Relocating corals 1400 miles

[cteagan]

I've got some soft corals left in my 40 gallon and I'd like to move them with me from Houston to Michigan. The drive will be 21 hours, with stops I should be able to do two 12 hour days. I was think if I placed them in a cooler and ran a heater and drop in filter, that should keep them alive for a few days in the truck running off a DC to 110v AC converter. I'll make one overnight stop in a hotel and I could pull the cooler in the room for the night. Corals should be good for a few days without light, correct. I'd place them into a 12 gallon biocube for a few months until we get a house and set the 40 gallon back up.

What do you think, will it work? Or an I better off getting rid of the corals before I move?

Thanks
Chris

 

[Bilk]

Sounds like a lot of work for corals that may not make it to your destination. Find a good home for them and get others after the move. JMO

 

[zachfishman]

Give them to friends in return for frags shipped later.

 

[ali1]

Soft corals will be fine. Heater and a small powerhead.

 

[Decadence]

Powerhead will likely cook them. I would just stick each coral in its own bag with a decent amount of water. Put them all in a styrofoam box. They will be fine.

 

[cteagan]

I've got a two little fishes phosban reactor that I was going to use as on external filter. I figure this with the bumps from the road will provide the water movement. There isn't going to be any fish or inverts to pollute the water. Most of my zoanthids and mushrooms I've broke of the rock and glues to frag plugs. I've got a few more mushrooms and about 7 ricordea on a large rock to break off. I've got 5 on a small rock the I'll leave there. I was going to put a layer of gravel from the aquarium on the bottom and place a egg crate on top of the to stick the frag plugs into.

Most of my ricordea, mushrooms and zoanthids started out as just a few and multiplied. So I'd like to keep them going.

 

[behlke]

The bumps from the road will provide plenty of water movement and oxygenation, but do not fill the container more than half-full to prevent splashing in the car. I moved from CT to WI, and kept all of the corals alive. All I did was place the corals in a large rubbermaid container (but a cooler will work if you have it). I did not add a heater or powerhead or filter to the bucket, just kept the car warm. When you stop for the night, then you will need to add the heater and powerhead for water movement.

 

[wieselsport]

Might be better off to have a friend keep them for a couple days. When you arrive and set your tank up have them over night ship the inhabitants.

I did a 400 mile move with my 75g. It was a pain in the ***. Last things to get loaded, first thing to get set up at the new location. All while trying to move other things. It was a lot of stress.