Moving a reef: 6 - 7 hr trip

[karo25]

My first reef tank has been up and running for 14 months and just found out that we're soon going to have to move. The thoughts of this terrify me. How do I even do this? Will the fish and corals survive?
Do I keep the sand covered in water while moving the tank? What about the copepods, are they all going to croak? Will my Mandarin starve?

Anyone have any advice?

 

[MrPike]

I have done it. You will need to get some sort of air pumps to circulate water, a lot of buckets and a few heavy duty rubbermaid trash cans. For air pumps, standard issue petco variety are fine, you will need an inverter for your vehicle so you can plug them in. Fish I would isolate to a 5g bucket each with their own aerator.

Don't worry about the mandarin starving, that's not a concern.

Your enemy here is temperature and oxygen, keep those constant and you will be ok.

 

[andrewkw]

I would start with new sand, or remove your sand ahead of time, weeks at least and rinse it out well. You are going to lose a lot of microfauna but I wouldn't worry about a complete collapse. Moving a live sand bed can be real troublesome.

If you can keep your live rock wet that will be a big help. Can you have someone at the new location have water ready for you? If not bring as much extra water as you can, but ideally you can hook up with a local reefer or lfs and have them prepare some water for you. I did a similar move and while the actual trip was fine I think I lost one fish the aftermath not so much.. My situation doesn't apply to you (I had to keep everything in holding tanks for 6 weeks after move). When I move again I will find someone to hook me up with fresh saltwater and pay them accordingly. I'd even be willing to pay extra to have them match my alkalinity which is something else to keep in mind if you will go as far as to pay someone for water. Of course if you have room and extra barrels there is no reason you can't bring fresh water with you.

 

[Redleg]

Check with your LFS to see if they can pack your fish in bags. Also they may have a few Styrofoam boxes lying about. I drove freshwater fish 23 hours like that once.

 

[karo25]

I have done it. You will need to get some sort of air pumps to circulate water, a lot of buckets and a few heavy duty rubbermaid trash cans. For air pumps, standard issue petco variety are fine, you will need an inverter for your vehicle so you can plug them in. Fish I would isolate to a 5g bucket each with their own aerator.

Don't worry about the mandarin starving, that's not a concern.

Your enemy here is temperature and oxygen, keep those constant and you will be ok.

Should I put small heaters in each bucket?

 

[MrPike]

Should I put small heaters in each bucket?

Keep your vehicle temperature regular and you will be fine. The concern will likely be heat, not cold. I have had fish/coral below 65 for a time without issues, just get them warm asap. Above 84, your really asking for trouble.

 

[karo25]

Thanks to all of you!