Moving a tank with live sand left in it

[wtrujillo]

I’m moving my tank in a couple of weeks. Right now I’m trying to plan out exactly how I’m going to get this done.

I have a 150 gallon tank with a DSB w/ a plenum. I know that if I disturb the sand I could be in for major problems. If I remove most of the water and live rock can I move the tank with the sand still in it or do I have to start from scratch with new sand?

[GaryP]

Moving a tank that size with the sand in it going to be very difficult because of the weight of the wet sand. Do you have a forklift you can get into your house? :) You are better off putting it in 5 gal. buckets for the move. Try to keep at least 50% of your water and then top off with 50% freshly made water. You can also use some of the water to rinse out silt and other detritus from the sand when you are moving it. I also use a collander to remove shells and other solids when I move a sand bed. Your water is probably going to be pretty cloudy when you get it started up again. I run a magnum filter on it to help remove the suspended silt coming from the sand bed and help clear up the water faster.

[Thunderkat]

You should never move an aquarium unless it is empty per manufacturers instructions (I have yet to see a brand that said it was ok to move full or with anything in it).

All you need is for something to slosh around (to shift the weight) or the floor to be wet and somebody is in for an injury.

[wtrujillo]

You should never move an aquarium unless it is empty per manufacturers instructions (I have yet to see a brand that said it was ok to move full or with anything in it).

All you need is for something to slosh around (to shift the weight) or the floor to be wet and somebody is in for an injury.

That's what i thought, but i thought i would double check with the experts.

[Thunderkat]

I am not an expert, I just read those little stickers that come on the tanks :lol

[Polkster13]

The reason they say not to move a tank that isn't empty is that the tank can twist (from the weight of the contents) and crack the glass. I have moved small tanks before with a couple of inches of water or gravel in the bottom and did not have a mishap. But anything longer than 2 feet and you really need it empty. You could twist the tank or your back and neither will be good.

[wtrujillo]

I am not an expert, I just read those little stickers that come on the tanks :lol

see what happens if you buy a used tank. all the useful information is gone.

[Thunderkat]

If you didn't get all the documentation also DO NOT lift the tank by the center brace(s). If you do and they break you cannot fill the tank. Brick aquariums do not have the braces but if yours does don't let them get broken.

[pilot_bell777]

and if it doesn't crack....it WILL leak!

[::pete::]

Just my .02 sense ...

I moved my 100 gallon from SA to NC to SA leaving all sand in tact with 1-2" of water above the sand. I got some crud out of the sand as it swished which helped to clean it a bit before I set it up here. I added a baggie of live sand from Fin Addicts and that was it.

I then took this tank down after 10 months placed all sand in 2-3 buckets and it is now in N5KC's tank and I saw it the other day and its was loaded with life... still!

[donniekim]

I just moved a 125 gal w/live sand still in it and I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT!!! Just the shear weight alone is crazy, and like they said any torqueing and your screwed. Better safe than sorry! Too much money to take the chance!

Just my 2 cents 8)

[matt]

Depending on how long it will be down, you shouldn't have too much mortality when you move it; just put it in a big tub and get as much tank water as you can on it and circulating. I'd throw away any sand that smells like rotten eggs; it's sulphur dioxide (or something like that) from O2 starved areas in the sand bed. 3" of dry sand in a 150 is about 275lbs, I think, plus 3-4" of water is probably about 20 gallons or another 150lbs, so moving it could be pretty nasty. How did Pete do it?

[CD]

At aprox. 425lbs, I'd definitely look into the availb. of the MAAST cart :o

W.

[RobertG]

I say call some of your boys to come over and move it. I have move my tanks way to many times to be happy. My 115 was moved with all the sand with a thin layer of water. 4' Sandbed It was moved down some stairs so everything shifted with no problem. Yes it was heavy!!!! Between two friends & I we moved it with no trouble. I dont want to do it again.

However,

If you dont think you can handle the weight I would say take it all out. Better safe than sorry.

Like Matt stated anything that smells rotten should be disgarded.

HTH

[GaryP]

I'd throw away any sand that smells like rotten eggs; it's sulphur dioxide (or something like that) from O2 starved areas in the sand bed.

Hydrogen Sulfide

[NaCl_H2O]

At aprox. 425lbs, I'd definitely look into the availb. of the MAAST cart :o

The Cart is in my garage, waiting for its next victim :skeezy

PM if you want to pick it up (NW San Antonio)

[Moonrs]

When I moved about a year ago from off-base to on-base, I moved my 75 gallon tank myself. The military will compensate you for your expenses in relation to a move to a new house, so I needed to know how much it weighed so I could claim it. I had it weighed at a truck stop. I emptied almost all of the water into to large trash cans, which I used to transport my liverock. I left the sandbed intact on the bottom of the tank with just a little bit of water covering it. All the livestock went into bags and off we went. That truck was definately riding low! Would you believe that everything included (tank, stand, canopy, sump, all the water, and so on) weighed more than a ton, something like 1400 to 1600 pounds!!! I couldn't believe it was that much. I'm sure it would've made a big difference if I'd removed the sand, but, as heavy as it was, I am still glad we saved it intact. Aside from the cloudiness from when I put everything back in, the move was flawless and I lost nothing after the move. Good luck with yours.