Planning the big tank move...

[Mrs Smith]

Since great minds think alike, I'm going to bounce ideas here. As many of you know (and I posted in the ORCA forum,) I have arranged to purchase a gorgeous system. The problem? It's approximately 135 miles away. (Gainesville) And it's huge.

Tank is roughly 2x2x7. (230g) It's glass = weights a TON. Stand is average stand height (meaning I didn't measure it.) All the guts and goodies come with it (ASM G4, MH and VHOs, pumps, 75g sump, etc)

I have plenty of buckets and rubbermaid tubs. All rock and livestock will live in a pair of 65g rubbermaids in my dining room until it's plumbed and filled.

Question #1: Do I rent an extended bed pickup truck, a cargo van, or a 10' uhaul to get it home? I will be hauling 250lbs of rock and a bunch of fish as well. I have had generous offers of trailers, but don't have a vehicle that can haul one. And I have to admit I'm a little paranoid - this is a big investment.

Question #2: I have always had deep sand beds in my most sucessful reefs. I know that current philosophy is towards BB tanks, and I had one. Didn't work for me, nor did it contribute to my softie/LPS/octocoral plan. I prefer aragonite, sugar sized, even if it's only 2". So the question is: where's the cheapest place to get it? I was one of those who got my hands on Southdown many moons ago, but alas, that sand was used, oh, 2 systems ago. Caribsea Agramax sugar-sized 30g bags are the plan. And I've never washed the sand before - not going to now. I just trickle the water in over days. And at 230g, it will take DAYS.

Any other brilliant thoughts or moving crews in Central Florida gladly appreciated.

The move is tentatively scheduled for Nov 11, which is a Tuesday, but the only day that worked for both myself and the seller. I was thinking of having "the club" over for BBQ/bonfire/tank plumbing party either that night or the afternoon/evening of the 15th (A Sat. I work the night before, so can't move the tank then. But could celebrate! I live in Haines City, about 20 min south and east of the I-4 & Hwy 27 intersection.)

Danielle

 

[chrisstie]

The best advice I could give you on this is under no circumstances use U-Haul. If you want that beautiful setup to make it home in one piece, find a different way/brand/company/magic carpet.

They are safety hazards waiting to happen imo.

 

[smpolyp]

Give me a call and let me know what I can do. Any excuse to skip work right.
407 748 6741

 

[TorryRx]

My advice? Call an aquarium maintenance service. I recently moved two 180 gallon setups here from West Palm with minimal issues.

Cheap? No...but worth every penny.

You will need a cargo van for the fish. It gets way too hot in the back of a Uhaul and they won't make the trip. It probably won't be hot by then, but you never know. Best to use something climate-controlled, just in case. I actually had two vehicles...a U-haul for the equipment and a cargo van for the livestock. It took 6 friends (one of which maintains aquariums for a living down in West Palm) to get everything up here. It also cost about 14 hours and lots of Tylenol. If you can get a hold of those industrial-sized suction cups, they are a lifesaver when moving a large tank.

I also used buckets with a small hole drilled in the lid to move the fish. I used battery-powered airstones and threaded the tubing through the hole to keep the fish well-oxygentated during the trip...it helps them deal with the stress. I duct-taped the airstone pump machine to the top of the lid to keep it from sliding around and pulling the airstone out of the water.

I use and because I just don't like the look of bare-bottom and I'm not really into the SPS. If you put the sand into the tank before you pump in the water, it throws up minimal dust. The water will get a little cloudy, but if you run your filtration, it clears up overnight and I've never lost livestock. I used 100% Carib-Sea live sand.

My aquarium maintenance friend was invaluable in all of this. He sets up tanks for a living, and his experience truly saved my sanity.

I hope this helps...PM me if you have any other questions and I'll help out any way I can.

 

[Mrs Smith]

You know, I may just shoot for the pickup. As long as I can get tank and stand side by side, by husband can get the LR and fish in his SUV...

I have moved several tanks (cross country even), so I've done it several times. It's always the planning that is most important. Still, the more ideas, the better.

I will be setting it up over the following days - I have big holding tanks so don't need to rush to set it up.

And I'm looking at my tank tonight, and the xenia are ****y. Anytime that happens, it's time to check the parameters... and probably do a water change...

 

[Lutefisk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13615508#post13615508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smpolyp
Give me a call and let me know what I can do. Any excuse to skip work right.
407 748 6741

I'm still grateful to Russell for his help when I moved a tank a number of years ago! :wavehand:

 

[Mrs Smith]

I might just do that. I do suck at plumbing.

I got stuck at work late and wasn't going to make it to the meeting in any semblance of good time. I had a glass of wine (or two) to make up for missing it and the awesome frags.

I'm heading out of town really early Monday and need to pack ('cause I have to work all day tomorrow too.) Ug.

 

[Goby1kenobe]

I picked my 300 up in my truck. The width between wheel wells is 48", To fit the 24" wide tank and the stand at the same time I had to span 2x4's across the wheel wells and the notches in the sidewalls of the bed to form a large platform. I put a leg in the middle of each 2x4 since it was about 13" above the truck bed. It worked out really well.

 

[Mrs Smith]

Bumping up (and PMing Russell)

I also tossed out a plea on the Gainesville Club website for help... we'll see.

 

[GaryR1984]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13667590#post13667590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mrs Smith
Bumping up (and PMing Russell)

I also tossed out a plea on the Gainesville Club website for help... we'll see.

We responded.

I'll connect with some of our male members and see if they can help us out. Please check the forum and answer a few of our questions please.

 

[Mrs Smith]

Reserved a 10' box truck from Budget. It was only a couple bucks more than a pickup or cargo van, and the peace of mind that it will all definitely fit is worth it.

I'm so excited!!! I'm making water already!

 

[GaryR1984]

Wonderful