Moving. How to pack fish?

IUfan

Member
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I'm moving across country from Indianapolis to Colorado, about 18 hours, but by the time you factor in fuel stops and rest it could be closer to 24 hours in the bag.

My tank is 180 Gallons. Have about 25 fish in there. It's been setup for about 4 years.

Going to try and find someone in Indy to hold my corals for me for a short time until I can get my tank all fully setup again, and then plan a trip to pick them up once the tank is settled and ready for corals again.

1) Planning on packing the fish into shipping bags and then into insulated boxes, to tackle ammonia (if there in the bag, the Ph drop will make ammonia build up non harmful). Correct?

2) My question is, in the bags do I have to fill with o2? Or can I use a foot pump to inflate the bags with regular air?

I plan on putting the live rock in a few plastic tubs and keeping them wet on the journey.

3) When I close on the house, I plan on setting up a 300gallon Rubbermaid holding tank in the garage, buying some temporary live rock - ANY RECOMMENDATIONS for live rock that has minimal cycle time? I may have a week between setting up this holding tank and arriving with the fish to add.

4) How does my plan sound, and does anyone have any other recommendations?




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http://m.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid check out live aquaria they tell you how they ship fish if you ever mail order fish or coral thet are bagged and shipped overnight . I usually take them back to my LFS and get store credit and just get supplies i will need when i get there I never wanted to chance of a fish dying by trying to move them when i moved from state to state never wanted to see one die would rather see somebody else enjoy them

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Personally, when moving fish/coral long distances I always just put the animals in a few storage containers with battery powered aerators/airstones. I'm sure the bags would work too, but in that case I would *definitely* make sure you're injecting straight oxygen into the bags. Good luck :beer:
 
It's easy to do but pure oxygen is a must. Can be purchased at a welding supply store. You will need a regulator too.

You could also ship in an open container. Live well pumps can be purchased for cheap and run from car battery. Doing it this way, you might have issues with sloshing, but both methods will work. If running open, buy an ammonia tag and bring along some amqeul. Realize though that the ammonia becomes less toxic as the pH drops.
 
Yeah I think I'll go the bagged route, allows me to float them at the other end to acclimate.

Alprazo,
For O2, can I use this oxygen in a can? It says 95% pure, and intended to be breathed by humans? Anything I should look for that could be harmful for the fish? http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/8543?gclid=CKn6x9apmM0CFQQbaQodJNMIJg


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O2 is O2, higher the concentration the better for the shipment process. Don't purchase any blends of gases with O2 in them, that would be bad.
 
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