...like, you have to redo something major about the tank....
...or you have to move the tank because of installing a new flooring....
...etc....
How do you cope?
Easy peasy. Your qt tank. Even a common wastecan with a garbage sack liner. Some bubblers (air pump with diffuser: Putting the diffuser behind an eggcrate (lighting grid) shield will keep your fish out of the bubbles---a good idea).
Drain the tank TO the emergency buckets/qt/whatever. You can also use the large chamber of your sump as a fish-refuge. Put your upper rock and specimen rocks in the temporary buckets with water. DON'T disturb the sandbed or any half-buried rocks, ie, do NOT kick up any sand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Work on the tank. Move the tank and stand, whatever you need to do. (This is how we moved a 100 gallon tank with a heavy oak stand to install new laminate flooring instead of carpet. We installed new flooring where it was going, used a dolly to lift a half inch to put big saucer Teflon glides under the stand---then pushed. [we used a micro ramp of 1/4" ply screwed to the floor to solve the thickness discrepancy and help the glides.) With the water down to about 3" above the sandbed and most rock out, sliding it was a piece of cake for two women, and that tank and stand were 800 lbs freight (with pallet). With 102 gallons of water in it---pretty darned heavy. But easy, with the right equipment, prep, and technique.
Finish.
Use a small pump to move the water gently back into the tank (set a small bowl on the sand and pump your water into the bowl, thus preventing the water stream kicking up sand.)
Replace your rockwork while that's going on.
Move your fish back in when you have enough water depth that they won't freak...
Replace the water. And it's not a bad idea to do a 20% water change in the next few days.
In case you ever need to do that.
...or you have to move the tank because of installing a new flooring....
...etc....
How do you cope?
Easy peasy. Your qt tank. Even a common wastecan with a garbage sack liner. Some bubblers (air pump with diffuser: Putting the diffuser behind an eggcrate (lighting grid) shield will keep your fish out of the bubbles---a good idea).
Drain the tank TO the emergency buckets/qt/whatever. You can also use the large chamber of your sump as a fish-refuge. Put your upper rock and specimen rocks in the temporary buckets with water. DON'T disturb the sandbed or any half-buried rocks, ie, do NOT kick up any sand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Work on the tank. Move the tank and stand, whatever you need to do. (This is how we moved a 100 gallon tank with a heavy oak stand to install new laminate flooring instead of carpet. We installed new flooring where it was going, used a dolly to lift a half inch to put big saucer Teflon glides under the stand---then pushed. [we used a micro ramp of 1/4" ply screwed to the floor to solve the thickness discrepancy and help the glides.) With the water down to about 3" above the sandbed and most rock out, sliding it was a piece of cake for two women, and that tank and stand were 800 lbs freight (with pallet). With 102 gallons of water in it---pretty darned heavy. But easy, with the right equipment, prep, and technique.
Finish.
Use a small pump to move the water gently back into the tank (set a small bowl on the sand and pump your water into the bowl, thus preventing the water stream kicking up sand.)
Replace your rockwork while that's going on.
Move your fish back in when you have enough water depth that they won't freak...
Replace the water. And it's not a bad idea to do a 20% water change in the next few days.
In case you ever need to do that.
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