Cross Country Move

[Byronc]

I know this thread is VERY redundant but the search button is disabled for me. sorry.

My question is: how difficult long moves with reef tanks?? I will be moving from Arizona to Tennessee at the end of May.


How many people have actually pulled this off and is it really worth it? What are some tips you might have. I am pondering the idea of just selling off my livestock and waiting until I'm settled into my new location to set up my tank again.


Thanks.

 

[sanababit]

That is a great idea about selling your stuff, and once you are settled in then you can start from scratch, anyways you can start looking for a bigger tank too, lol

sana

 

[MileHighFish]

This is my post from an earlier thread.. I thought it might help you..

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14571480#post14571480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MileHighFish
I did a 900 mile move a few months back and didnt lose a coral, I would use a DC/AC converter, its enough power to run a sml heater, powerhead, and the air pump. I used eggcrate to make squares for the coral to sit in so they didnt touch one another. I put all live rock into 5 gal tubs with lids I added sand on top to keep moist. The coral road inside the truck, it was warm when I moved so we keep the AC on the entire trip and coral and fish sat at about 74 deg. The rock and the tank went in the bed of my fathers truck. Looking at the tank in your current house you wouldnt think there is much to do but plan on 12 extra hours then your thinking its going to take you now to break down the tank. The LR did just fine and all told after the 16 hour drive and the extra time it took to get the tank broken down I was exhausted. I didnt get the tank back up and running for four days. I had two sps that had tissue loss but other then that I didnt lose a fish CUC or even my two anemones that sat in a 5 gal bucket (i couldnt get the off the rock they were on) with out circulation did just fine. Most people will tell you to sell everything back but for me this was not an option Im to attached to each and every piece. If I had to do it again I would use a cooler to help with heat/cold issues. All my corls did brown out, and Im sure there was a small cycle but all is well now.
Good luck.. Heres a pic 5 months later.

 

[kraze3]

It can be done. Just takes a lot of work. You can buy power inverters for your car that will run a heater and Ph. Put all your stuff in rubbermaid bins, the few the better. And you can run a heater or two to keep them at the correct temp. Corals can be packed in seperate bags and then placed in a cooler. This is how they are shipped so they should be fine as long as they stay at a decent temp. The fish can be placed in a cooler also. Just a brief answer to your questiong but it can be done.

 

[Byronc]

Wow Milehigh, I'm really impressed that EVERYTHING made it. I, just like you, am really attached to the livestock in my tanks. How much water from your tank did you bring with you?

I had thought about getting a power inverter for the car lighter, but I will probably be driving a uhaul the whole way there with all my crap. Maybe there is a possibility that I can put the reef tank stuff in the cab with me or maybe there is a way to run a power cord to the back of the truck. My girlfriend will be driving her car behind me, which is too small to fit the aquarium stuff in without a doubt. I have an SUV, but I don't even know how I will get it out there. I will probably sell if here and buy a new car there because its about time for a new car anyways.

 

[MileHighFish]

I didn't add any of the old water, I started with water from a water store out here, I have enough containers for about 60 gal. I added the salt to the containers then filled and shook the heck out of them and let them sit for about an hour and started to fill the tank. It took two trips and I had the tank full and circulating then add the LR then went from there.