Help moving tank
- Thread starter BucNtears
- Start date
Swanwillow
goby girl
once you stir up the sand, you won't beable to keep any water. IMO, remove the corals, fish, whever else. THEN take out as much water as you think you can handle. THEN as you remove the rocks, swish them in the water, and place them in with the already removed water. its going to get NASTY in the tank... get rid of that water after stirring up the sand REALLY WELL!!! I don't know if you'll want to keep the sand after you see what you stir up, its quite disgusting.
I wouldn't move the tank with the sand in it still, get another tub just for it. if your not worried about the life in the sand, rinse it out REALLY WELL before putting it back in the tank on the other side. If you ARE worried about the life, rinse it well with salt water from the tank. if its a DSB, this may not be at all possible, and you may just need to start over with new sand (or go bare bottom, shallow sand bed, etc) because the bacteria is going to die one way or another from a DSB
I wouldn't move the tank with the sand in it still, get another tub just for it. if your not worried about the life in the sand, rinse it out REALLY WELL before putting it back in the tank on the other side. If you ARE worried about the life, rinse it well with salt water from the tank. if its a DSB, this may not be at all possible, and you may just need to start over with new sand (or go bare bottom, shallow sand bed, etc) because the bacteria is going to die one way or another from a DSB
So from what your saying My sandbed will not surive the move? The tank will be placed in the same room on a differant wall.I'm putting tile down.So the transfer will take no longer then 30 minutes to remove the sand,move tank and replace the sandbed.I'll be mixing around 25 gallons of fresh salt.
So my question is can this be done?or am I going to have a cycle and lose fish,corals,liverock and the sandbed?
So my question is can this be done?or am I going to have a cycle and lose fish,corals,liverock and the sandbed?
Swanwillow
goby girl
you'll have a cycle if its a DSB, either way cause your going to be disturbing the DEEP part of it, causing the bacteria to die, ammonia, nitrates, trites to spike, etc etc. I'm sure there are others on here that can go into that much more than I can!!!
you can save the sand, but not the life, I'm afraid... at least, in my experience thats what happened. my tank is MUCH smaller, and I don't run DSB's, so I didn't have anything big to re-cycle. but, the cloudy, nasty water, all of that crud... yup!!! with a dsb, I can imagine what there is hiding. maybe you can save the top inch... but thats about all.
that said, I may have people come on here and say different!!! this is just my experience with a shallow sand bed moving.
you can save the sand, but not the life, I'm afraid... at least, in my experience thats what happened. my tank is MUCH smaller, and I don't run DSB's, so I didn't have anything big to re-cycle. but, the cloudy, nasty water, all of that crud... yup!!! with a dsb, I can imagine what there is hiding. maybe you can save the top inch... but thats about all.
that said, I may have people come on here and say different!!! this is just my experience with a shallow sand bed moving.
StoutLager
Premium Member
Aquarium Moving Plan - 1 Mile Away
(with some changes being made, of course)
Contents:
90 gallon, Sump built into tank corner
3 very large rocks, 40-55lbs each, (ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIronshoreââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â, ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ÂSandstoneââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â, ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ÂIgneousââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â)
10 fish, 3 Urchines (2 long spine), 2 Banded Coral Shrimp
Some Snails, Many zooanthids, Many anemones
Moving Equipment:
3 Large Roughneck Rubbermaid Bins
6 Five Gallon Buckets
5 Powerheads (to keep flow in fish and rock buckets)
24+ ziplock bags filled with fresh water
18 Five Gallon Water Containers = 90 gallons
Siphon Hose
Vinegar
Circular saw with masonry blade (to cut rock)
1 Fish net and tank divider
Lots of towels
Swimming kickboard (used to disperse water when filling)
New Tank Equipment
Starboard ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ cut to bottom
PVC pipe ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 4ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ diameter - 1.5 slices ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Qty 9
Plywood base sheet to protect new hardwood floors.
Preparation:
1. Fill 18 Five Gallon Water Containers with fresh sea water, take to new location, unload.
2. Fill 3 Large Roughneck Rubbermaid Bins with 3-4ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ of fresh sea water, take to source.
3. Fill 24 ziplock bags with fresh water and put into 3 Five Gallon Buckets, take to source.
Takedown Steps:
1. Shut down system
2. Remove lighting canopy and tank covers, place into vehicle, move to new location.
3. Remove 3 Urchines and snails and place into bucket (powerhead?)
4. Remove 2 Shrimp and place into bucket.
5. Move ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIronshoreââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ Rock (Team Ironshore)
a. Lift slightly, slide cutting board under.
b. Remove ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIronshoreââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ with 2 guys (Team Ironshore), place flat on back face into Rubbermaid bin.
c. Move bin with rock to vehicle.
d. Add 8+ ziplock bags of water to raise water level over ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIronshoreââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â, zooanthids, anemones.
e. Move to new location.
f. Remove ziplock bags of water.
g. Move bin with rock inside house.
h. Add ziplock bags to re-raise water level over rock.
i. Add powerhead for flow.
6. Move ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIgneousââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ Rock (Team Igneous). Repeat steps a-i above.
7. Move ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œSandstoneââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ Rock (Team Sandstone). Repeat steps a-i above.
8. Catch half the fish, place into 5 gallon bucket with powerhead or airstone.
9. Catch other half the fish, place into 5 gallon bucket with powerhead or airstone.
10. Siphon out all water from tank.
11. Remove plumbing & equipment (Skimmer, pump1, pump2, U/V, Chiller, etc..).
12. Team Rinse - Rinse out all pipes, plumbing, chiller, UV with vinegar and well water from garden hose.
13. Remove as much sand as possible with plastic shovel, to 5 gallon bucket.
14. Tank should be bare.
15. Plumbing Changes (doing immediately to let plexi glue dry as long as possible)
1. Add new straight loop return
a. Drill 2 holes in center of sump panel.
2. Make total water level lower and increase flow capacity
a. Drill series of holes directly below overflow slots
3. Add Catch chamber for new skimmer.
a. Glue bent lexan piece under overflow slots.
16. Move fish, sand, & equipment to vehicle 1 and transport.
17. Move tank to vehicle 2 and transport.
18. Move stand to vehicle 3 and transport.
Rock Change
4. Igneous rock needs cut shorter to accommodate PVC pipe stands
a. Unplug powerhead.
b. Remove ziplock bags to bucket.
c. Move/Lift Igneous to grass.
d. Team Igneous cuts off 1.5ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ from top of rock with circular saw masonry blade.
e. Rinse with salt water.
f. Move tank.
Setup Steps:
1. Place Plywood in position on hardwood floor (protection)
2. Place Tank Stand
3. Place Tank, be positively sure this is a good place.
4. Insert Starboard.
5. Attach all return spray bars and nozzles.
6. Attach any detached pumps, chiller, UV.
7. Fill with water 75%.
8. Place 3 PVC pipe slices where each rock goes.
9. Lift and place Sandstone rock (center).
10. Lift and place Igneous rock (right).
11. Lift and place Ironshore rock (left).
12. Insert sand.
13. Run pump.
14. Insert fish, snails, urchins.
15. Attach lid and lighting hood
(with some changes being made, of course)
Contents:
90 gallon, Sump built into tank corner
3 very large rocks, 40-55lbs each, (ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIronshoreââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â, ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ÂSandstoneââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â, ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ÂIgneousââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â)
10 fish, 3 Urchines (2 long spine), 2 Banded Coral Shrimp
Some Snails, Many zooanthids, Many anemones
Moving Equipment:
3 Large Roughneck Rubbermaid Bins
6 Five Gallon Buckets
5 Powerheads (to keep flow in fish and rock buckets)
24+ ziplock bags filled with fresh water
18 Five Gallon Water Containers = 90 gallons
Siphon Hose
Vinegar
Circular saw with masonry blade (to cut rock)
1 Fish net and tank divider
Lots of towels
Swimming kickboard (used to disperse water when filling)
New Tank Equipment
Starboard ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ cut to bottom
PVC pipe ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ 4ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ diameter - 1.5 slices ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Qty 9
Plywood base sheet to protect new hardwood floors.
Preparation:
1. Fill 18 Five Gallon Water Containers with fresh sea water, take to new location, unload.
2. Fill 3 Large Roughneck Rubbermaid Bins with 3-4ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ of fresh sea water, take to source.
3. Fill 24 ziplock bags with fresh water and put into 3 Five Gallon Buckets, take to source.
Takedown Steps:
1. Shut down system
2. Remove lighting canopy and tank covers, place into vehicle, move to new location.
3. Remove 3 Urchines and snails and place into bucket (powerhead?)
4. Remove 2 Shrimp and place into bucket.
5. Move ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIronshoreââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ Rock (Team Ironshore)
a. Lift slightly, slide cutting board under.
b. Remove ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIronshoreââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ with 2 guys (Team Ironshore), place flat on back face into Rubbermaid bin.
c. Move bin with rock to vehicle.
d. Add 8+ ziplock bags of water to raise water level over ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIronshoreââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â, zooanthids, anemones.
e. Move to new location.
f. Remove ziplock bags of water.
g. Move bin with rock inside house.
h. Add ziplock bags to re-raise water level over rock.
i. Add powerhead for flow.
6. Move ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œIgneousââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ Rock (Team Igneous). Repeat steps a-i above.
7. Move ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œSandstoneââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ Rock (Team Sandstone). Repeat steps a-i above.
8. Catch half the fish, place into 5 gallon bucket with powerhead or airstone.
9. Catch other half the fish, place into 5 gallon bucket with powerhead or airstone.
10. Siphon out all water from tank.
11. Remove plumbing & equipment (Skimmer, pump1, pump2, U/V, Chiller, etc..).
12. Team Rinse - Rinse out all pipes, plumbing, chiller, UV with vinegar and well water from garden hose.
13. Remove as much sand as possible with plastic shovel, to 5 gallon bucket.
14. Tank should be bare.
15. Plumbing Changes (doing immediately to let plexi glue dry as long as possible)
1. Add new straight loop return
a. Drill 2 holes in center of sump panel.
2. Make total water level lower and increase flow capacity
a. Drill series of holes directly below overflow slots
3. Add Catch chamber for new skimmer.
a. Glue bent lexan piece under overflow slots.
16. Move fish, sand, & equipment to vehicle 1 and transport.
17. Move tank to vehicle 2 and transport.
18. Move stand to vehicle 3 and transport.
Rock Change
4. Igneous rock needs cut shorter to accommodate PVC pipe stands
a. Unplug powerhead.
b. Remove ziplock bags to bucket.
c. Move/Lift Igneous to grass.
d. Team Igneous cuts off 1.5ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ from top of rock with circular saw masonry blade.
e. Rinse with salt water.
f. Move tank.
Setup Steps:
1. Place Plywood in position on hardwood floor (protection)
2. Place Tank Stand
3. Place Tank, be positively sure this is a good place.
4. Insert Starboard.
5. Attach all return spray bars and nozzles.
6. Attach any detached pumps, chiller, UV.
7. Fill with water 75%.
8. Place 3 PVC pipe slices where each rock goes.
9. Lift and place Sandstone rock (center).
10. Lift and place Igneous rock (right).
11. Lift and place Ironshore rock (left).
12. Insert sand.
13. Run pump.
14. Insert fish, snails, urchins.
15. Attach lid and lighting hood
StoutLager
Premium Member
One more thing to add above, get a level to see if new location is level, cuz if in aint, you got work to do.
StoutLager
Premium Member
All this prep and planning above and here was the results-
At first, all OK. Cool, I seem to have done everything right.
I got up in the middle of night after completion to check on things and the whole thing was milky cloudy white! I got a flashlight and saw that 2 anemones (congdilactus giganticus sp?) were spewing tiny white things from their eyes. The temp spikes or large water change or both had cuased them to spawn or egg lay or somthing. Several fish were on the bottom having a very hard time breathing, gasping for clear water. By morning, 2-3 lost, by afternoon, 2-3 more lost before I could do a decent water change.
At first, all OK. Cool, I seem to have done everything right.
I got up in the middle of night after completion to check on things and the whole thing was milky cloudy white! I got a flashlight and saw that 2 anemones (congdilactus giganticus sp?) were spewing tiny white things from their eyes. The temp spikes or large water change or both had cuased them to spawn or egg lay or somthing. Several fish were on the bottom having a very hard time breathing, gasping for clear water. By morning, 2-3 lost, by afternoon, 2-3 more lost before I could do a decent water change.
