How to move tank properly?

[OpenOcean33]

So I will be moving in December and the reef tank is coming with me. I am looking at your tips and tricks for moving a tank with out causing to much damage to the ecosystem. I was thinking of going to Petco and buying a 40 gallon breeder adding some sand from my tank and water into it. Then the livestock will follow with some little rocks or so. I was going to move the ta. Now is it best to recycle it or add the old water back in. Or even go with some turbo start? I just want to cause the least amount of damage or stress to livestock during the move. Its not far so I don't plan on selling any. Thanks guys!

 

[CindyKz]

When I moved across town last year I got a bunch of reefer friends and a bunch of rubbermaid totes and buckets. (Friends brought theirs to help). We pulled all of the rocks out first and put them in rubbermaids with tank water. Then we caught the fish, shrimp and larger inverts, they went into 2 x 5 gal buckets with air stones and tank water. (We didn't do heaters because it was pretty warm out). Drained the tank, got the assorted snails and such out and into a bucket. Put the sand into buckets for later rinsing. Broke down all equipment, it went into another rubbermaid. Repeat this process with 2nd tank.

Everything went into the moving van except the fish buckets. Those rode in a car. Caravan to new house.

At the new house we moved in the tank and stand. Put in all brand new sand. Put the rocks and fish and saved tank water back in. Filled up with fresh salt water that I had made the day prior. Hooked up lights, powerheads, etc. Repeat with 2nd tank.

It took most of a day, but I had A LOT of help and people with much more expertise than I have. All of the livestock made it through

 

[OpenOcean33]

When I moved across town last year I got a bunch of reefer friends and a bunch of rubbermaid totes and buckets. (Friends brought theirs to help). We pulled all of the rocks out first and put them in rubbermaids with tank water. Then we caught the fish, shrimp and larger inverts, they went into 2 x 5 gal buckets with air stones and tank water. (We didn't do heaters because it was pretty warm out). Drained the tank, got the assorted snails and such out and into a bucket. Put the sand into buckets for later rinsing. Broke down all equipment, it went into another rubbermaid. Repeat this process with 2nd tank.

Everything went into the moving van except the fish buckets. Those rode in a car. Caravan to new house.

At the new house we moved in the tank and stand. Put in all brand new sand. Put the rocks and fish and saved tank water back in. Filled up with fresh salt water that I had made the day prior. Hooked up lights, powerheads, etc. Repeat with 2nd tank.

It took most of a day, but I had A LOT of help and people with much more expertise than I have. All of the livestock made it through

Awesome, this is kind of what I had planned and I appreciate it.. at least I have only one tank to do instead of two ! lol

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

So are you setting up the 40B in the new house and moving stuff into it? if it’s something your gonna move around, I would stick to totes and buckets

 

[OpenOcean33]

So are you setting up the 40B in the new house and moving stuff into it? if it’s something your gonna move around, I would stick to totes and buckets

I guess I was thinking it was going to be a more of a team,porary holding, I wasn't sure if a mini cycle would happen just from moving the tank and I wanted it to pass before re adding the fish. but I think I will just move it all at once instead.

 

[CindyKz]

I guess I was thinking it was going to be a more of a team,porary holding, I wasn't sure if a mini cycle would happen just from moving the tank and I wanted it to pass before re adding the fish. but I think I will just move it all at once instead.

The only thing I changed was the sand, so essentially same bioload and biofilter. If there was a mini cycle I missed it