposed to help build the slimecoat back up. When you make that change as stress free as you can, you should be able to eliminate the need for such drastic measures.

Save the stresscoat for when the slimecoat has actually been compromised.

Answer 6

A tank has to be set-up and run for a while to allow bacteria to grow, dont put expensive fish in a new tank, get something like goldfish that poops and pees a lot, that'll add bacteria and help get your tank going.

Answer 7

ya get some chemicals to put in the tank to give it bigger stronger slime coat put a few drops into the bag and a few mroe into the tank so the other fish wont get stressed

Answer 8

Its very good to do that but if you get your fish at petsmart they add it when they put your fish in the bags. I do not knwo about Petco and wal mart dont.

Answer 9

cycle is no good
the stress coating mess that they put on boxes of aquarium salt is unnecessary. i asked about it as well. i was told not to bother adding aquarium salt to most freshwater fish unless they get ick...then the change in salinity will take care of the problem. if you have something like mollies...some salt in the aquarium is ideal.

Answer 10

I have never used it. My fish have been just fine. Just make sure to float them for about 10 min.