Huge Dilemma!

PaulKreider · Jul 7, 2013

Well Recently I'v decided that I'm moving up to tallahassee mid august, and one of my main concerns is the tank. I'v been contemplating back and forth about moving it up there with me, or breaking everything down, selling it and starting over a few months down the road. I will be going to college at FSU and not quite sure what to do. My tank is a standard 55gal breeder, but stocked full of more corals than I can fit! I'm just wondering what the members here on R2R think I should do, break it down and bring it with, or start new. If you would rather see me bring it with, please give moving advice, since it will be a lot of work and a 5 hour drive. Keep in mind I probably have 3-4thousand in this tank, and I'm 19, So its been a huge investment in my life, I'm really just confused and stuck on what I should do! :\

shawy2510 · Jul 7, 2013

Always think about yourself 1st. If it is viable to keeo the tank then do but if you need some cash freed up for college etc then sell it & start again when you are ready or even if you have a reefer friend to keep your best pieces and let them have a few freebies until your up and running again.

PaulKreider · Jul 7, 2013

The money isn't the issue, I have scholarships and a job up there already. But Its just thrown in there to mention its not a cheap tank and its important.

RalphsReef · Jul 7, 2013

If it were me, and I knew I would have the time to take care of the tank while at FSU, I would keep it. Especially if you have that much invested in corals already. If you sell, you will likely not get the investment back, and will once again have to pay to replace them when the time comes. The only other way would be to let a local hold them for you, or if you sell them have an agreement that the buyer will sell you frags back at a reasonable price. That is assuming the corals survive. The move would be a pain, but I think it would be worth it. You would need rubbermaid tubs with airstones (mostly for fish if you have them). Get an inverter for your vehicle so you can power the air pump, or buy the battery powered ones. August will be hot, so you will not need to worry about keeping the corals warm. You will need to have good A/C in your vehicle, though as you don't want them too hot for the 5 hour trip. I would try to have some new saltwater ready for when you set back up. If you have sand, rinse it really good if you want to reuse it. Or even better get new sand. Put your live rock in the rubbermaid tubs with a little water. I covered mine with newspaper to keep it damp. I moved just 30 minutes a year ago and it was a mess. I was not as prepared as I should have been. So, I have a little recent experience with it. Good luck either way.

PaulKreider · Jul 7, 2013

Hmm You threw in a good point ralph, buyin all new coral would be even more expensive :\

RalphsReef · Jul 7, 2013

LOL, not trying to make it difficult for you. I was just thinking, you could also bag the corals individually. If you still have the 5 listed on your page, it should not bee too bad. I would plan on most of the day to get it set back up. I moved my custom frag setup which is around 175 gallons total volume 20 miles, and it took from 7AM until 10PM. If you could somehow have a tank set up and waiting, that would be even better. If that is a possibility, you could seed it beforehand.

PaulKreider · Jul 7, 2013

If I would be using the same rock, but not the same sand, would I need to worry about a cycle that would harm the corals?

SeahorseKeeper · Jul 7, 2013

Do you have anyone that can hold your corals for you? Are you going to be in an apartment/dorm or is the move to Tallahassee permanent?

PaulKreider · Jul 7, 2013

Unfortunatly no, not many people reef around here, and it would be an apartment.

prsnlty · Jul 7, 2013

Where are you at Paul? I'm in Citrus Co. Not sure what I can do to help but you never know

125g mixed reef Peninsula

RalphsReef · Jul 7, 2013

I foolishly used the same sand in the tank I moved. I did not even rinse it. A scheduling issue came up, and I had to do everything in one day, that day. The tank was so turbid when I was done that you could not see even a couple inches into it. I only placed a few corals and one fish into it at that point. This was at a house I was moving to, while I still had another tank running at the old house. Most of my livestock was in that tank. Later that evening, closer to midnight probably, I stopped by the new house to check the tank I moved. It had already cleared up and the fish and few corals in there were doing fine. Even with all the sediment being kicked up in the sand, and moving the rock, there was not a cycle. I was lucky. I did, however, manage to get a nasty infection in my right hand from being cut by live rock. I had the Aqua Gloves, but could not manage my corals while wearing them, so I took them off. That would be another suggestion. Get gloves for moving your rock. That infection had me out of work for 2 weeks, as I could not use my right hand.

jm23 · Jul 8, 2013

The problem is going to be breaks, trips, vacations, etc...as long as you have a plan for that then I would give it a try.

MattL22 · Jul 8, 2013

My advice sell everything but the equipment !
Set up a sm nano like biocube etc.. to keep ur feet wet while at college .
Then when u r bit more settled set up a huge tank!! I just moved a tank 3 times in past yr I sold my coop moved in with inlaws then finally bought a house!
All my corals took a beating because of the moves and lack of time while I worked on new house !
And the 3 days I had to move the tank where miserable !

PaulKreider · Jul 8, 2013

I guess like stated before my main concern would be when im out of town for short periods while im up there, I'd eather have to rely on roommates or make some invention for feeding fish.

RalphsReef · Jul 8, 2013

If your main concern is feeding the fish, here is my advice. If it is just a couple days, they will be OK. If it is more than that, leave the portions you want fed with a roommate or friend in a small container. Don't give them the entire jar, as they will more than likely overfeed. If you are gone 3 days, have them feed once in the middle of the 3 day period. Of course, this can be tweaked for longer vacations.