Big Move

[LSD_Zeppelin]

So at the end of the summer I am planning on moving to Arcata (Humboldt) from southern california, the trip is 11 1/2 hours and with any pitstops ect it may take up to 15 hours, possibly an over night trip. If I am planning on taking my 30 gallon tank up what would be the best wat to do so? I was thinking of putting all my live rock into 5 gallon buckets and then all my live stock into a cooler (mostly zoos and softies, a monti cap and possibly an acro or two, and a few fish) any other suggestions? I have a 3-4 months before I move and want to establish a good plan first.

 

[2crazyreefers]

I would use plastic bags just like LFS and wholesalers and put then in a cooler. Should be good to go.

 

[barbra]

I am from that area of the country, and depending on the route you plan to take those mountain roads are curvy and treacherous. You are need to going to do *something* to keep things from sloshing around too much, and keep in mind that the temperature can be extreme in either direction and you should figure on a method to keep things within range.

 

[musty baby]

I would also use plastic bags for your livestock. You can fill your cooler with water and set your heater in as well (if you have a 12v-110v adapter) to keep thing warm through the trip.

 

[andycook]

Wrap the rock in wet newpaper or towels. I like the cooler idea. Get some of those battery powered airstones to keep the water oxygenated and be prepared to raise or lower the water temp. Ask yourself if it is really worth taking any or all of it?

 

[szeth13]

as far as live rock goes, go to your lfs and get some stryfoam boxes with lids. put the rock in them coveres with news paper and put some tank water in the box, get the news paper wet. you may want to put the boxes in trash bags incase of any holes punched by the rock. as for livestock, get some more stryfoam boxes and get some of the bags they use at the lfs.put the coral in the bag, you can attach the coral up-side-down to some stryfoam with a rubber band to make sure it stays underwater. make sure you double bag. if you can, fill the bags with oxygen, not regular air. a lfs near you might be able to do this for you. put the bags into the stryfoam boxes with lids. pack the empty spaces in the box with news paper (stops bags from moving around and some little addes insolation). you may want to put these boxes in trash bags as well. and one thing to remember, it is better to have more air in the bag then to fill it al the way with water. your main concern is oxygen levels and such.

 

[hahnmeister]

Rather than a heater, if you use water jugs mized with hot water, you can refill them along the way at various points.

For the contents of a 30g... you shouldnt need more than 3-4 buckets. So if you fill them up with everything, then wrap the buckets in something insulating like a blanket, and then put hot water jugs in the top of the buckets, you should be fine.

OR, keep that heater on full blast! If you have a good size cooler or two... then yeah... thats the way to go. Mine has hot water/ice bottles that attach to the inside lid of the cooler, so I can keep the cooler nice and warm for when I travel with corals.