Moving Tank?

[Chris777]

Alright i was wondering i am moving in 3 weeks. I am gonna have to move my nano tank and have never had to move a tank from one place to another that was outside of the same house. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on the best way to do it. Mainly as far as moving it without it going though a cycle etc. Any help would be great thanks

 

[DirtyHermit]

My brother & I moved my 55 at Christmas...about 5 miles, but here's what we did:

I started by going to LFS chains & begging for bags. I ended up with about 50-75 good size heavy duty bags.
Then we bagged up every coral, & everything we could catch. Which wasn't much.
After that, I emptied half the water into a big-*** tote (size &/or experience may vary), followed by all the rocks & any corals/hitchhikers that could hang on for 3 feet.
Then I put almost all the rest of the water into the tote, & 2 5 gallon jugs.
(Warning: If you'd like a hernia, keep reading)
Then we carried the 55 very carefully out into the frigid weather with about 70# of sand, & 3" or so of water. (& more hitchhikers) & carefully placed it into his truck along with 2 5 gallon jugs of the water. The stand went this trip also.
We set up the stand/tank at the new house, & poured the 2 5 gallon jugs out into it.
The tote back at the old apartment was too heavy, so we filled the 5 gallon jugs up & took them to the new house & poured them into the tank. Rinse. Repeat.
What a drag.
Finally we could carry the tote, & made our last trip. We got all the rock back in the tank & then remembered all the bagged corals etc. were back at the apt.!!!

Anyways, this all took about 3-4 hrs, & I'm absolutely positive there are easier, safer ways. The key is to make it as fun as possible, because your nerves will be frazzled & shot before you're done no matter what.

Hope That Helps:smokin:

 

[Chris777]

Well the nice part is this tank is a lot smaller then that. I knew i was gonna be moving soon so i wanted to wait to setup the new tank i have till after i move.

My biggest worry is that its gonna cycle again due to how small it is. I could be a lot more worried then i should be but i don't wanna lose anything in the process

 

[Old Crusty]

Its a NANO take some water out, Pick it up and move it. nothing hard about that.

 

[EYESEEU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12099109#post12099109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chris777


My biggest worry is that its gonna cycle again due to how small it is. I could be a lot more worried then i should be but i don't wanna lose anything in the process

What does size have anything to do with it cycling again. Do you expect die off from moving this box of water? With your 6yrs experience Im sure you'll do just fine.

 

[Chris777]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12099214#post12099214 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EYESEEU
What does size have anything to do with it cycling again. Do you expect die off from moving this box of water? With your 6yrs experience Im sure you'll do just fine.

I Didn't but i'm not sure how quick i will be able to get them to the new place which is the part that worries me. Which is why i was debating if i was just gonna bag the fish and put the corals with enough water in some small rubber maid bins etc.

But yea i may have 6 years in the hobby dont mean i have 6 years in transporting stocked tanks...

 

[Chris777]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12099163#post12099163 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Old Crusty
Its a NANO take some water out, Pick it up and move it. nothing hard about that.

Alright if its that easy you come and pick it up and move it for me... Just case its a nano and you take "some" water out of it dont mean its gonna be light and that easy.

 

[EYESEEU]

why bag and just not use 4 buckets or better 2 big coolers. As for stocked a bunch of rics and a hammer and 3 fish why sweat it. I thought with 6yrs you would have helped or read on these boards on how to move a nano. Relax it wasnt a slap. It seems your putting way to much into this.

 

[Old Crusty]

make it the last thing you move minimize downtime.
leave the substrate in the tank and maybe the bottom layer of rock dont disturb it (not that heavy)
put the rest in a cooler. "better temp. control"
fish have more oxygen in a cooler than a bag
if you really need help send me your address.

 

[Chris777]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12102003#post12102003 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EYESEEU
why bag and just not use 4 buckets or better 2 big coolers. As for stocked a bunch of rics and a hammer and 3 fish why sweat it. I thought with 6yrs you would have helped or read on these boards on how to move a nano. Relax it wasnt a slap. It seems your putting way to much into this.

Well i was only thinking about bagging the fish. As one of them is a jawfish and if i put him in a bucket i don't want the risk of him jumping out reason i said bagging for the fish. The corals i was just planning on putting into a rubbermaid bin or as you said a bucket of some sort. I looked for some threads on people moving tanks but most of them where just upgrades in the same house etc. Reason i asked. Yes 6yrs does help but i would rather ask when i haven't had to move a tank from one house to another.

 

[Chris777]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12102438#post12102438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Old Crusty
make it the last thing you move minimize downtime.
leave the substrate in the tank and maybe the bottom layer of rock dont disturb it (not that heavy)
put the rest in a cooler. "better temp. control"
fish have more oxygen in a cooler than a bag
if you really need help send me your address.

I was planning on making it one of the last things i move. I wasn't planning on taking the substrate out, As far as the rock i was gonna pull it out but you think its better to leave some of it in the tank itself? That is true didn't even think of a cooler. I will have to get one.

 

[Old Crusty]

I would leave the pieces that would disturb the substrate when pulled out. when replacing water back in tank use a cup or bowl to slowly disburse water back into tank . if you minimize stirring up that bottom the better off you will be.

 

[Chris777]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12102573#post12102573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Old Crusty
I would leave the pieces that would disturb the substrate when pulled out. when replacing water back in tank use a cup or bowl to slowly disburse water back into tank . if you minimize stirring up that bottom the better off you will be.

Only bad thing is the jawfish has dug up under the rock work on the left side of the tank so i am not totally sure if i am gonna be able to get the rock i do take out back in sturdy enough without disturbing the substrate a bit due to that.

 

[Chris777]

Well i moved the tank last night after i got done moving in to my new place and so far everything seems to be doing good so far for the most part other then a few corals seem to be not to happy at the moment. I ended up leaving the jawfish in the tank while i moved it. I also setup my 29g biocube today just got to get more salt as the salt level is to low as i ran out of salt go figure.

 

[irishrose302]

why so rude........... anyone responsible would want to know as much as possible to avoid any mortality.

I have 15+ years in the hobby and still looked for input and advice on moving my tank from Michigan to North Carolina.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12102003#post12102003 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EYESEEU
why bag and just not use 4 buckets or better 2 big coolers. As for stocked a bunch of rics and a hammer and 3 fish why sweat it. I thought with 6yrs you would have helped or read on these boards on how to move a nano. Relax it wasnt a slap. It seems your putting way to much into this.

 

[Old Crusty]

glad it went good for you.

 

[irishrose302]

Good job! Just watch for ammonia spikes.........and i am glad everything went well.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12268071#post12268071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chris777
Well i moved the tank last night after i got done moving in to my new place and so far everything seems to be doing good so far for the most part other then a few corals seem to be not to happy at the moment. I ended up leaving the jawfish in the tank while i moved it. I also setup my 29g biocube today just got to get more salt as the salt level is to low as i ran out of salt go figure.

 

[Chris777]

Thanks. And yea i'm about to be testing it again here in a couple minutes as i think there may be some ammonia in there due to how 2 of the fish are acting. I could just be a bit more worried then need to be but rather be safe.

 

[Chris777]

Well as i suspected there is ammonia in the tank... I'm Trying to keep it as low as possiable But i think a couple things at the moment aren't going to make it due to the ammonia.. :sad1:

 

[irishrose302]

keeping doing your water changes, even if you have to do one every day....(but smaller)