I am moving. How can I move my tank?

[crossxfire2]

Hey guys, I am moving about 15 minutes away from where I live now. I have a clown triggger, and a couple of damselfish (yes they have gotten along for a long time). Have yall ever moved and successfully kept the same fish without them dying? Do yall have any tips?? I am planning to use the same sand, obviously the same live rock, and most of the same water, and of course, the same tank. I was thinking about keeping the damsels in a bucket, and maybe keep the clown trigger in a large ice chest, with both of them airated. The aquarium will be the absolute last thing that gets moved out of the house. Is there anything that I am doing that you would recommend doing differently? Are there any more tips you have? THANKS!!!!

[alton]

This time of year with 90 plus degrees temps only use ice chest to move fish, water, and live rock. The only thing that could go wrong is if you have a lot of hair algae in this tank and it dies after the move it could become toxic and kill your fish.

[LoneStar]

I think your on the right track. Buy a battery powered air pump for your fish (and/or corals). Try to get the tank moved and setup in the same day, preferibly in the same afternoon (evening/morning would be better since its cooler out). Try to keep as much water from the old tank as possible. Have some RO/DI on hand at the new place so you can do a water change a few days after the move. When adding the sand to the tank, use a pvc pipe. You can funnel the sand through it, which will prevent a big sand storm in the water column. And make sure your air con is working at your new place. Don't want the tank temp to fluctuate too much.

[caferacermike]

I'm surprised when I see people recommend using the "old" tank water. To me, and in my experiences, "old" tank water is just that, old. It is the water that we should be doing a water change with that weekend but instead we are moving a tank across town. That is the water that is now tainted with fish excretement and any detritus that gets disturbed while siphoning it off. Lets be honest for a sec, if we siphon the water into a white bucket it typically looks yellow, water is not yellow. I've always had good luck helping people move tanks using all new RO/DI water. Think of it as the best water change you've ever made. You are planning to use all the same live rock, filters etc. so that means you should have plenty of bio activity to help process wastes. When you set up the new tank you'll distrub so much detritus I could not ever fathom why you'd want to add dirty water to that.

[Bill S]

LOL, Mike. I'm kind of the same way. I'd mix up a bunch of new water at the new house (enough to replace the volumn of the tank), and have it ready, AND at the right temperature. Remove rock/sand to a cooler, bag/box fish. Move tank, rock & fish, with minimal outside exposure to the livestock, rock & sand (not in the back of a pickup). Do your best to avoid a sandstorm (will happen anyway), and be aware that all of the gunk in your sand may polute your tank. Add sand & new water. Wait the storm to settle down before adding rock & livestock.

[erikharrison]

I agree with Mike and Bill. I did the same thing less 5g of water but only because my zoas were in there. We had a nano setup, I used the LR from my main tank, some seeder sand, and all new water. I put fish in the same day, and still have them all, even though the nano is gone :)

[crossxfire2]

Ok, I guess I will let the sandstorm happin in the morning, and maybe in the evining add livestock and live rock?

[FERG42995]

I am just starting in the hobby so have no experience. But I saw this detailed explanation of how to move a tank: http://www.marinescene.com/FAQ/faq_move.shtm

[mathias]

personaly i think if you replace the whole water volume you may have a bigger chance of another cycle which could add to more stress on the fish....


I would use about 30% of the old water if not more if you can....

then in a week or two after everything is settled and calmer I would then proceed to do a large water change...

[daffynmark]

Ok, I guess I will let the sandstorm happin in the morning, and maybe in the evining add livestock and live rock?

You need to add the rock first and then sand when you set the tank back up in the new house. The rock needs to sit on the bottom of the tank. That way if there is a sand shift under the rock when you turn on the pumps and filters, the rock won't come crashing down on the side of the tank, or worse, your fish and kill them!

[blueboy]

i always run a canister filter for about a week after the move. never hurts to be safe.

[crossxfire2]

personaly i think if you replace the whole water volume you may have a bigger chance of another cycle which could add to more stress on the fish....


I would use about 30% of the old water if not more if you can....

then in a week or two after everything is settled and calmer I would then proceed to do a large water change...

That is EXACTLY what I was thinking. And I think the water change after a week from the move is a GREAT idea! THANKS!! :D