Moving advice!!

[jenny989]

I am moving in a little over 4 weeks. New home is over 4 hours away which isn't bad. I have a 125 gallon and a 46 gallon I'm planning on taking with me. Has anyone had experience with this and able to offer tips? I'm concerned about my corals obviously and also starting another cycle. I found a store that is willing to meet me at the new home with ro/di mixed water so I don't have to take it all with me. Help!!

 

[FLAdaboy]

I'm in the Army and move every 3-4 years. It's really easy to move a tank. Buy totes from Walmart. If you can take your rock out, then do so and put it in the totes. Use your tank water for the move. Once the tank is drained, throw you sand in a bucket or two if you can. On the arriving side, put the tank up and throw the sand back in. You may need more sw on that end but use the previous tank water and pump it in using a filter sock. Set your scape up again and give it a few hours to settle. It helps if you have a truck.

 

[Diesel]

I don't think it's a problem with most other than your sand.
I suggest clean your sand really good or buy new life sand.
Keep rock submersed at all times with some good flow during the move.
Your corals and fish aren't a big deal as they will ship for more than four hours if done right with no problem.











[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

 

[melypr1985]

I agree the sand should be cleaned thoroughly or replaced. That will be the biggest issue.

 

[duckdodgers]

With buyin new sand wont that create a new cycle?

 

[melypr1985]

With buyin new sand wont that create a new cycle?

It's shouldn't if you keep your live rock live during the move. That's where most of your bacteria live anyway and you should have enough to handle the bioload you currently have. You may see a short diatom bloom after you set the tank back up, but I wouldn't expect a full cycle at all.

 

[duckdodgers]

Ok cool thanks

 

[Diesel]

It's shouldn't if you keep your live rock live during the move. That's where most of your bacteria live anyway and you should have enough to handle the bioload you currently have. You may see a short diatom bloom after you set the tank back up, but I wouldn't expect a full cycle at all.

^^+1^^

Always have some bacteria on hand if you do this and enough newly mixed water as in the first two weeks you got to keep a eye on it.

 

[Dom]

I am moving in a little over 4 weeks. New home is over 4 hours away which isn't bad. I have a 125 gallon and a 46 gallon I'm planning on taking with me. Has anyone had experience with this and able to offer tips? I'm concerned about my corals obviously and also starting another cycle. I found a store that is willing to meet me at the new home with ro/di mixed water so I don't have to take it all with me. Help!!

I helped my buddy move a 120 a short while ago; it went perfectly. The best advice I can suggest is to think in terms of taking everything; it is what he did.

We purchased 25 Home Depot buckets with lids. Lining each bucket with clear plastic bags, distribution was as follows:

(6) buckets with live rock; no water. Just fold the plastic in on the rock to keep moisture in and put the lid on.
(4) buckets for coral and fish. Fill the bags with air and tie off (just like the bags from you get with fish from the LFS). Lid on.
(2) buckets with all substrate. Fold over plastic and place lids on.
(9) buckets for remaining water.

The remaining buckets were used for miscellaneous stuff.

The buckets worked out nice as they were easy to move.

Plumbing disconnected.

Sump moved in its entirety. Tank moved. Stand moved.

Sounds like a lot, but it is cheaper than having a LFS make new water and going through a cycle.

The entire move, start to finish was 6 hours. Remember no lunch or coffee breaks.

If you want, you can return the Home Depot buckets when you are done (he did). I thought he lined them to protect the tank. He did it to return the buckets. LOL

Any questions?

 

[FLAdaboy]

Im confused as to why there was a suggestion to buy new sand. You'll be good with everything in your system. You're moving down the road essentially. Your significant other may be upset that the first thing you set up is the fish tank but the entire process is simple. Rehearse it in your head, commit and do it, then do everything in the reverse order on the other side.

 

[jenny989]

I don't think it's a problem with most other than your sand.
I suggest clean your sand really good or buy new life sand.
Keep rock submersed at all times with some good flow during the move.
Your corals and fish aren't a big deal as they will ship for more than four hours if done right with no problem.

May I ask what the issue is with the sand? Is it just an opportunity to clean it since everything will be out? What would happen if I keep my sand with about an inch of water in the tank?









[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

 

[jenny989]

Im confused as to why there was a suggestion to buy new sand. You'll be good with everything in your system. You're moving down the road essentially. Your significant other may be upset that the first thing you set up is the fish tank but the entire process is simple. Rehearse it in your head, commit and do it, then do everything in the reverse order on the other side.

Thanks!! I'm trying to get the plan in place so it goes smoothly and my husband knows what part he has to play. We have several other animals and 4 kids so this should be interesting.

 

[melypr1985]

Stirring up the sand can release all kinds of nastiness that can and will foul your water and start a new cycle.

 

[jenny989]

I helped my buddy move a 120 a short while ago; it went perfectly. The best advice I can suggest is to think in terms of taking everything; it is what he did.

We purchased 25 Home Depot buckets with lids. Lining each bucket with clear plastic bags, distribution was as follows:

(6) buckets with live rock; no water. Just fold the plastic in on the rock to keep moisture in and put the lid on.
(4) buckets for coral and fish. Fill the bags with air and tie off (just like the bags from you get with fish from the LFS). Lid on.
(2) buckets with all substrate. Fold over plastic and place lids on.
(9) buckets for remaining water.

The remaining buckets were used for miscellaneous stuff.

The buckets worked out nice as they were easy to move.

Plumbing disconnected.

Sump moved in its entirety. Tank moved. Stand moved.

Sounds like a lot, but it is cheaper than having a LFS make new water and going through a cycle.

The entire move, start to finish was 6 hours. Remember no lunch or coffee breaks.

If you want, you can return the Home Depot buckets when you are done (he did). I thought he lined them to protect the tank. He did it to return the buckets. LOL

Any questions?

I'm in the Army and move every 3-4 years. It's really easy to move a tank. Buy totes from Walmart. If you can take your rock out, then do so and put it in the totes. Use your tank water for the move. Once the tank is drained, throw you sand in a bucket or two if you can. On the arriving side, put the tank up and throw the sand back in. You may need more sw on that end but use the previous tank water and pump it in using a filter sock. Set your scape up again and give it a few hours to settle. It helps if you have a truck.

The totes were sturdy enough to hold the weight of the water? I'm worried about them caving in

Stirring up the sand can release all kinds of nastiness that can and will foul your water and start a new cycle.

Thank you!!

 

[Dom]

We have several other animals and 4 kids so this should be interesting.

About moving the kids...

Get 4 5-gallon Home Depot buckets with lids.... just kidding.

Good luck!

 

[Diesel]

IMO your new house need new trash cans so whay not buy a few and use then first for your rock and all.
Fish can be placed in buckets with lids but remember to wash them thoroughly before you use it for the fish or corals.
It Ain't a easy job and you can use some diehard hobbyist from your local club to help you with it.

 

[FishOfHex]

I am moving in a little over 4 weeks. New home is over 4 hours away which isn't bad. I have a 125 gallon and a 46 gallon I'm planning on taking with me. Has anyone had experience with this and able to offer tips? I'm concerned about my corals obviously and also starting another cycle. I found a store that is willing to meet me at the new home with ro/di mixed water so I don't have to take it all with me. Help!!

When you move one of the most important things to monitor and maintain is tempature. I recommend putting all your coral in a bin with a cover and add tank water with an air stone and heater, Same with fish. Try to bring as much water with you as you can to help prevent shock to the coral.

 

[jenny989]

IMO your new house need new trash cans so whay not buy a few and use then first for your rock and all.
Fish can be placed in buckets with lids but remember to wash them thoroughly before you use it for the fish or corals.
It Ain't a easy job and you can use some diehard hobbyist from your local club to help you with it.

Excellent idea!! Thank you

 

[jenny989]

When you move one of the most important things to monitor and maintain is tempature. I recommend putting all your coral in a bin with a cover and add tank water with an air stone and heater, Same with fish. Try to bring as much water with you as you can to help prevent shock to the coral.

I've been slowly purchasing battery powered air pumps and was planning on drilling holes in the lids of buckets to run a line through. Not sure how to keep the water the same temp and it will be end of June by then so over heating may be the issue

 

[FishOfHex]

I've been slowly purchasing battery powered air pumps and was planning on drilling holes in the lids of buckets to run a line through. Not sure how to keep the water the same temp and it will be end of June by then so over heating may be the issue

I got a power converter for my vehicle and plugged everything in.