tank moving question

[reeferRob]

My 180g has been running about 6 months now and it is finally starting to really look good! However, I am in the middle of a remodel, laying ceramic tile, painting, and such.

What I want to do is to move my tank to the other side of the living room for several reasons:
1. I want to build a custom 36" stand (current stand is 24")
2. Replace the 30 gal rubbermaid sump with a 75 gal sump/refugium
3. To be able to tile the whole floor instead of around the stand
4. to be able to paint behind the tank and replace the molding
5. And basically it will look nicer on the adjacent wall

My questions are:
1. Is this doable without losing a mess of corals and other livestock?
2. what would I need to keep everybody happy for the weekend long move
3. What about the live sand? Will I get an instant amonia spike when I set it back up

Any help, experiences and opinions are appreciated


Thanks


Rob

[reeferRob]

just checking avatar

hmmm Didn't work

[reeferRob]

just checking avatar

hmmm Didn't work

Again

[LoneStar]

Well stock up on alot of rubbermaid containers! Or a few nice trash cans. Try to keep as much water as you can from the original system.

If you have the new stand and sump ready and built, that of course will make things much easier. You can put the corals and fish in icechests or rubbermaids with water for the move. Move the tank to the new stand, pour the sand back in, and then add some water. Hopefully the plumbing would be done for overflow and skimmers. That will help clean up the water. Make sure you have plenty of RO water on hand for water changes!! You can insert the coral and rock almost the same day if the water is not all cloudy. When filling the tank, place a dish or tupperware container in the sand, and fill the water there. It will help prevent the water from getting all cloudy. Run some carbon too after the change over. Test for amonia, and if it does rise, be prepared for some water changes.

[hobogato]

rob - this is basically what i did when i went from my 125 to my 240. things went very smoothly, and it only took one day to move everything (well, a 14 hour day). here is what i did:

1. put the stand and sump where i wanted it, and filled it with freshly mixed salt water that matched salinity of existing tank.
2. put new sand in the tank (i had two tanks to work with, so this is a little different than your situation - so i would add new sand to your tank once it is empty.).
3. lots of buckets and icechests - borrow or steal whatever you can, so you can save almost all of your water.
4. start draining tank into larges water containers, and move corals in to one or two and fish into another one or two. put live rock in with other containers of water.
5. take a small amount of the old sand and put it on top of the new sand in the tank in the new location (in your case, take out some of the sand to keep and put the rest into some other container to deal with later).
6. put some of your base rock in the tank in new location and start adding water. once you have enough water in, add the rest of the live rock - this is a great opportunity to get really creative with your rockwork.
7. add the rest of the water and livestock, but you will probably just have to put the corals on the sand until the water settles overnight.
8. start up the return pump and you are moved.
*dont forget to insert "drink beer" anywhere you feel necessary ;)

by the next day, you should be rested enough ( and sober enough ) to place the corals in good locations.

[hobogato]

i think, if your sand bed doesnt smell bad when you get the water level that low, you can get away with just moving the tank without disturbing it.

[reeferRob]

You dudes are awesome! I really want this to happen. I was a bit apprehensive due to the $$ in this box of water but I think I will give it a shot!! Let me print this info


Thanks guys!!

[reeferRob]

You dudes are awesome! I really want this to happen. I was a bit apprehensive due to the $$ in this box of water but I think I will give it a shot!! Let me print this info


Thanks guys!!

my freakin avater is still not working

http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/1454avatar.JPG

but here it is

[reeferRob]

You dudes are awesome! I really want this to happen. I was a bit apprehensive due to the $$ in this box of water but I think I will give it a shot!! Let me print this info


Thanks guys!!

my freakin avater is still not working

http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/1454avatar.JPG

but here it is

Come on avatar WORK!!!

[reeferRob]

FINALLY!!