| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
Nails12 
Guest
Joined: May 14 2012
Location: Draper
Status: Offline
Points: 1130
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: How to Move a fish tank.
Posted: June 04 2012 at 1:03pm |
Well its finally time for me to move out of my parents house....I currently have a 75 gallon reef with 20 gallon sump... Over 50 corals and 10 fish.... I also have a 29 gallon cube... Im not to worried about the cube..
But the real question is how do i move a 75 gallon without losing any corals and fish??
I am also debating on whether i want to just purchase another tank and just slowly transfer them over. . . But then i would have to go through the whole cycle again....
I am moving out on Friday the 13 of July... Not lucky...
So i need all your tips and advice to help this go easily... Or if you know of a tank that is fairly priced let me know thanks!
|
|
This is more than a hobby; its a lifestyle.
|
 |
McClure
Guest
Joined: July 13 2011
Location: South Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 747
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 04 2012 at 1:29pm |
|
We moved our 75 DT with 120 sump and had no losses. I think the trick was "fast" and not doing it alone.
Livestock, rock, corals went into buckets.
Water went into storage containers.
Sand stayed in tank.... I think most here would recommend replacing sand during a move though.
All got loaded onto a trailer, moved and set back up.
Took about 3-4 hours from start to finish from Orem to South Jordan
|
|
180 Gallon, 75 gallon, 30 gallon, 5 gallon. On a side note: I have just now decided that "Gallon" is a funny looking word.
|
|
ksmart
Guest
Joined: August 31 2009
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 1582
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 04 2012 at 1:38pm |
|
I've moved tanks a few times and +1 to what McClure said. Take as much of the tank water with you as possible. Have enough salt water mixed at the new place in case of any emergencies. I've just left the sand bed in the tank.
|
|
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 04 2012 at 3:05pm |
For a tank that can be drained half way or more and then carried to the vehicle it's easy. Just leave everything in the tank, moving all LR down onto the sand so it stays mostly submerged during the move, then refilling with the same or new water and restacking the rock. Loose/movable coral can be placed in a bucket of tankwater for the move. One of the best discussions of this, here on the MB, was made into one of the Tips in the WMAS Reefkeeping Tips linked below in my sig line. It covers just about everything you need to know. Enjoy 
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
|
BobC63
Admin Group
Joined: January 17 2007
Location: Lehi, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 8973
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 04 2012 at 3:11pm |
1) Take a pound or 2 of the live sand and put it in a tupperware container with some tank water.
2) Remove all the rest of the sandbed and wash it thoroughly in fresh water before you put it back into the empty tank at your new home.
3) Once the tank has been refilled with new saltwater at the new place, return that pound or 2 of still "live' sand back on the sandbed. The bacteria in that live sand will seed the rest of the sandbed that you cleaned.
4) Save a gallon or 2 of tank water for the same reason. You can 'seed' your tank water just like you 'seed' the sand.
5) Between these 2 'seed' items, and all the live rock going back into the tank, you should be able to move your tank and not get a new cycle or ammonia spike... you may see a little 'haze' for a few days, but it should not harm your animals.
Otherwise, do the rest like McClure has instructed.
Mark's idea is not 'bad' or 'wrong' - but we are talking about a 75 gal setup here. DON'T try to move it 'half full'... or you WILL be asking for trouble 
|
|
- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
|
|
1stupidpunk
Guest
Joined: June 10 2011
Location: clearfield
Status: Offline
Points: 1172
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 04 2012 at 3:39pm |
I just moved my 72g bowfront a couple months ago, I followed (mostly) the advice already given.
- Save as much good tank water as you can
- Have enough new water made to top off your tank
- Remove all your rock and corals
- DONT PLAN ANYTHING ELSE THE DAY OF MOVING FISH TANKS!
I put all my fish, corals, and rocks in large rubbermaid tubs.
*Im sure someone will disagree but i took all my sand out and rinsed it really well with clean saltwater* *But getting new sand would be much easier*
Moved the stand and tank, added the rinsed sand, seeded with some sand i kept. Placed some of the larger LR, added 1/2 water, aquascape rest of rock, add rest of water.
Add livestock!
I only lost 1 fish but thats becuase i left the rubermaid tub a bit to close to the open window and the water got really cold. After all the fish made it into the tank i had no problems with fish loss or water params...
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 04 2012 at 5:09pm |
 BobC63 wrote:
1)Mark's idea is not 'bad' or 'wrong' - but we are talking about a 75 gal setup here. DON'T try to move it 'half full'... or you WILL be asking for trouble |
I agree. A 75 gal is not a small tank tank that can be moved with any water, but it can be moved by 2-4 people leaving the sand intact and just wet with no other water. It's much easier than removing the sand. Although if the sand has been undisturbed for more than 2 years, now is a good time to follow Bob's suggestion.  Sorry, I failed to mention that I was talking about a tank less than 30 gal as one that can be moved simply by draining 1/2 -2/3 of the water, submerging the rock stack and leaving everything in it.
Edited by Mark Peterson - June 04 2012 at 5:14pm
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
Nails12
Guest
Joined: May 14 2012
Location: Draper
Status: Offline
Points: 1130
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 04 2012 at 5:17pm |
|
Thanks guys i will be doing all what you said!! :) I appreciate it!
|
|
This is more than a hobby; its a lifestyle.
|
|
