Tips for moving tanks?

[zip_case]

Hi,

I was wonder if anyone can offer any tips for moving a 29 gal tank? I'll be moving the tank about an hour away from my present location. The following are the of livestocks I have: 2 percula clown, 1 lemonpeel angel, 1 neon goby, 1 cleaner shrimp, and 2 BTA (that are almost impossible to detach from the rocks they are on).

Thanks,
-z

 

[aquarist=broke]

Try searching these bulliten boards. I think somebody else had that question a couple months back.

Search function is our friend(sometimes).

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I was wonder if anyone can offer any tips for moving a 29 gal tank? I'll be moving the tank about an hour away from my present location. The following are the of livestocks I have: 2 percula clown, 1 lemonpeel angel, 1 neon goby, 1 cleaner shrimp, and 2 BTA (that are almost impossible to detach from the rocks they are on).

Thanks,
-z

it's easy and no big deal-for a tank that small, you don't even need alot of prep work!

get a hold of buckets-(5 gal),rubbermaid containers-(1 or 2 20-30 gal. should be fine)

after everything is unplugged,drain the tank into the buckets and the rubbermaid-start with the rubbermaid(you'll see why).

when the rubbermaid has enough water height to cover the rocks w/your anemones on them,transfer 'em as follows:

take a small tupperware bowl into the tank, and place the rock and anemone -do this under water,keeps the anemone from tearing on the rock under its own weight-in the bowl, lift out, and put in the larger rubbermaid.

any rock that doesn't have a coral on it can be just lifted out of the tank 'dry',and placed in an empty bucket w/wetted (from tank's water) paper towels-they'll be fine for the short trip.

fish go in a seperate 5 gal bucket(s)

drain the tank all the way down to the sand bed-if it's damp, it'll be fine for the short trip.

*note*-prep about 5-10 gal. new s.w. for when you get to your destination

when you move the tank-keep it levelto avoid mixing the sand layers,and to avoid stressing the seals.

when you arrive:place a saucer on the sand-slowly pour 5 gal.of new s.w.(already mixed for at least one day)into the tank, onto the saucer(keeps from mixing the sb)-add the 'dry' rock.

add some more water from the rubbermaid, and transfer the anemones the same way you did when you removed 'em.

add the balance of the rubbermaids water.

*note*-be sure to invert all the rock pieces under water to purge any air pockets.

arrange the rock.

add the fish.

setup the equipment-leaving the lights off until the next day(keeps the fish calmer)

do a small(3-5-)gal water change a couple of times over the week following.

keep us posted!

hth

 

[zip_case]

Vitz,

Your suggest will definately help me out BIG time. Especially the tip with the saucer. Because knowing me, I would have messed the SB.

Thanks again,
-z

 

[Anonymous]

your welcome! :mrgreen:

it sounds like more work than it is-just make sure you have a friend help you move the tank,and rubbermaid!

good luck!

 

[beerbaron]

just as couple odds and ends to add, the extra water you make- make it at your current location, especially if you dont have a ro. it will save that much more stress if your new loc. has different tap water params.
also, it is nice to have enough buckets to keep each piece of coral and fish seperate so no crushing/stinging occurs.
hope it helps
BB

 

[Chucker]

There's a talk by James Wiseman on this very topic in our library.