Big tank move

[topdogreefer]

I am finally setting up my dream reef!

I've been in and out of the hobby for the last 10 years, I am purchasing a tank that is currently set up 150gal 72"x18"x26". I'm running the sump to my basement for easy maitinance. I'm very excited!

My concern is I am planning to move the tank next weekend and it is COLD. Much of the current coral has grown onto the tank backwall top right of the picture. I'm trying to think of a way to keep it warm enough to survive.

The plan is to load the tank into my covered 10' trailer and tow it the 50 mins home. I'm not really concerned about most of the coral and fish I think with enough water they will stay warm enough during the move. But the tank will be empty so any coral on the Backwater is going to cool quickly.

I could run a generator and a heater but I don't have a way to vent it out of the trailer. Maybe a propane heater.... but that seems ill advised too.

Has anyone gone through a similar experience?

Do you think it should get it off and cut it into frags?

 

[slogan315]

disclaimer, the biggest move I’ve done is a 60g and it wasn’t very cold outside.

You should frag some for redundancy so you don’t lose the strain if it goes wrong.

The name of the game is going to be moisture and warmth.

Use wet newspaper or light towels for moisture retention. And tape on some foam insulation boards to help retain the heat. If the coral stays damp, and there isn’t open air getting to the glass or in the tank, it shouldn’t lose that much heat in 50 minutes. Could throw a bunch of the hand warmers inside to hopefully radiate some heat inside the aquarium. Probably in plastic bags to not contaminate anything…

these are all just suggestions. Hope someone with more experience chimes in. Good luck!

 

[ScubaFish802]

You could try to find a battery operated aquarium heater, or something that one can be plugged into.

Other than that my only other thought was you could get some sheets of Styrofoam or something and cut a piece for each side and tape the outside around (after moving it) for additional insulation. 50 mins isn't too bad.. my main concern would be moving the tank itself full of water, as that will stress the heck out of the seals

Edit: I realized you may have meant the fish and stuff in a separate container - that is what I would do. You could try your best to insulate the tank and bring a bottle to mist the corals over occasionally. I have had some SPS out of the water for around 30 min without issue just misting occasionally.

 

[907_Reefer]

..my main concern would be moving the tank itself full of water, as that will stress the heck out of the seals

And, we're talking about ~1800 lbs filled weight.

If it were me, I'd go with the plan of fragging a few nice chunks of it, and use wet paper towels over the rest with an otherwise empty tank, maybe stop once on the way home to mist.

You can get heater packs on Amazon also if you want to toss some in the area, I keep a few around just in case. Otherwise I wouldn't run any heaters in the trailer, lots of risk there. However there are Mr. Buddy heaters that are approved for indoor use (we love those in general), but again I would recommend to run one in a trailer unattended.

 

[ScubaFish802]

And, we're talking about ~1800 lbs filled weight.

If it were me, I'd go with the plan of fragging a few nice chunks of it, and use wet paper towels over the rest with an otherwise empty tank, maybe stop once on the way home to mist.

You can get heater packs on Amazon also if you want to toss some in the area, I keep a few around just in case. Otherwise I wouldn't run any heaters in the trailer, lots of risk there. However there are Mr. Buddy heaters that are approved for indoor use (we love those in general), but again I would recommend to run one in a trailer unattended.

Hey sorry, I edited after. Thought he meant in the tank lol

 

[907_Reefer]

Hey sorry, I edited after. Thought he meant in the tank lol

No worries! I was going to say, you must have some strong friends! Just pick it up, man!

 

[topdogreefer]

Thanks for the responses!

Yes the tank will be empty lol

It looks live moving day is going to be around 40 degrees. It could be much worse. I've been thinking it over and I think I can strap in a propane heater securely and simply run it on low in the trailer. I'm a bit worried about it burning all the oxygen but the fish and corals will be in large volumes of water 5-30gals so I expect it will be ok for 50 minutes. There's plenty of the specific coral I'm worried about on rock as well. I'll simply drape a wet towel over it for the ride and hope the heater keeps the temperature acceptable for the ride.

The move is this Saturday. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[Auto-pilot]

Thanks for the responses!

Yes the tank will be empty lol

It looks live moving day is going to be around 40 degrees. It could be much worse. I've been thinking it over and I think I can strap in a propane heater securely and simply run it on low in the trailer. I'm a bit worried about it burning all the oxygen but the fish and corals will be in large volumes of water 5-30gals so I expect it will be ok for 50 minutes. There's plenty of the specific coral I'm worried about on rock as well. I'll simply drape a wet towel over it for the ride and hope the heater keeps the temperature acceptable for the ride.

The move is this Saturday. I'll let you know how it goes!

Hey I've made a couple of moves with aquariums and I do have some incite for ya. One I would not put a propane heater in your trailer for two reasons, It can be a huge fire hazard and water is like a carbon dioxide sponge. The water will absorb th carbon dioxide and it would will drop your ph and suffocate your fish. If I were moving this tank I would find an inverter and some batteries and heat your water that way with cheap tank heaters. I just feel like too much can go wrong with a gas heater. I would premix water and have at least 80 gallons mixed and hot at the location you will be moving the tank to, I just made my water in big home depot bins. In my experience it allways takes 2-3 times as longer to take everything down and set it up again then planned. I moved my 125 and it was an all day process plus. Make a good plan and stick to it, this is a big process and its better to wait and to have everything in place than to risk killing everything. If there is sand in the bottom of tank you would benifit to replace it now as the old stuff will release a lot of detritus and junk into your tank. When I moved my tank I replaced 75 percent of the sand and added some old sand to keep some of the sand critters to reseed my tank. All I can say is good luck as this wont be easy!

 

[Auto-pilot]

Also get as much help as you can..... Beg barter or steal help lol.

 

[topdogreefer]

Yes, thank you!

Ok I've got 2 people coming to help plus the guy selling the tank. I have moving straps and am pretty sure 2 guys can walk it out alone. 350lbs empty (not certain so like you said I'm bringing an extra friend) I Currently only have 40 gallons of mixed heated water ready at home. My challenge currently is getting my hands on rodi water. I am getting a practically new unit with the tank. I could probably call I'm a favor for another 25 gallons or so, I'll do that.

I did buy new sand. 200lbs I like the idea to keep some of the current sand and I'll do that as long as it doesn't seem too dirty.

My main concern is keeping the coral encrusted on the display alive hence the propane heater. I had gotten myself pretty comfortable with this idea, im confident in avoiding fire hazards but i do worry about CO2 and carbon monoxide. Will the covered water bins and buckets not protect the water from this? Everything except the display will be minimum 80% sealed to prevent spilling. Won't that lack of airflow prevent the co2 from affecting the water

I don't want to come off as if I am ignoring advise, Advise is exactly why I posted this I'm simply digging deeper for your opinion.

I'm not sure a battery operated heaters is in the cards under the time constraints. I think water temp will be ok except for the empty glass display (encrusted with coral)

 

[topdogreefer]

Successfully completed to move yesterday!

It took about 3 hours to break it down then another 8 to put it back together. I did not wind up running any kind of heater in the trailer. The risk seemed higher than the possible reward or keeping coral live on the overflows. Used moving straps to move the aquarium, u wouldn't say it was easy but I honestly expected it to be worse.

And wow is there alot of rock, I'll be starting my aquascape today.

 

[Seansea]

Awesome looks great. Make sure to throw some pics up once you got everything where you want it.

 

[TheSharksDen]

Yes, congrats! Would like to see it filled!

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

A little late on a response. If someone else is going through this. They have 12 volt heated throws for vehicles. We got them for the kids, to keep and get them warm, till the vehicle heat came up. BTW, they where water resistant, and could be used as damp heat.

 

[Auto-pilot]

Successfully completed to move yesterday!

It took about 3 hours to break it down then another 8 to put it back together. I did not wind up running any kind of heater in the trailer. The risk seemed higher than the possible reward or keeping coral live on the overflows. Used moving straps to move the aquarium, u wouldn't say it was easy but I honestly expected it to be worse.

And wow is there alot of rock, I'll be starting my aquascape today.

Awesome good job! Yeah there is never a perfect way to get all this done and I HATE moving big tanks. Sorry for not responding to your post earlier Honestly a covered or sealed bucket would probably not be effected by carbon dioxide/ monoxide as its sealed; the tank not so sure. So one of my tanks is in a church building, its crazy how much the Ph changes on sundays when there are 100+ people in the building breathing CO2. I believe that a heater could have suffocated anything that wasn't sealed. haven't experimented with that though.

 

[topdogreefer]

My pictures are really bad, the water is still clearing up and corals mostly haven't opened up much. But I'm pretty happy with the aquascape.

it seems that the coral on the back wall of the aquarium all died. But that's alright everything else seems stressed but overall ok. I separated almost all the Xenia I don't want my reef overtaken with the stuff.

Im waiting for my Ro bucket to refill so i can do a water change. Hopefully that will help some.

As you can see the tangs are pretty banged up, the last owner of the tank said its from the rockwork and that they tend to recover quickly but now watching them I'm concerned it's from the other tangs. I haven't seen any nipping slashing or chasing. But the hippo tang seems to do alot of "intimidating" the purple tang stands his ground and the yellow is mostly left alone from what I can see. It would have been alot easier to seperate the aggressor before I put them all in the tank together again.

 

[topdogreefer]

I did a big water change last night corals are looking happier today!

 

[907_Reefer]

Looking great for right after a big move, nice work!

 

[brandon429]

what a great job

it looks like you used new sand

was it bagged/caribsea live sand like ocean direct?

 

[topdogreefer]

Thank you it was alot of work but it went well, I even have all the buckets and extra rock out of the kitchen and dining room lol

Yes 220lbs caribsea live special grade