How to move tanks long distance?

[Jvesche20]

I still have a few more years before I move but I currently have 125G and a 25G frag tank. I would love to upgrade to a massive tank 400+G when I move. But I know that when I move it’s gonna be a one and done house. Or at least until I retire. I want to try and move to Colorado. Currently living in Michigan. Does anyone have any tips or what they did when moving across country? I want to keep all my current fish and corals just add them to a bigger tank.

 

[Saveafish]

Ive done it. Best thing is get something at your new place going. Big cheap stock tanks work. Cycle it and have it really ready. Than buckets and buckets and more buckets. Get a load of battery operated air pumps. Fill buckets up and put a hole in the lid of each one just snug fit for the airline tube. Than pit super small hole a couple inches next to it. The allows the air to escape. Load up and drive drive drive. Team drive if you have to. Once your there it's acclimating and putting in the stock tank.
Note: best to use new buckets and lids, the new lids will have to seal on it. This is important. It keeps it tight. Leave about 3-4 inches of air space on each bucket.

 

[Saveafish]

One other thing it's best to use a big SUV or a van. Try to set the cabin temp to 76deg this will be your only temp control. Any thing equment wise that was in the tank clean super good if not and you use it right away it'll spike the tank.

 

[Jvesche20]

One other thing it's best to use a big SUV or a van. Try to set the cabin temp to 76deg this will be your only temp control. Any thing equment wise that was in the tank clean super good if not and you use it right away it'll spike the tank.

Gotcha good info. Now my question is what do I do if I have a large moving van? I think that’s what I’ll be using but not sure still have a while to think about this. But I also need my car so I could put them in my car.

Can I use my old tank water with all the rock and sand and not cycle?

My only fear is if I buy the house then I go there (30 hrs away) start the cycle. Then what am I gonna do with my current fish? I can’t just leave the water cycling there for a month. Idk if I’m making sense or not. I know 400 gallons is a lot so I don’t think I could put 400 gallons in the back of a truck and expect to move it.

 

[Saveafish]

Easier to make a couple trips. Sand, rinse in in fresh salt water. If your moving tank water get plastic 55 gallon drums. All the water used to transport in is trash water once you get there. Just like shipping water in fish shipments. The ammonia will be raising and raise once you unseal the lids and take the air pump off.

 

[Hemmdog]

Ive done it. Best thing is get something at your new place going. Big cheap stock tanks work. Cycle it and have it really ready. Than buckets and buckets and more buckets. Get a load of battery operated air pumps. Fill buckets up and put a hole in the lid of each one just snug fit for the airline tube. Than pit super small hole a couple inches next to it. The allows the air to escape. Load up and drive drive drive. Team drive if you have to. Once your there it's acclimating and putting in the stock tank.
Note: best to use new buckets and lids, the new lids will have to seal on it. This is important. It keeps it tight. Leave about 3-4 inches of air space on each bucket.

This sounds like a nightmare lol. I would just have a tank set up at both places. Mail yourself your corals and fish. Get on plane, pick up fish. A cross country drive doesn’t sound very fun or safe for the driver or the fish if the driver is stressed out and hot from keeping it 78 in the car lol. @Saveafish lol I like you man, but that sounds like the worst 15+ hours of my life lol. ;Dead

 

[Saveafish]

This sounds like a nightmare lol. I would just have a tank set up at both places. Mail yourself your corals and fish. Get on plane, pick up fish. A cross country drive doesn’t sound very fun or safe for the driver or the fish if the driver is stressed out and hot from keeping it 78 in the car lol. @Saveafish lol I like you man, but that sounds like the worst 15+ hours of my life lol. ;Dead

If you only knew. If I ever did it again I'd sell my livestock and move the dry goods.
@Hemmdog

 

[Hemmdog]

If you only knew. If I ever did it again I'd sell my livestock and move the dry goods.
@Hemmdog

Lolol I figured hahahah

 

[Jvesche20]

Alright so cycling is my biggest consern. If that’s the case then I might just take my 125g and set it up in the corner and get the 400G and cycle it while I’m living there. I have those 55G drums. I have 3 actually so that would work perfect.

This sounds like a nightmare lol. I would just have a tank set up at both places. Mail yourself your corals and fish. Get on plane, pick up fish. A cross country drive doesn’t sound very fun or safe for the driver or the fish if the driver is stressed out and hot from keeping it 78 in the car lol. @Saveafish lol I like you man, but that sounds like the worst 15+ hours of my life lol. ;Dead

I wish I could do this but if I’m moving app my other stuff such as furniture and my belongings then I’m going to need a truck. Gonna cost a lot but between the GF and my self we got a lot of stuff. I have a large live stock and plenty of corals. I feel like I’ll be paying $100s to get everything shipped. Never shipped anything before so don’t really know how the prices go

 

[Jvesche20]

If you only knew. If I ever did it again I'd sell my livestock and move the dry goods.
@Hemmdog

I would feel bad selling my live stock and restarting. I’ve had them for this long I couldn’t just get rid of them

 

[Hemmdog]

Alright so cycling is my biggest consern. If that’s the case then I might just take my 125g and set it up in the corner and get the 400G and cycle it while I’m living there. I have those 55G drums. I have 3 actually so that would work perfect.


I wish I could do this but if I’m moving app my other stuff such as furniture and my belongings then I’m going to need a truck. Gonna cost a lot but between the GF and my self we got a lot of stuff. I have a large live stock and plenty of corals. I feel like I’ll be paying $100s to get everything shipped. Never shipped anything before so don’t really know how the prices go

Yea it won’t be cheap either way lol. I just personally would be having a massive anxiety attack the entire way if I was driving all my live stock in buckets and battery air pumps through curvy Colorado mountainous roads lol. Either way your gonna have to frag some coral and set that to subsidize moving costs or shipping costs. Usually your new employer will pay in full for your move and get you a moving company. Most people aren’t like driving their own stuff across state lines when they move lol.

 

[Jvesche20]

Yea it won’t be cheap either way lol. I just personally would be having a massive anxiety attack the entire way if I was driving all my live stock in buckets and battery air pumps through curvy Colorado mountainous roads lol. Either way your gonna have to frag some coral and set that to subsidize moving costs or shipping costs. Usually your new employer will pay in full for your move and get you a moving company. Most people aren’t like driving their own stuff across state lines when they move lol.

Is it that easy to just transfer? Still in college trying to decide on what I wanna do with my life when I graduate. Maybe I should get a job then wait a few years then tell them I wanna move? Or do I try and get a job out there while living here?

 

[Saveafish]

Maybe hands on help will help too. Like find a reef maintenance company out there and bring it right to them. They'll hold it and help you. Look at 1500 or so

 

[Jvesche20]

Maybe hands on help will help too. Like find a reef maintenance company out there and bring it right to them. They'll hold it and help you. Look at 1500 or so

What do you mean by this?

 

[Saveafish]

If there is a maintenance reef company close to where your moving. They can help you set up at that end. Call local LFS stores around there and ask who does reef maintenance on tanks. Call them and ask what they can do at that end to be ready for you. Plus it's a great way to start a solid relationship with them

 

[Hemmdog]

Is it that easy to just transfer? Still in college trying to decide on what I wanna do with my life when I graduate. Maybe I should get a job then wait a few years then tell them I wanna move? Or do I try and get a job out there while living here?

It’s easier to apply for jobs where you want to be. I went to Penn State from 08-13’, then moved from my apartment there to a beach house in San Diego for a job I got while in PA. That didn’t work out long term so I moved to Phoenix for 2 years, then moved to The Bay in nor cal. Jobs are easy to get, especially if you went to college, it’s just finding one that doesent make you want to ace yourself that’s the tricky part.

 

[Jvesche20]

If there is a maintenance reef company close to where your moving. They can help you set up at that end. Call local LFS stores around there and ask who does reef maintenance on tanks. Call them and ask what they can do at that end to be ready for you. Plus it's a great way to start a solid relationship with them

Would this reef maintenance consist of cycling my water for me?

 

[Hemmdog]

Would this reef maintenance consist of cycling my water for me?

For sure, you just need a water change or two during cycling.

 

[Jvesche20]

It’s easier to apply for jobs where you want to be. I went to Penn State from 08-13’, then moved from my apartment there to a beach house in San Diego for a job I got while in PA. That didn’t work out long term so I moved to Phoenix for 2 years, then moved to The Bay in nor cal. Jobs are easy to get, especially if you went to college, it’s just finding one that doesent make you want to ace yourself that’s the tricky part.

Haha I’ll have my masters by the time I finish up so hopefully that helps out. Plus computer science I feel is super easy to find a job. I plan on living what seems to be 30 minutes from Denver. I would think there are many jobs out there

 

[Jvesche20]

Tbh it probably would have been easier if I god a job then started reefing but oh well