90 Gallon Reef Question

fernalfer · Jan 15, 2016

Question, i was planning on building a new reef tank but came across one for sale fully established with corals. It is 90 gallons. 80lbs. of live rock, 60lbs. live sand, fluval canister filter but is including a bioball sump not currently hooked up, protein skimmer, 2T5 lights 1 blue, 1 colormax and 2 24-36" LED lights with programmer and lighting effects. The fish and tons of corals including big carpet aneome, 3 rose bubble anenome, bunch of corals and frags, hammers, polyps, zoas and others.

$600.00 for all. I feel this to be a great deal seeing this was the size tank i wanted to do starting from scratch.

BUT and the big BUT is how to get it from their house to mine. Can you even transport corals and anenomes without killing them? I would not even know where to start.

Do you pros believe this to be a good deal and worth giving it a try?

fragit · Jan 15, 2016

Yes you can! In the past I transported my fully stocked 6 year old 30 gal mixed reef from Rhode Island to Maine. Then another 3hour plus move when I moved in Maine. All you need are some sizable coolers. I put all the rocks in a cooler by themselves covered with tank water. If corals are attached just do the best to not break them. Then all the corals in another cooler covered with tank water. Have a bunch of new salt water mixed and ready to go for replacement. I left the sand in my tank when I moved but it was only 30 gallons, 90 gal tank full of sand will be heavy. You may just want to start with new live sand. Tear it all down pack everything up. When you get the stuff home... Set up the tank get all the plumbing hooked up first. Fill the tank with new salt water about half way, get your sand and rocks in there. Heat the water while you getting the plumbing set up. After your rocks are in use some of the old tank water to fill the tank the rest of the way. Put your corals back in and boom! Reef. It worked for me multiple times. I'm sure you will get other opinions and methods on what to do. Good luck! Sounds like a great deal!

fernalfer · Jan 15, 2016

Do i leave the coral attached to the rocks alone and just transport them on the rock they reside on?

redfishbluefish · Jan 15, 2016

Yes it could be done.

My best advice is to first join a local fish club and find folks who are experienced in making moves. This will greatly ease this move you're about to make, having someone there who's experienced. As already mentioned....coolers, buckets, whatever it takes to transport. I'd also have a considerable amount of new water already made as well.

Best of luck.