I'm moving... just a few blocks away, but logistics are fuzzy. What to consider?

[Newreeflady]

Hi, i've never moved a reef tank, i've taken them down, put them up anew, but i'm realizing i've never gone through moving a tank where I am planning on keeping the same tank.

And, so, the logistics of this are fuzzy. I would normally consider removing all creatures, rock, and just transporting the sand with a little water, but i've got this gigantic green carpet attached to the bottom rock, it is happy, I don't want to move it as it also may have grip not only on the rock, but on the grate that i've set up below the sand. And, so, it is looking like the best route of action would be to remove all other rocks, and most of the water, and somehow transport the tank with the anemone in it.

Now, i've got to consider oxygen content during the transfer, how i'll keep the water warm, and if it is feasible to keep much of the current water at all. Should I put a sponge in the overflow to get nitrification bacteria on, then transfer that to the new system?

So, you can see my dilemma, everything is looking very complicated. Add the fact that i'll have to borrow someone's vehicle for this move, and that my current and future residence are both on the second floor, and it sounds almost impossible.

If you've done this type of move, let me know how you accomplished it. Is it ok to leave the bulk of the rock and sps out of the water for 10 minutes or so? Does moving the 36g corner tank with one rock and an anemone in it, but with very little water, sound still like it will be too heavy to move, and how to support it in a way to keep the tank from breaking is another issue (aga aquarium, thin glass of course.)

Thanks,
Angela

 

[Sk8r]

Use a turkey baster to annoy the nem, or aim a soft jet at it, and get it loose. Remove all the sand. It's going to weigh enough as is. The weight of my 54g corner bow is 85 pounds stark empty.

It's suggested to me to ditch the sand and start over, let the rock recolonize it, which will actually be a short 3-5 day minicycle, rather than the big 10 day cycle produced by dieoff in the overturned sand layers. And pods live in the rocks, not the sand, significantly. Put a board under it, and don't handle it with any torque or shearing force. Get it set up asap with rock on eggcrate, then sand, [washed] then turn on everything. My lfs is keeping my fish and corals for me while I'm cycling.

 

[cbr600rri]

If it's only 10 mins away from each other, IMO, I wouldn't need to replace the sand. But like Sk8r mentioned, I would scoop out as much sand as possible, unless you have enough peeps to lift the tank. As for the rocks, you can just transport this in a big container. No need to fill it with any water, since it's so close. But as for your sps, I would find a container or several containers and fill it with water. And as for current water, you will eventually spill enough that there's no way you will have all the water you started out with. So best bet would be to have enough fresh sw at the new place. Just treat it as a water change

And I'm sure others will chime in on their suggestions.

 

[montanabay]

Angela,

I have Tacoma truck and 3, 30-40gal rubbermaid bins. Let me know if you need help with the tanks, I'm only a block away! I also have two extra heaters and a couple powerheads if necessary. Guess we won't be neighbors anymore Let me know!

Cheers,

Josh

PS: The powerheads with 1/2" hosing is really nice for pumping water back into tanks, rather then dumping it with buckets and stirring everything up.

 

[Natterjak]

When I moved just a few minutes from my old house, I got 3 of the 33-gallon Brute trash cans and one dolly, and put all my rocks in two of them with enough water to submerge them, and then all my corals (I had mostly softies) and fish in another with water. It was a quick drive, so I didn't worry about heaters or anything, and everything made it fine.

As for the tank itself (was a 70g tall), I took out as much water as I could, and left the sand bed in. There was a LOT of detritus that got stirred up during the move, I'm not sure if that's avoidable if you have any amount of water still in there. Would probably be best to do as someone suggested and try to get the anemone to let go.

 

[racrumrine]

Having done several moves, anytime you move the sand, any distance your going to stir up a lot of crap and the fish can die.

In my first move, I lost 2 out of 5 fish and I thought I took every precaution. I haven't lost one since.

Basically, when you move the sand, you cause liquidfaction and the sandbed releases all sorts of toxins.

If it were me, and you don't have the time to set up a separate holding tank for several days while the moved sandbed settles down, I would just take a cup or two from the top of the old sandbed and pour it on a fresh sand bed.

If you do a search on moving a tank, you'll find lots of threads and tips.

Best of luck,

Roy

 

[montanabay]

When I transfered tanks the LFS recommeded that 1 remove corals first and have a bin or individual containers (maybe for sps) for them, two remove LR w/coral attached to rocks second, put them in their own bin, now you can capture your fish/inverts easily put them in their own bin(s)/containers.

then, if you want to save some water, remove half of it, with the other half swirl the heck out of the sand and clean it in the remaining water, drain and throw out that nasty water (with debris/toxins). Now you have clean sand ready to go.

if you use the big rubbermaid bin only fill them up 1/4 with water (5-8gals), so two people can carry it with ease and water doesn't slop out everywhere.

Cheers,

Josh

 

[4jlong]

wanted to tag along on this

 

[Sk8r]

Re your question about rock out of the water: lps might live, but sponge on the live rock will die after a brief exposure to air because its pores, via which it feeds, get air bubbles in them and the sponge dies, producing a nitrate spike. You can lift same out, but I'd suck off tank water and submerge same during your trip. Lowe's has big white paint buckets, ca. 5 gal, for cheap, and a few of these would do well for the job.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9359875#post9359875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by racrumrine
Having done several moves, anytime you move the sand, any distance your going to stir up a lot of crap and the fish can die.

I lost my first frogfish due to kicking up sand after adding new live rock and having to reaquascape more than I intended. I had kept him about a year by that time.

 

[Skorpinok]

I did 40% new water on to the tank with live sand after the move and let it settle and then another 30 - 40%% water change the next day, and then put the live stock back into the tank the following day. Another water change 3 days later.

This way a ten minute drive from one apt. to another a couple of yrs. back. Just from my own exp.

 

[4jlong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9365652#post9365652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Skorpinok
I did 40% new water on to the tank with live sand after the move and let it settle and then another 30 - 40%% water change the next day, and then put the live stock back into the tank the following day. Another water change 3 days later.

This way a ten minute drive from one apt. to another a couple of yrs. back. Just from my own exp.

where did you keep the live stock while waiting for the tank to settle?

 

[Skorpinok]

LR's and LS were all in the tank with out the livestock.

 

[Newreeflady]

Wow, lots of response, thanks!

Josh, I could absolutely use the help. Thanks for offering... and, we'll still be neighbors, just a few blocks away.

I figure, first thing i'll do when I get in is see what the under-sink space is, order a new RO/DI unit, get some big bins to make water, and get that whole mess going.

As for removing the anemone from the rock, i'm not sure it is a good idea. It definitely has grip on the rock and maybe the sand. I guess what i'm going to try to do is remove everything, and keep the rock with the nem on it seperate. Only problem I see is this thing is HUGE! It is at least 13" across, so as you can imagine it is quite heavy when filled with water. I don't want it's own weight to rip it's foot, either, when I lift it out of the water.

I'll probably set up a holding rubbermaid tub or two for everything at the new apt, then i'll move all livestock to those then worry about the transport of the tank. I hadn't thought about cleaning the sand. The tank has been set up since July, though, so there's probably a fair amount of gunk under it. I guess I could do the stir and clean method to avoid the release during liquifaction.

Oh, so much to ponder. :/ This feels like such a bad move, i'm so worried! Everything is so beautiful right now, I don't want to mess it up!

-A

 

[Sk8r]

You might take a look at replacing your sand. You're in the same condition I'm in, pretty much, and my lfs is saying pitch the sand, and qt the fish and corals for a handful of days while the live rock colonizes the new [washed] sand. Now, as I understand it, this only works if you've got really established live rock, mega-established, with a lot of sand contact.

As best I can figure, the theory is that by overturning the layers of the sandbed and releasing bacteria to die, you get a heck of a biomass dying, that forces the tank into a 10 day cycle; if you go with new sand and your rock is adequate, you get a 3 day mild cycle and everything is ok.

Now mind, I have a post up about this situation offering to be the guinea pig on this theory: I don't move until around the 21st; but you might look up that thread in Reef Discussion and see what the thinking is on it, and whether you've got enough live rock.

 

[Newreeflady]

Well, i've moved sand around before, and had no problems. I've moved things tank-to-tank in the same house before, just not tried to move one tank to another place.

I am not sure I buy that if this >> 10 day, if that >> 3 day. I just don't see things as so cut-n-dry.

I have some new sand, too. So, when I might do, is keep some old, and some new, to make a same sized bed. I also might not remove the sand at all, might move it as is, then fill the tank with a little water, drain, repeat until water starts to look clear. I haven't decided, but i'm leaning toward the latter, as I don't feel like cleaning a sandbed, or removing, and i'm not sure it'll be necessary really.

I think the thing i'm most concerned about here is my Carpet Anemone, I might post about that in the Anemone forum.

I am always glad to hear what others experiences are. I'll look up your thread, too.

thx,
-A

 

[cbr600rri]

Since you mention your carpet anemone is huge, I would irritate it or do whatever you need to do, so it would shrivel/ball up. Basically get it a whole lot smaller than normal size. Then just remove the rock that is attached to it, along with any sand the aneomone is attached to. But right before you take it out of the water, turn the rock upside down so the anemone is facing the tank bottom, shake the rock enough so the anemone gets small enough that you won't need to worry about damaging it once you take it out of the water and into a container with water of course

Hopefully, that all makes sense.

 

[racrumrine]

Regarding the carpet anemone, I would keep him attached to the rock and try to slide a container under him and the rock before you break the surface of the water as your lifting him out. I would put both into a bucket and try to make sure that the rock doesn't roll on the anemone.

It's likely that the anemone will release during transport. Don't worry, just slide it carefully into the new holding tank or main tank. It will find a comfortable spot to attach on a rock.

Best of luck,

Roy

 

[Newreeflady]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking, too... try to get something under it before lifting from the water in an effort to keep it submerged.

I'll post updates.

Best,
Angela

 

[montanabay]

when are you planning the move? this weekend? let me know if you need help with anything I need to head to SF tomorrow morning but will be back with my new percs by noon!

Cheers,

Josh