Mooving a Reef Tank

[kyounes]

I've been looking online for tips on how to move an aquarium and I found some interesting information.
I found a good article: "Moving a Reef Tank" by Mike Paletta.
But I was wondering if you had any personal tips? I'm moving from Ames to Rochester,Mn which is roughly a 3 hour drive.

Also, I was thinking that it would be a good opportunity to upgrade to a 120 or 90 from my current 55.
Does anyone know where i could get a complete setup new or used at a decent price?
Thank you.

 

[bgreenlee]

I have moved tank several times without problems, several of them a day +. If you have several plastic totes already you are set, if not, go buy a few.

If possible have an 12vdc to 120ac inverter in the vehicle with you, that will allow you to run heaters and air pumps for the fish.. For the corals package them in ziploc bags and put them in a cooler with heat packs.

If possible have your tank at the destination set up and established as possible. If not save your water as much as possible from your existing tank and keep the corals, fish, etc in there until you have the tank put back together. Don't try to rush stuff from the totes to the tank too fast, I left several things in totes for a couple weeks with flourescent light over them to keep them going. Never lost anything in a move.

 

[Covey]

You can get a battery power air pump at walmart for $7. Its loud but it is actully the most powerful air pump I own.

How old is your sand bed?

 

[phishcrazee]

I'm moving 3 tanks this week....... I'm doing about the same, take as much water and substrate to the new tank beforehand to help keep things established as much as possible. I'm bringing some of the LR in too. Lots of 5g buckets, some insulated coolers, plastic tubs Good luck!

 

[iaJim]

I think that if you are looking to buy a new tank that getting it in place before you move would be a big help.

I've been told that moving all of the old sandbed is a recipe for disaster. While I'm not moving, I am looking at getting new flooring all over the house. Just as good as a move since I'll have to do a tear down and won't be able to set things back up in the same day, so I'm tagging along on this thread.

 

[phishcrazee]

Yeah, I have a new 75g tank at the new place and several 10g tank with filters/heaters that will be up and running at new place before I move everything down. Those will be for the SW and my cichlid/planted tank. I have a coldwater goldfish tank, and that one's just getting what water the goldfish are in as I move them, and the rest will come from the tap. Of course it'll have the bacteria from the substrate too to help get things established.

It's a good excuse to be buy another tank; you NEED it!

 

[kyounes]

"How old is your sand bed?"
I've been using Crushed Coral for a year. I'm going to switch to sand when I move.

"save your water as much as possible from your existing tank"
I wanted to do that but i didnt know how much exactly. 80%, 50%, ...?

My biggest concern is moving the corals. How do handle that? leave them on the live rock? If not, how am i supposed to remove them from the rock?

Thanks for the replies by the way.

 

[llebcire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7277599#post7277599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kyounes
"How old is your sand bed?"
I've been using Crushed Coral for a year. I'm going to switch to sand when I move.

Just a thought and it worked for me when I switched from crushed coral to sand:

I made a bunch of CC "packets" by filling up sections of pantyhose and burying them into the fresh sand for a couple of weeks.

In theory some of the bacteria migrated to the sand, in reality, who knows? Didn't take long as I had to pull all of the CC anyway.





~Eric

 

[kyounes]

Like you said, I dont know if it's gonna work, but i will try it. It sounds good to me too :]
Thank you.

 

[kyounes]

I'm still looking for a 90-120 tank with stand+canopy in good condition

 

[afgoody]

bump