Buying & Moving A Used Aquarium

msr1015 · Mar 25, 2019

Hi guys. A bunch of questions from a newbie. Never had a reef tank before.

I am looking at purchasing a used 125 gallon aquarium. The aquarium has sand, lots of rock (too much actually), about 6-8 corals (some smaller and some medium sized), probably 10 livestock (tangs, clownfish, fire shrimp), lighting, skimmer, RO/DI, powerheads. I am going to purchase a new 125 gallon glass tank/stand/trigger sump/return pump to go with the system.

The question is when I go to move this tank what's the best plan of attack. I will have my new stand/tank/pump already setup. I would need to install the skimmer. What's the best method to empty the old tank? I've read what do I do with rock/corals/fish? People have mentioned putting the corals in a bag. Like a plastic jewel bag? I read about purchasing some Brute garbage cans to put water in. For the rock would something flatter, like a storage bin (some water might splash out as I'm not sure how tight those lids are), work better to put them in or can I just stack the rock on top of each other and fill the Brute garbage cans? I'm worried about them rubbing against one another and breaking.

The old tank is an 8'x2'x1', so not very deep. Should I reuse the sand that's in the tank or start with new sand? Do I have the guy make me 150 gallons of water and establish the tank before moving all the rock/fish/corals?

I live in Chicago so temperature is probably 50's outside right now. Drive is about an hour to relocate everything. Ok my head is spinning now. Thanks for everyone's patience.

Captain Quint · Mar 25, 2019

First welcome to R2R!

I admit I'm a bit confused on what you are trying to do.

Are you planning on using the 8' 120g as a donor tank and set up a new 125g system?

alton · Mar 25, 2019

Very seldom is the sand reusable. Insulated coolers are
the best way to move rock and animals

msr1015 · Mar 25, 2019

Captain Quint said:
First welcome to R2R!

I admit I'm a bit confused on what you are trying to do.

Are you planning on using the 8' 120g as a donor tank and set up a new 125g system?

Sorry. The 8' tank dimensions won't work in my house so I'm purchasing a new 72" tank instead. I'll probably try to sell the 8' tank after I have the new one up and running.

calvertc425 · Mar 25, 2019

Hey If you need any help let me know I live on the border of cook county/chicago

Journeyman · Mar 25, 2019

Do you have to move the old tank all at once or can you do it in stages?

I would get new sand. Wash and rinse it. Mix new saltwater. Maybe about 50 gallons or so.

Then get a little of the old sand and the live rocks from the old tank to seed the new sand.

Take live rock from old tank and 50 gallons of old tank water. Put in live rock and aquascape. Add old and new tank water. Add new sand. Add old sand. Top off tank rest of the way with either old or new tank water. Run the tank like a week. Then test to make sure parameters are stable.

If done right, this should seem like a water change for the livestock.

Then add livestock from old tank.

I've done it this way on a much smaller scale.

Captain Quint · Mar 26, 2019

msr1015 said:
Sorry. The 8' tank dimensions won't work in my house so I'm purchasing a new 72" tank instead. I'll probably try to sell the 8' tank after I have the new one up and running.

Thanks...makes total sense.