How to transport live rock?

[NinnJinn]

I may be taking a 3hr one way road trip to pick up an Aquarium that is currently running with live rock in it....

How would I go about keeping the live rock "live" so to speak? Or do I just allow it to become dry rock?

I know I need to use an RO-DI which the seller is including, but I currently do not have a running salt tank. So my thinking is, the live rock will be out of tank for at least 3-4 days, because I do not have access to a truck so I will be using a minivan to pick up the 125gal tank, stand, etc and I know I will not have enough room to bring 20+ 5gal buckets of salt water home with me.

 

[Wieloch89]

Buy a garbage can. Take enough buckets to put the rock in and keep submerged in water. When you get home put all of the rock in the garbage can with the water taken from the tank. Drop in a heater and a power head for water movement.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Wow! This is a tough one. The three hour drive isn't so much an issue.....just keep the rock covered with wet newspaper or towels. But I've never done multiple days. Not sure if it would stay wet enough for three or four days.

I also think a single minivan is a tight fit for a 125 with a stand...plus whatever else comes with this tank.

I'm also assuming no fish or corals.

If that's the case, and this is an older tank with potentially unwanted pests on the rocks, you might wish to let it die and start fresh. It certainly would make the transport and subsequent setup less stressful. Now, if you let it die, it now needs to be cured....a month or two process. I'd suggest you start with the following BRS video, and leave out the acid portion of the process.

 

[Wieloch89]

Killing it is also an option. The best one I think. I start all of my tanks with dead rock. It makes it easier to control what ends up in your tank and makes the process easier as your tank matures.

I haven’t watched the video, and it’s probably similar, but my method is to brush the rock to get all lose organic material off that you can while it’s wet, let the rock sit out in the sun for a few days to bake, put the rock in a barrel or garbage can with saltwater and add a heater, power head, and bag of carbon. The carbon is for the smell of the organic material decomposing. Test the barrel every so often for phosphates, nitrite, and ammonia, once it all hits zero your rock is cured and clean.

 

[CJS80]

I also think a single minivan is a tight fit for a 125 with a stand...plus whatever else comes with this tank.

You may have to tie the stand to the roof since it will be the lighter of the 2 pieces, or leave the rock in the tank which isn't a good idea. If the stand goes on the roof you have room for totes to put the rock in which you can have a little water in. When you get home hook up RODI and start making water. You should have enough to cover the rock within a day. Remember that ordered live rock ships in a plastic bag with wet paper, and is that way for anywhere between 12-48 hours depending on when packed and unpacked.

 

[LagunaGlide]

I moved a large tank with rock and sand recently. Put the rock in buckets with as much water as you can take. Then when you get home put the rock in trash cans or plastic totes with water and a heater. Using as much of their water as you can will reduce your expense on using your own water and salt.

 

[lapin]

Put the rock in plastic trash bags, double bag it, with wet towels or newspaper. Use the water from his tank if there is any left. You can open them up every night to make sure they are saying wet. The rock should fit in 2ea 32 gallon rubbermaid brute cans. Make sure you can hook up the rodi and have some salt and the cans at your house,so you can mix a batch when you get home. You will get some die off. Test your rock water after a week to be sure there is no ammonia left before putting it in your tank.