Long Distance Moves

[TotalKhaos]

My Father as some of you already know is very ill and needs lots of support. We really dont care for CA much, and My Dad needs me now more than ever. He has offered to put a downpayment on a home for us should we move closer to him. Closer to Him Means Gulf Coast of Florida.

The timeline for the home purchase is very short - we'd be looking at moving at the End of June... 6 day drive to Florida and in new home Around the first week of July. We had been discussing the move for awhile now, but thought it would be at least a year maybe more before we moved.... but now its looking like 60 days.

Now, I just got my tank back up and running. Can Anyone think of ANY reasonable way for me to Keep my tank intact. Heck I just spent $180 on 3 acro colonies and a Lobo yesterday. Right now My Tank and My beloved critters are the only thing keeping me from Hopping in the moving Van and Giving CA the finger in my rearview mirror.

the obvious is to give away/sell everything but the tank and equipment and restart once we settle in our new home, but I Know there must be some way to be able to keep my critters as well.

Please share any ideas or experience you may have with me.

Thanks.

btw: If I can fit MARS in the moving Van you all will be Coming too. I'll let you guys out during rest stops.

 

[duec22]

What about haveing someone hold the corals while you guys drive out there, then once the tank is set back up and cycled have them shiped out to you.

 

[TotalKhaos]

That is one idea I thought of... I could Pack my Rock along and all my equipment - and leave my corals with someone for safe keeping until I am ready for them.

The Challange there is My Coral selection has grown really fast. I have a toadstool the size of an infant, 2 Brains that are roughly the size of my head, easily 30 heads of Frogspawn, 4 colonies of acros, a massive rbta and a array of smaller frags of varies lps and softies.... That would be alot for anyone to house in their tanks for even a short time.

I can part with some of them for sure. But the Brains, Acros, anemone, and toadstool are the ones I am really concerned about, and also the ones that are the hardest to house due to their size.

truly someone would have to have an empty 50g setup to house everything. It would likely be a 6 to 8 week stay for the corals - I need 10 days to complete the move and at least 3 to 4 weeks to setup and try for a quick cycle.

 

[Sheldon337]

Although not as far, I moved recently from Orange County. It was a seven hour drive. I kept everything alive with power heads and air stones which I ran off a power inverter plugged into my cigarette lighter. In principle the same idea should work. Just be sure to pack everything in styrofoam so the temp doesnt drop.

 

[Nu2SW]

50 gallon rubber maids, heaters, powerheads and rope,

A power invertor big enough to run the power heads and heaters.

rope to tie down the 50 gallon tubs to the inside railing of the moving van.

Hope that helps

 

[Elite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7239202#post7239202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nu2SW
50 gallon rubber maids, heaters, powerheads and rope,

A power invertor big enough to run the power heads and heaters.

rope to tie down the 50 gallon tubs to the inside railing of the moving van.

Hope that helps

What about light?? No light for 6 days ??

I would just sell/give everything and redo the tank when you get there.

 

[TotalKhaos]

Life just isnt fair. No easy choices.

But I dont think I can pass up the opprotunity to be with my father and give my family a fresh start somewhere I know we'll be very happy.

Doesnt look like I'll be able to have my cake and eat it too this time.

 

[FunGuy]

Sorry to hear the news. It sounds like it would be a little rough but not impossible to move an entire tank. A happy family is pricess. Not ideal, but a new tank can always be restarted.

 

[TotalKhaos]

well here is the plan I suppose.....

I'll be keeping all equipment and Rock.

The corals as much as I hate to see them go will have to find loving homes.

The ones that were given to me I dont feel comfortable reselling, that wouldnt be fair to those who gifted them to me. But I will Happily Give them to Those in need and donate them to the MAY MARS Raffle. Some of those corals are quite large and could be fragg'd during the meeting and handed out.

The Corals I did Purchase I got great deals on and I will sell them for the same price. I am not up for a list right now, as happy as I am to finally be going home to where my real roots are, I am devastated about my tank. I JUST got started.

I'll start taking pictures and give a list of corals for sale tomorrow.

 

[dhnguyen]

tagging along as I may be doing the exact same thing soon myself.


D.

 

[TotalKhaos]

lucky me - I have some volunteers to hold items for me. Thanks so Much to those of you who have offered. I have discussed a few things with my family in FL. and discovered that they do in fact know someone with an established tank. They are going to check with him to see if he can hold onto a couple corals. I dont think It'll be a problem tho unless of course he has a predator tank or something like that.

I'll know more about what he can hold and what he cannot tomorrow.

Please see my For Sale thread.

 

[TotalKhaos]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7240957#post7240957 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
tagging along as I may be doing the exact same thing soon myself.


D.

do what I didnt have time to do - Start getting to know the reef club in the area you are looking at moving too. Then when time comes you might have the right connections to Ship your favorites to fellow reefers in the area while you make your move.

Good Luck.

 

[gaels]

tough decisions i'm sorry about your dad, and i wish you and your family the best

gael

 

[Justin74]

Sorry to see you and the zest you bring to the club go

But I would be caravanning right behind you in a hot second if I could,come hell or high water (or katrina ) The gulf of mexico!Hot damn! Maybe theres a charter to some nice reefs out there?Could expand your horizons with this hobby , Or at least your interests

Regardless I do wish you and your family the safest trip and a wonderfull future. Soon as you get plugged in, please drop us a note to let us know your in and ok

-Justin

 

[MandM]

Wow, big changes. I lived in Tampa for 6 yrs as a kid. Hope things work out for you and your dad. You will be a lot closer to real reefs there.

 

[TotalKhaos]

No Kidding Justin, I grew up in Sarasota and Venice Florida. Siesta Key was a regular haunt - Right in the top of the list of Whitest Sand beaches not to mention most beautful in the world. Bringing my family back to paradise is a dream come true, but it is still difficult to uproot.

But hey, Sarasota is a Vacation destination if any of you ever decide to go to Disney World, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, Universal Studios, MGM studios, Epcot center, Adventure Island, Kennedy Space Station, Seaworld, Daytona, St. Petersburg...... Let me know and I'll meet ya there!!!

Hey and Tampa Bay Saltwater is a 30 minute drive... If ya'll ever want some rock... I'll get it too ya cheaper then they will

Kidding aside....(actually not kidding if you do come through I expect a headsup at the least) I'm gonna miss ya'll so much. I'm not a party animal or a happening chick who has tons of frineds and things to do... I value the fun, knowledge and friendship you guys have given me. I am praying that Sarasota's club is just MARS in a parallel dimsension..... Just as Great but better looking. :lol:

 

[MandM]

Man, in the 60's Tampa bay was posted with warning signs it was so polluted. The smell was wicked. I was glad to see how it has recovered when I visited last year.

 

[TotalKhaos]

I dont remember any of that, But I was there in the early to mid 90's, so maybe I missed it.

TBS (tampabaysaltwater.com) has some of the most kick *** rock you could ever hope to find now, and I always remember the beaches in sarasota and on down being excellent.

I know Red tide is an issue and has been for some time... I know it devasted most collection sites that alot of Florida Live Rock Farmers had. TBS was really lucky that their site is a bit sheltered, their Aquaculture sit was untouched by redtide.

Seems that it has recovered in some ways quickly - My dad says a friend of his was out scooping 5g buckets full of Jumbo shrimp out of the bay last week.... mmmmm gotta get in on that action.

That being said, reef life wont recover as quickly as seasonal schools of shrimp and such...

I just cant wait to see the ocean again.

 

[TotalKhaos]

awwwwww - 10 minutes away

 

[shilo_1]

Looks like moving is in the air or something ! Brian and I leave for WA the first week of June (Brian is actually up there right now.)

Good luck with your move.
I'm glad you decided not to try the drive with your corals. Hubby and I have moved a lot, working for the AF, and the shorter (10 to 15 hour) moves have been a piece of cake, while anything over that has had a bad outcome.
If you can't send them ahead, hold them here with someone you trust, and have them ship everything over. Keep in mind that if you do leave them here, try to send them asap, as the hotter the temps get the more problems you could run into with heat.

Again, I wish you the best of luck !