Moving a 20g tank

[MikeRowe2024]

Hello, my lease just fell through and now I have to move to temporary housing from 8/1-8/15. I’m hoping I can find a friend that will take and care for the tank during that time. But what is the best way to move it? It will have to be moved, set up for 2 weeks, then moved again. Obviously that’s a lot of stress on the fish. It’s currently very lightly stocked.

I guess my biggest question is what to do with the sand. I’ve seen both keep in and take out. I know the benifcial Bac. Is in the sand so I don’t want to lose that right?

The silver lining is that all 3 moves are within 1 mile of each other. So I can safely transport easily.

Very unfortunate situation, but I’m honestly just glad I found a new lease for the 15th lol. Would really not want to restart everything because of this tho.
Tia

 

[Biochembob]

Rip cleaning your tank. See @brandon429's guide.

in short you use only your live rock and livestock. New sand, water, etc.

 

[MikeRowe2024]

Rip cleaning your tank. See @brandon429's guide.

in short you use only your live rock and livestock. New sand, water, etc.

Thanks,
I’d prefer to only buy new sand once lol, should I just go bare bottom for that 2 week period? My friends house is 1 block away. Or You think we can move it with sand that far then replace with new sand on final move?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, my lease just fell through and now I have to move to temporary housing from 8/1-8/15. I’m hoping I can find a friend that will take and care for the tank during that time. But what is the best way to move it? It will have to be moved, set up for 2 weeks, then moved again. Obviously that’s a lot of stress on the fish. It’s currently very lightly stocked.

I guess my biggest question is what to do with the sand. I’ve seen both keep in and take out. I know the benifcial Bac. Is in the sand so I don’t want to lose that right?

The silver lining is that all 3 moves are within 1 mile of each other. So I can safely transport easily.

Very unfortunate situation, but I’m honestly just glad I found a new lease for the 15th lol. Would really not want to restart everything because of this tho.
Tia

Keep it simple as I did moving my pet store tanks and even tank to my current house which at time was a 135g- Take water down to 1/4 capacity and leave water and fish in the tank and go slow. Set back up with new water ( will be like doing a major water change and will keep bacteria alive)
If corals- place in cooler and then place back in tank once reset

 

[Biochembob]

Thanks,
I’d prefer to only buy new sand once lol, should I just go bare bottom for that 2 week period? My friends house is 1 block away. Or You think we can move it with sand that far then replace with new sand on final move?

I would go bare bottom.

 

[littlefoxx]

Hello, my lease just fell through and now I have to move to temporary housing from 8/1-8/15. I’m hoping I can find a friend that will take and care for the tank during that time. But what is the best way to move it? It will have to be moved, set up for 2 weeks, then moved again. Obviously that’s a lot of stress on the fish. It’s currently very lightly stocked.

I guess my biggest question is what to do with the sand. I’ve seen both keep in and take out. I know the benifcial Bac. Is in the sand so I don’t want to lose that right?

The silver lining is that all 3 moves are within 1 mile of each other. So I can safely transport easily.

Very unfortunate situation, but I’m honestly just glad I found a new lease for the 15th lol. Would really not want to restart everything because of this tho.
Tia

I left the sand in enough water to keep it wet when I moved my 125 to my house. Also used buckets with tank water to host corals and moved the fish that way too. The second I got home (or in your case to its temp place) I put air stones and heaters in the buckets and just re set up my reef from there. Used a big tote and 5 gallon buckets to keep as much of the water as possible to not add more stress to the livestock. 20 will be way easier to do than a 125 for sure!

 

[MikeRowe2024]

I left the sand in enough water to keep it wet when I moved my 125 to my house. Also used buckets with tank water to host corals and moved the fish that way too. The second I got home (or in your case to its temp place) I put air stones and heaters in the buckets and just re set up my reef from there. Used a big tote and 5 gallon buckets to keep as much of the water as possible to not add more stress to the livestock. 20 will be way easier to do than a 125 for sure!

Yeah I’m not tooo worried about the labor aspect, 20g is tiny compared to a lot of ppls moves lol. Just more worried about the 2 week period. I’m gonna try to get my hands on a cheap HoB filter and refill the tank up to below drains I think for that time.

 

[_cpate3_]

Hello, my lease just fell through and now I have to move to temporary housing from 8/1-8/15. I’m hoping I can find a friend that will take and care for the tank during that time. But what is the best way to move it? It will have to be moved, set up for 2 weeks, then moved again. Obviously that’s a lot of stress on the fish. It’s currently very lightly stocked.

I guess my biggest question is what to do with the sand. I’ve seen both keep in and take out. I know the benifcial Bac. Is in the sand so I don’t want to lose that right?

The silver lining is that all 3 moves are within 1 mile of each other. So I can safely transport easily.

Very unfortunate situation, but I’m honestly just glad I found a new lease for the 15th lol. Would really not want to restart everything because of this tho.
Tia

I am also moving my tank, however I’m taking it too and from college 2 of my inhabitants died today so on the bright side my move is a lot easier, and my clowns can handle moving as they were shipped and delayed and still made it safe. I am planning on putting my Rock flower anemones in the sand bed as well as my corals, and keeping about 1/4 of the water in the tank for the sand and media balls in my filter. Make sure you have a buddy to help lift the tank!

 

[MikeRowe2024]

I am also moving my tank, however I’m taking it too and from college 2 of my inhabitants died today so on the bright side my move is a lot easier, and my clowns can handle moving as they were shipped and delayed and still made it safe. I am planning on putting my Rock flower anemones in the sand bed as well as my corals, and keeping about 1/4 of the water in the tank for the sand and media balls in my filter. Make sure you have a buddy to help lift the tank!

Where you go to school? I’m in the same boat, college slum lords suck lol

 

[Biochembob]

I am also moving my tank, however I’m taking it too and from college 2 of my inhabitants died today so on the bright side my move is a lot easier, and my clowns can handle moving as they were shipped and delayed and still made it safe. I am planning on putting my Rock flower anemones in the sand bed as well as my corals, and keeping about 1/4 of the water in the tank for the sand and media balls in my filter. Make sure you have a buddy to help lift the tank!

I wouldn't re use the sand without completely rinsing it. The sand traps alot of detritus. 85%+ of the bad stuff is in the sand and 75%+ of the good bacteria is in our live rock. The rip cleaning I referenced has been used thousands of times and has been proven to work without fail if done correctly.

For instance in my tank move I never saw ammonia, nitrites never got above barely detectable ~0.05 ppm, phosphate was 0.01 and nitrate was 10 a week after the move. All my GHA issues were gone and the coral was looking better than ever.

Getting a big ammonia or sulfide spike after disturbing a sand bed is pretty common and a reason why a lot of people have gone bare bottom in recent years.

 

[saltcats]

You could buy new sand to go in the tank for the first move, and then thoroughly wash your original sand in the meantime so it can be be reused after. That's what I'm planning to do for my tank move. That way you aren't on a ticking clock to set the tank back up while washing the sand.

 

[fish farmer]

Yeah I’m not tooo worried about the labor aspect, 20g is tiny compared to a lot of ppls moves lol. Just more worried about the 2 week period. I’m gonna try to get my hands on a cheap HoB filter and refill the tank up to below drains I think for that time.

Keep it bare bottom. Be ready to do a couple water changes in that two week period if you are concerned.HOB with carbon/filter floss. It's only a couple of weeks. I used to tear down and rebuild my sw tanks during college, didn't have corals though.

 

[MikeRowe2024]

You could buy new sand to go in the tank for the first move, and then thoroughly wash your original sand in the meantime so it can be be reused after. That's what I'm planning to do for my tank move. That way you aren't on a ticking clock to set the tank back up while washing the sand.

Interesting idea. Would it even really be worth it for the new sand tho? Or would 2 weeks barebottom while washing suffice