Any tank moving tips?

[Chelsey]

I'm moving to Columbia on Thursday and I'm taking my pico and nano cube with me. I'm planning on using lidded buckets to haul livestock and such (sand will stay in tank) and I'll get new water when I get there. Does anyone have any tips or tricks for me? I'd like to do this as easily as possible, don't want any deaths! Thanks in advance


Chelsey

 

[Im Lon 2]

I hate moving!! Just moved my 240 over the weekend.

I took most of the water with me so it was not a 100% water change. But sounds like you are doing the best that you can.

 

[Chelsey]

Yes, moving will suck. I will have some water from the livestock buckets that I can use...would it be better to use that water or all new water?

 

[drgabe]

Air pumps either battery operated or use an inverter connected to your car's power supply. Have fresh salt water ready (if possible) and keep your life stock cool.

Lastly, and most importantly, pray to the fish gods for a safe and uneventful move.

 

[Chelsey]

Good plan! I'm wondering how much fun the 3 hours in the car will be with a carsick Gretchen and 6 buckets of salt water sloshing around with me worrying about things dying :lol: I don't really have any fish of great value, they're more sentimental than anything...the corals that I value are pretty hardy and should be ok. If all else fails there's a LFS 2 miles from my house, I can always restock

 

[jestersv]

keep as much of the old water as possible then do a water change in a day or 2 the fuller you keep the buckets the less room to slosh but some sloshing does help mix o2 into the water
oh and good luck with the move and school this year I take my daughter back next weekend to ohio (findlay)

 

[drgabe]

If you have old salt buckets with the lid, that should help alot with the sloshing.

 

[stlouisguy]

If you can cover the top of the water with plastic bags with enough air to keep them half submerged, this will reduce the sloshing by at least 50%

 

[Dert42]

i thought you were going to columbia?
thats only like 1.5 hours away...

 

[Chelsey]

I am going to Columbia. However, I live in Farmington, which is about an hour south of 270, so it takes closer to 3-3.5 hours to get there depending on how fast you drive

 

[Nanook]

I would agree with all the advice given thus far. Remember not to overcrowd buckets with fish and corals, keeping them in very clean saltwater with an airstone would be the best, of course keeping the buckets of water cool is important too.

 

[Chelsey]

So should I use all of my current tank water (which is not that clean) or use a little current tank water and a lot of new water?

 

[Nanook]

I would use mainly new, oxygenated, warmed saltwater in the new tank and a very small amount of the old, fouled water. Make sure your chemistry prams closely resemble each other too.

dave

 

[JxMetal]

3 hours won't be bad. a pico and a nano won't be bad either. If it's only 3 hours you'll probably not even need air pumps. Just set it up right away. Keep an inch of water in the tank and put everything in buckets. Real easy.

 

[ol'saltybastage]

7 hr move here w/ a stop over night.. i didnt bother w/pump. hwy 70 is bumpy enough to keep things oxygenated. stuck everything in coolers. no biggie.

 

[Chelsey]

I'm leaving much earlier than my parents and I'll just have the tanks and my rats (Gretchen will be riding with parents ) so things will be set up as soon as I walk into my townhouse. I already checked to make sure that the LFS has RO-DI water handy...hopefully things will run smoothly.

 

[Nanook]

I would not rely on the LFS to have anything ready...do it yourself to be safe!!!

 

[Chelsey]

If I had an RO-DI unit I would have it ready...however, I know this LFS and they're pretty good, they'll have water

 

[Island Hopper]

I have used coolers in the past. Easy to handle and helps maintain temps.

 

[Chelsey]

Well, I'm far from moved in but the tank is set up

Everything traveled pretty well, no fish deaths, no cracking tanks, nothing. The only problem seems to be with the LPS...my bubble ditched its skeleton and the black sun polyps are far from happy. Blasto merletti and yellow and orange sun polyps are doing well, as are my precious blue zoanthids.