Moving my 90G, I need a plan

[DrHarryLopez]

I need a plan to move my 90G reef to my office 10 mins away.

I plan to keep all of the water to prevent as little as a recycling as possible. The tank is currently on the second floor of my house.

I know the fish will need oxygen during the transport but what about the corals? I believe the total time from brakdown to finally placing the animals in the tank may be about 4 to 5 hrs. My friend says it may take at least 8 hrs.

 

[DrBDC]

Put things in buckets and tubs and throw a powerhead in each. Or even rotate the powerheads from tub to tub. Remeber these animals ship in bags w/o pumps for a day or two.

 

[dermer]

i second that i have moved several tanks with no losses use bukets coolers what ever i used a small boat pump and garden hose to pump the water from inside my second floor apt to the containers in my truck very easy and quick good luck

 

[DrHarryLopez]

yes thats what i want to do, I plan to hose the water down to my truck.

Thanks guys

 

[usmcsgt]

how many tangs do you got in there, do they fight at all?

 

[DrHarryLopez]

the tangs all have there own space, and sleeping places. Had them from two to four yrs now. They're usally too busy swimming around picking and eating the algea. After the tank is set up in my office I plan to upgrade to a larger tank.

 

[relaxednature]

I moved a 60 gallon last week, I used 2x 30 gallon garbage cans and then 3 or so 5 gallon buckets. I put water from the tank about half way full in the garbage cans and put all the live rock in them and then fish I put in the 5 gallon buckets, and some of the larger corals, I bagged the rest of the corals and put them in a box. there was only live sand and tad water in the tank when I moved it, total down to up time was about 3 or 4 hours.. everything survived and looked great.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

I'm beginning to take apart all non-essential equipment. I took out my float switch to my top-off mix of lime and fresh water. Temperature probe. emergency bubbler, and heaters. Later will disconnect the backup power source, and lights.
Questions
1. I have a pinpoint pH monitor the probe should I put it in some type of liquid?
2. Can I disconnect the skimmer or would that be a drastic change in oxygen levels?

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Disconnected the fans, I guess the chiller will be working a little bit today. the temp in NY will be going up to high 70's low 80's.

 

[druce]

when I moved, I put all the coral in 1 rubbermaid tub, the rock in 2 more and then another tub with all the fish and 1 large flat rock for them to hide in/around

all the fish but 1 made it, and he was sick to begin with.

lost all my cleaner shrimp tho...

went 4 hours with no airstone/pump or any water movement

how far are you moving?

 

[DrHarryLopez]

moving the tank into my office about 10 mins away. I better get a strong air stone. I removed the lights from the refugium. Shut the lights off and letting the lights cool off.

 

[druce]

i wouldn't think you'd need an airstone for 10 mins or even a few hours

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Well i have one around so it won't hurt to use it.

 

[druce]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8206717#post8206717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrHarryLopez
Well i have one around so it won't hurt to use it.

no it shouldn't

 

[ReefTourist]

I just moved my 90 from VA to Atlanta 3 weeks ago... (it will be moved 30-min away next month, but that's a longer story. :rolleye1

To do this I bought 10 5-gallon white buckets from Lowes with the really nice sealing lids. I went to the LFS and they gave me a few styrafoam containers and nice bags to use for the livestock.

Day of the move (3am) I took out all the equipment, and bagged the coral. Then I started draining the water to the buckets and moving liverock into them as well. With that complete (and 2 buckets left) I easily caught the fish and inverts for bagging. Then drained the rest of the water to the drain. I kept the containers in the car with me. Most of the buckets, tank, and stand went into the back of a friend's pickup. They were able to be laid down in the back so the bed cover could be on. This all took 4 hours. The trip took another 11. Quick stand-up took 2 hours with water mixing to finish the fill up the next day.

I didn't loose anything, and I credit that to a gracious God , patience, a 70-degree day, and luck. Nothing good happens fast in an aquarium, and that applies to moving one as well.

Good luck with your move!

 

[DrHarryLopez]

wow, i plan to use all of the same water, I did a water change this morning. do u think that will control any further stress.

 

[ReefTourist]

I would keep as much as possible. However, you want to get rid of any excess pollutants that the livestock give off from the stress of the move. So IMO if I could keep as much as I wanted I'd still replace around 20% of the water.

Noticed you have much more experience with aquariums than I do. I'm sure you'll have a great successful move!

 

[supermarvin76]

There is an article on www.melevsreef.com about moving your tank. You may want to check that out.