Moving Livestock from Az to Co (900 Miles) HELP PLEASE

[GriffinMarsh]

Ok, I need some input from people who have moved corals and fish long distances. In less than a week I need to transport my fish and corals from my 350gal reef from Tucson Az, to Broomfield Co. My original plan was going to be Southwest Cargo the fish through a company, but they didn't have a SWC account. So now I'm going to drive them. My plan was to use either heavy duty rubbermaid containers or coolers with aerators for the fish, and then bag the corals individually, boxing them like wholesalers use. The drive is around 13hrs which I'm going to make in one day. So almost 20hrs of me being up bagging and packing then driving. I do have a 150gal stock tank set up at the house Im moving too, but am worried that the fish are going to have a struggle making it. My stock list for fish are as follows 14" Vlamingi tang, 4" Goldflake Angel, 3-4" Yellow tangs, 2-6" Desjardini Tangs, 4" Yellow Eye Kole, 6" Yellow Belly Hippo, 3" potters, scotts, mystery, and coris wrasse, 2" sixline, 2-blue reef chromis, anthias, and a few other fish that size. Corals are too many to name, but I feel more confident with them than the fish. Im already debating selling some of the fish, but if I don't have to, I won't. I read some others posts on moving long distance but need some more insight. Ideas would be appreciated. Also If anybody is up in that areas and wouldn't mind holding anything PM me.

 

[windlasher]

Fish are shipped from overseas in bags often for periods of 24 - 48 hours. The best way is probably to do the same. Big, well-closed bags, lots of 02 in a cooler or heavy box. Real O2, not blowing in a bag. Maintain temp using heat bags or cooler bricks as required. Drive straight through. I used to do Colorado Springs to Iowa city in 12 hours and that's 918 miles. Best to have a tank already set up before you get there. Good Luck.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

Big, well-closed bags, lots of 02 in a cooler or heavy box. Real O2, not blowing in a bag.

I have 3gal, 3mil bags that the larger fish would go into. As for the O2, I have an oxy acetylene torch that I could feed oxygen in directly, or could air from an air compressor work the same? Im afraid that some contamination might come from the torch. Ive also heard some fish people say that water while obviously important for fish survival, only needs to be enough to cover the fish, and the rest should be air for good gas exchange while driving. Are there any additives I should add to the water to help the fish with ammonia, such as prime?

 

[windlasher]

I have 3gal, 3mil bags that the larger fish would go into. As for the O2, I have an oxy acetylene torch that I could feed oxygen in directly, or could air from an air compressor work the same? Im afraid that some contamination might come from the torch. Ive also heard some fish people say that water while obviously important for fish survival, only needs to be enough to cover the fish, and the rest should be air for good gas exchange while driving. Are there any additives I should add to the water to help the fish with ammonia, such as prime?

That is industrial grade o2. It might work, but then again it definitely won't be pure as the o2 we get in out tanks. I would try to find a source of o2 meant for humans. Talk to a medical supply place. You normally need a prescription for o2 but if you explain what you want it for they may rent you one. Also talk to your LFS. They might help you out for free.

I would put more than enough to cover this fish. MORE water = more gas exchange, i.e, less toxins.

I would use tank water, no additives.

 

[BigBlueTang]

Welcome to the area!!

What windlasher said. Just enough water for the fish to feel comfortable, more air is better. Or you could use a 20gal rubbermaid trash can with some airstones to help.

I also would not really be the best person to try and help for holding things, although if you're desperate, I could try and hook you up with some of my other reefing buddies

 

[GriffinMarsh]

Welcome to the area!!

What windlasher said. Just enough water for the fish to feel comfortable, more air is better. Or you could use a 20gal rubbermaid trash can with some airstones to help.

I also would not really be the best person to try and help for holding things, although if you're desperate, I could try and hook you up with some of my other reefing buddies

Thanks, I'm excited to meet some people up there! I heard there is a pretty big community up in the Denver area.

I think I'm gonna go with the bubbler method and hope for the best. Like I said, space is the big concern with all the big fish, but once that gets sorted out I think moving them might not be as bad.

 

[bishoptaner]

griffinmarch i live in broomfield, if you need help moving the tanks in or anything let me know.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

griffinmarch i live in broomfield, if you need help moving the tanks in or anything let me know.

Thanks bishoptaner, I will PM you if I begin to have problems with the move. I do like meeting people who live close to me just in case things crap out on me.

 

[ThRoewer]

Industrial oxygen for welding will work just fine - I used it to pack tank bred clownfish, and LFS around here use it also - no issues. No need to waste any money on medical grade oxygen.

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

When I moved from Houston to PA I moved my tank and all fish/coral in buckets with some battery powered airstones. the trip ended up taking nearly 48 hours of travel, plus the few hours it took me to tear down the old tank and set it up again for the fish. Luckily, I made the trip in May and had good weather, so temp wasn't an issue. I had no losses, other than a bucket of coral that got knocked over during travel

 

[Ron Reefman]

Griffin, I drive stuff I collect in the Keys home to Cape Coral 4 or 5 times a year. The stuff I move is caught and kept in a big cooler with a bubbler for a 24 to 48 hours before we even start the drive home. I do a water change (water collected off the beach) before we hit the road in the morning and they are in my tanks late that afternoon (about 6+ hours) and I have virtually no die off. I've moved fish, coral, stars, cucumbers, emeralds, anemones and more. The only die off issues I ever have is with sponges and that's usually 2 to 6 weeks after I get them home!

You have much bigger fish and much different coral, but if it's less than 24 hours I think you'll do just fine. I'd even consider moving the fish in one big Brute that is strapped into the truck well so it won't spill. A bubbler is probably a good thing, but just the water movement from driving should keep the water reasonably well oxygenated.

 

[Breadman03]

It's cold out now and I'm sure there is a decent potential for slick roads where you will be driving. I'd recommend not pushing your gas tank too far on the trip.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

Thank you all, I'm a little more at ease. I think from hearing some of y'alls moves, I feel more confident with my measly 13hr trek. I will try the bubbler technique for the large fish, and the bags for the small fish(just for space saving). I will let you know which technique worked best when I get up there.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

It's cold out now and I'm sure there is a decent potential for slick roads where you will be driving. I'd recommend not pushing your gas tank too far on the trip.

Luckily as of now, weather has been great. But going over the pass at Raton NM can be a gamble for sure. Good thing I'm rockin the 4wd just in case.

 

[anbosu]

What kind of vehicle will you be moving the fish in? If you have room put a 100g stock tank in the back (interior) and have a couple battery powered air stones running and you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[Dmorty217]

If it were me I would get bags and O2 and treat them like you were shipping them. Fish can easily survive 48hrs in a bag with O2. Putting all the fish in a large holding container may work but I would worry about aggression and unless you have someone watching the fish the whole trip there, it could end badly

 

[biecacka]

+1 on Dmorty. I have ordered fish from LA and had them get held up in a storm and arrive 48 hours later and be ok.
Good luck!!

Corey

 

[Breadman03]

Sloshing can be an issue. Dascamel just made a move, and might have some solid insights for you.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

What kind of vehicle will you be moving the fish in? If you have room put a 100g stock tank in the back (interior) and have a couple battery powered air stones running and you shouldn't have any issues.

I am driving a F250 SuperDuty with a shell, so the interior of the cab is going to be me and my dog(husky) up front, and the fish in the back. I might have room to put a small box in front of the passenger seat. The bed will have my rock(mostly covered with water), and corals(all in boxes). I was thinking about using the other 150gal stock tank to move the fish in the bed of the truck but from morning to evening I will expect to see temp fluctuations from low 60s morning, to high 80s mid day, and back to low 50s by the evening. Probably too aggressive of a change for the fish.

If it were me I would get bags and O2 and treat them like you were shipping them. Fish can easily survive 48hrs in a bag with O2. Putting all the fish in a large holding container may work but I would worry about aggression and unless you have someone watching the fish the whole trip there, it could end badly

I'm afraid even with my large bags the larger fish won't have enough space/O2 for the move. The little fish for sure will be bagged. Maybe only having a few bubblers will be easier to deal with and check up on.

+1 on Dmorty. I have ordered fish from LA and had them get held up in a storm and arrive 48 hours later and be ok.
Good luck!!

Corey

I have also ordered fish from LA, both privately and through shops I worked at, but I feel like they do more sitting in cargo holds, than moving in transit. The ride is very bumpy in that truck. I can only assume that they drive for the fishes sake will feel more like a 48hr trip than a 13hr one.

Sloshing can be an issue. Dascamel just made a move, and might have some solid insights for you.

I followed his moving thread and think his technique worked well. Luckily I have a partially cycled tank setup on the other side, with a water change happening the following day.

 

[tkeracer619]

Broomfield uses chloramines in their water instead of chlorine.

Please be sure to check for total chlorine and total ammonia in your new water.

Chloramines will not show up on many test kits. The water can be toxic. I lost everything moving to the area because I didn't know any better.

A standard RODI setup has a very low chance of success creating safe water.