Moving Fish

[zland1]

Very soon I'll be packing up my 240g and moving about 12hrs away, in the past I had a 125g and only about 6 fish and moved everything twice(same distance) by filling up the back of an suv with a 100g Rubbermaid stock tank with all the live rock, fish, corals and invertebrates and used a low wattage heater and air pump I only lost one smaller fish on one trip due to being crushed by live rock(I think).

Now that I have a lot more live rock I was going to use the 100g Rubbermaid for just the live rock and corals if they fit. For the fish i was thinking of using a 55g tank with a heater and air pump.

So the question is do you think that 22 fish, 7 being medium size tangs, triggers the rest smaller would be okay in the 55g as planned(all fish lived in the 55g for about 2 months to treat ick) or should I try to individually bag them? and if you think I should bag them do I need to use oxygen and anything in the water to treat ammonia build up?

 

[Dmorty217]

Very soon I'll be packing up my 240g and moving about 12hrs away, in the past I had a 125g and only about 6 fish and moved everything twice(same distance) by filling up the back of an suv with a 100g Rubbermaid stock tank with all the live rock, fish, corals and invertebrates and used a low wattage heater and air pump I only lost one smaller fish on one trip due to being crushed by live rock(I think).

Now that I have a lot more live rock I was going to use the 100g Rubbermaid for just the live rock and corals if they fit. For the fish i was thinking of using a 55g tank with a heater and air pump.

So the question is do you think that 22 fish, 7 being medium size tangs, triggers the rest smaller would be okay in the 55g as planned(all fish lived in the 55g for about 2 months to treat ick) or should I try to individually bag them? and if you think I should bag them do I need to use oxygen and anything in the water to treat ammonia build up?

No way they will fight like crazy in a tang that size. Buy a few 20gL and set them up too

 

[zland1]

All 22 of them lived together fine in the 55g for nine weeks after I had an ick outbreak in the 240g. I would put pvc elbows and maybe even wrap the tank to keep it dark.

 

[eatbreakfast]

It really depends on the species involved and their temperments as well as your commitment to consistently good water quality. It certainly isnt ideal keeping that many fish together in a 55, but with the proper efforts and that it is only temporary it can be done.

Quite frankly I am more concerned about them depleting the oxygen during the trip. I would consider investing in a vortech w a battery back up for the move, as I am not sure an air pump will cut it for 12 hrs

 

[zensaiyan]

I would either buy a few 5g buckets and use those to transfer or get a lfs to bag them with pure oxygen. 5g buckets will be much easier to deal with than a 55g aquarium. And they have lids! I have moved several times, one time a 25 hour trip, and had no issues using buckets.

 

[Dmorty217]

All 22 of them lived together fine in the 55g for nine weeks after I had an ick outbreak in the 240g. I would put pvc elbows and maybe even wrap the tank to keep it dark.

This isn't advisable especially not with 7 tangs even if you fill the tank to the top with PVC pieces. They will be stressed out in a 4ft tank with each other not to mention the other 15 fish. If you have done it previously why are you asking if people think it will be a problem? If you bag them use oxygen or they are sure not to make it

 

[woodnaquanut]

I'd treat both fish and coral like a live shipment, bagged and packed in insulated boxes. LFS's usually give these away.

If you have big corals this might be time for a frag sale or rewards for your laborers. Some people work for beer and pizza, some work for frags!

LR can be wrapped to stay wet and transported that way. Lots less water weight to move. If you have a source of ready made water at the other end that would be great. That would be when I set up the 100g. stock tank and any other temp containers like buckets. For short term you could even heat a room so you don't have to heat individual containers.