Need suggestions for storing livestock

[Monkeyfish]

My basement flooded over the weekend thanks to a defective filter attached to the boiler :mad2:. The basement is toast and all of the flooring and sheetrock needs to be torn out and replaced. Thankfully the cost will be covered by our insurance.

The problem is (as if this wasn't painful enough :facepalm I have to move two reef tanks (180g and 75g) out of one room in the basement so that the flooring can be fully removed, the concrete allowed to dry and the contractors can do their thing. In order to do this I'll need to temporarily move all of the water, rock and critters to tubs/bins until the contractors are finished which may take weeks since the basement isn't even fully dried yet.

I was thinking of getting Brute containers or similar things to hold the rock, coral, etc. but am concerned about how they'll do in the plastic bins for an extended period of time. Not to mention the "how" of lighting everything without overheating the water.

Any suggestions :idea: would be appreciated.

 

[Bow]

Any possibility of moving the tanks? Royal pia I know but do you have a garage you might be able to move them too or a neighbors? Might end up being easier ten setting up a "temp light and filter" set up in tubs

 

[Monkeyfish]

I'm trying to figure out the logistics - seeing if there's enough room and electrical todo as you suggest. Also, I'm not sure about moving the 180. The tank would have to be completely emptied of everything including sand so it could come off the stand and be tipped on its side which is the only way to get it out of the room.

What a PIA this is. Stupid boiler.

 

[Bow]

If there is that much to do down there won't you have to take all the sand out anyway? Or were you just going to let it die off and cycle it again?

 

[Monkeyfish]

Actually hadn't thought that far ahead.

Figured out a place to move the 75, but still have no room for the 180. Its all soft corals so I'm hoping a temporary set-up will hold them over long enough to get the work done and re-cycle the tank before sending htem back to their new/old home.

 

[rtecanoe]

I had work done on my den last year where my 180 is so I moved all livestock, sand, corals into a temporary set up in my basement for the six weeks it was supposed to take. Six weeks turned into 4 months which turned into Hurricane Sandy which turned into me starting all over. Moral of the story is, I would suggest your temporary set up will last longer than you think you'll need it for! (And don't use my contractor!)

 

[Monkeyfish]

^ Everything will be back within three weeks. I need my man-cave to maintain a semblance of sanity.

I'm gonna use the sump as a temporary quarters for the 180's livestock - its a 75. Throw in a heater and a few powerheads and wallah.. I hope. The rock will go in brutes and then I'll just cross my fingers and hope everything survives.

The 180 tank/stand will go up on those frictionless pads so it can be easily-ish moved and the contractors will have to work around it. They're insured, so if they damage the tank, they pay for a new one. Theoretically, at least.

Oy vey.

 

[Editour2]

Moving everything from a 180 is not an easy task....can you move the tank to another location in the basement? If so, would it be possible to lower the water level to 3 or 4 inches over the sand bed level and drag the tank to the new area. I did this with my 85 gal tank with all the rock, fish and coral still in it, (with the help of 4 LIRA members). After moving to the new location we quickly refilled the tank and everything was fine.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Frank, that might work, but it would have to be moved more than once so the workers can get to what they need to. I'd rather have it empty and then I can put the tank and stand on 'furniture movers' so it will be easier to maneuver.

Won't be able to use the sump like I first thought due to the layout. Anybody got a 75 I can borrow for a few weeks?

 

[rkaires]

Sorry for your troubles Eric.

I have a 100gal Rubbermaid stock tank I used when I moved my tanks. It's drilled and has bulkheads. I used it with my sump until my current system was set up.

 

[Turbovr3six]

I have a 180g tub you can borrow if you'd like.

 

[Monkeyfish]

The 75 has been moved with no losses.

Justin - Thank you for the offer. What town are you in and what are the tub's dimensions?

 

[Turbovr3six]

It's in Huntington. I forgot the exact dimensions but its something like 60w x 50L x 25h. Ill check next time Im near it. PM me if you want it.