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Any tips for moving

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Guest, Feb 16, 2012.

  1. Feb 16, 2012 #1
    Guest

    Guest Guest

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    Im in the process of moving to a new house, any tips on moving a reef tank?
     
  2. Feb 16, 2012 #2
    Nik Windsor Heights

    Nik Experienced Reefkeeper

    2,397
    Windsor Heights
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    Very Carefully. Sorry could not resist. Seriously alot of people and a minivan full of 5 gallon buckets. Thats how I did a 135G and did not lose a thing, but I only moved 3 miles.
     
  3. Feb 16, 2012 #3
    Marco

    Marco Inactive User

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    Everyone has their own way of transporting fish/corals only thing I have ever seen everyone agree on is move it all at the same time. When I moved, I used rubbermaid tubs with locking lids but I kept the tank running till everything else was moved. Plan ahead /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif you'll be ok.
     
  4. Feb 17, 2012 #4
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

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    Coralville, IA
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    Don't. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/tongue.gif
     
  5. Feb 17, 2012 #5
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Riverside
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    Lots and lots of buckets and tubs; seems like you can never have too many. A lot like moving your own house, come to think of it, as I have always needed more boxes than I thought I needed, lol...... it's always nice if you can have a tank or stock tub-tank already running in the new place to act as a holding area for things. Might want to find the local LFS and just buy a bunch of SW to make it easier on you, as I know I've always been just exhausted after a move /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif
     
  6. Feb 17, 2012 #6
    PatrickWest

    PatrickWest

    203
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    +1 holding tank & lots of pre made saltwater.
    Post and let us know if you need help on the big day. I'd be happy to help and call in that favor down the road lol
     
  7. Feb 17, 2012 #7
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

    8,890
    West Des Moines, IA
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    Yeah I would see if anyone nearby has a few extra 40 breeders they can lend you. they are invaluable tanks for this type of thing. before you start to pull stuff out drain as much clean tank water as possible into 5g buckets and set aside.

    Set up the 40Bs with 50% fresh SW 50% tank water and a power head, heater and temp lights. This will keep things in good shape for quite a while, esp if only corals. Fish might need a PWC every couple days, but put enough base rock in and that will buffer it a bit.

    Put everything in buckets (5g buckets) keep covered with water, 14g rubbermaid tubs for what won't fit in buckets (still covered in water). Use the tank water you pulled to fill buckets 1/2 way, put in rock, top off, cover, transport. Fish last before sand.

    When pulling the rocks out of buckets it will drain off all the detritus. Take another bucket of tank water and dip and swish then put in 40B. Let the water in the bucket you originally took the rock out of settle for a while (you will be surprised how well the detritus settles out) and pour the top water off into clean/rinsed buckets. Throw away the nasty water (duh)

    Move tank into new position. I would rinse the sand like it was new sand but that's me. Hook everything up and put in whatever old water you have remaining and fill to 75% with fresh SW. Transfer base rock, corals, then fish, emptying the water from the 40Bs into the DT as you go.

    I did this twice in a week and again 9 months later with little to no loss of livestock

    HTH
     
  8. Feb 18, 2012 #8
    Luukosian

    Luukosian

    60
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    When I moved I set up a new tank/sump and put in the substrate and filled it with saltwater and brought it up to temp.....made it a heck of a lot easier to put everything in 5 gallon buckets(like they said...more than you think you need) and move it straight to the new tank. Moving is a good excuse to buy a new tank/equipment, but also usually the time when you have the least amount of money for that kind of thing.
     
  9. Feb 21, 2012 #9
    mfisher

    mfisher

    255
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    I'm with Eliot-dont do it. In college my roomate and i both had tanks that we had to move over one day in addition to all our other stuff. Longest day ever. I'd sell it and start fresh or have someone keep the livestock. Movings bad enough without a tank.
     

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