Moving a Reef 500 Miles

[Johnz]

So it looks like I will be relocating in about 6 weeks and will need to move my 90 gallon mixed reef and the contents of my frag tank. I plan to wake up in the morning and pack everything up, drive the 500 miles(7hours) and then reassemble and set everything back up in the same day. I'm not sure the best way to transport the corals/frags though. Should I just bag everything as if I was shipping it, or could I get away with putting everything in coolers with and airstone or power head? Which would be less stressful on the corals? If anyone has any input or moving experiences to share I would appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Mrfresh]

I would bag them and buy heat packs.
And have a lot of extra water pre made bc ur sand bed is going to get mixed up and things will get stirred up that will cause problems...
Ur live rock will go dry and will slowly start to kill off ur coraline and bio on there...
And it's better to give the corals fresh salt water after they have been sitting in the own water for a few hours...

Hope this helps

 

[Johnz]

So you would bag them then, that does help thank you. I'm moving from South Florida to North Florida so I think I can skip the heat pack. I currently have only a 1/2" sand bed, and I plan on just tossing it in the trash when I move. I've been meaning to move to a coarser sand so I can add more flow and this seems like as good a time as any. I will keep the live rock submerged in a trash can or something filled with water I think. Not sure the best way.

 

[CoryC]

this has worked for me moving tanks: pack all the rock in buckets or tubs with some tank water. bag corals and fish. cut a few peices of bonded filter to fit the inside footprint of your tank. place these one sand bed while moving. this will help hold in place and soak the bad stuff up that gets stirred. when you get to your new place run about twenty gallons through the bonded and sand bed and ring it out several times to try and get all the detritus out. refill and do a couple water changes. should really help with getting all the gunk that gets stirred up out of your water column.

 

[Johnz]

So it seems bagging is better then putting the corals and fish in buckets and tubs with an airstone?

 

[RalphsReef]

I would bag the fish. I moved just 20 miles last summer and lost some fish by transporting them in Rubbermaid tubs. Starting out with new sand is a good idea as well. As far as the rock, you can put it in Rubbermaid tubs, also. I would add some newspaper soaked in tank water on top of them to keep it damp. Have plenty of new saltwater ready, and maybe even a hospital tank if you can arrange it for anyone who gets stressed. It is difficult to plan for everything. I thought I had, yet little things popped up here and there. And it took me the better part of a day to just make the 20 mile move. I broke the tank down, put everything in tubs, moved it, and set it back up. Started at 7AM and was done around 9PM. I also managed to get a bad infection from cutting my hand on the live rock. I had the Aqua Gloves, but didn't like the way they felt, so I took them off. Big mistake. If you are moving just your rock, use the gloves. Trust me. Good luck with everything.

 

[Mrfresh]

I would still think about using a heat pack. I live in socali and I moved a few miles in the summer and my water still dropped a good amount.i had a bin set up at my new place and drive everything over. Big misteak the water at the new place got cold ever tho it was in the 90s... And u plan on keeping them in bags for several hours...it's just a good idea to be over protective about the corals and fish then not and loose them...I would also get a stryofoam box to put them in to keep the well insulated, and tape the box up to prevent heat or cold getting in or out, you want to try and keep the water at a stable temp...

 

[Johnz]

I will do that. I might as well pack everything up as if I was shipping it somewhere. Then I guess I won't have to worry about it. Thanks for the suggestions.