Moving an established 60g reef

[Reefman603]

- I HAVE TO MOVE/ TRANSPORT A ESTABLISHED 60G REEF 1 HOUR! -

Hello everyone I'm new here! seems like a great forum from taking quick look around at the different threads. But anyway a week from now I will be picking up a new 60 gallon reef aquarium its a red sea max 250 and is all established (been running for over 3 years). It has zoanthids, a clam, a anemone, and some other beginner soft corals. As for fish it has a red hawk fish, 2 designer clowns, and 2 green chromis. Now the hard part is I have to transport all this about an hour back to my house, I have a plan to save all the water and put it into 5 gallon buckets with the fish, as for the corals and live rock im going to get a small tote of some kind and try to fit as much live rock as I can and all the coral in the tote, I plan to put two minnow bubblers in with the corals to keep water circulating in a way.
Im going to leave the live sand in the tank with just enough water so the sand stays saturated and it doesn't dry out. The tank will be strapped down in the bed of my truck or put in the back of a van with lots of padding to avoid vibration and protect from bumps, the stand will also be broke down and put with the tank. I plan on setting this right back up as soon as I get home and putting everything right back in the tank as everything is already established and I'm re using the saltwater that was in the tank originally. Any tips or suggestions for this move, I want to keep as much living as I can ? thanks

 

[Peace River]

- I HAVE TO MOVE/ TRANSPORT A ESTABLISHED 60G REEF 1 HOUR! -
...

It seems like you have spent a lot of time thinking about this and have addressed the major items! One of the concerns with moving a tank with contents, is the potential for slight flexing stress on the joints that could lead to future tank failures. One approach that I have taken (and yes, I will except the overkill accusation), is to build a basic platform with scrap 2x4s and plywood. The platform works as a stretcher that adds additional support and stabilization and, if you add notches for handholds, can make it easier to carry especially as you are sliding it in and out of the van. Additionally, I recommend a pre-move walk through while thinking about walls that seem to appear, doors that didn’t get opened, the space needed in the vehicle, etc. Good luck on the move!

 

[Reefman603]

It seems like you have spent a lot of time thinking about this and have addressed the major items! One of the concerns with moving a tank with contents, is the potential for slight flexing stress on the joints that could lead to future tank failures. One approach that I have taken (and yes, I will except the overkill accusation), is to build a basic platform with scrap 2x4s and plywood. The platform works as a stretcher that adds additional support and stabilization and, if you add notches for handholds, can make it easier to carry especially as you are sliding it in and out of the van. Additionally, I recommend a pre-move walk through while thinking about walls that seem to appear, doors that didn’t get opened, the space needed in the vehicle, etc. Good luck on the move!

Thank you for the advice! I will certainly take the 2x4 idea into consideration and post an update when I get everything moved and in place

 

[Dom]

Quick turn around is the key to success. And I think you have that as your plan.

I like your idea of keeping the substrate saturated. I suggest you save EVERYTHING... including water (5 gallon Home Depot buckets with lids are our friend in this hobby).

Most important: Don't rush the move. Bad things happen when you do.

 

[Reefman603]

Quick turn around is the key to success. And I think you have that as your plan.

I like your idea of keeping the substrate saturated. I suggest you save EVERYTHING... including water (5 gallon Home Depot buckets with lids are our friend in this hobby).

Most important: Don't rush the move. Bad things happen when you do.

Yes I plan to do this as quick and organized as I can without rushing and plan on keeping EVERYTHING including every gallon of water, going to be picking up a bunch of 5 gallon buckets with lids from Lowe’s this weekend as well as a tote big enough for all the corals and live rock

 

[BeejReef]

Just don't forget the little things like cord lengths, availability of outlets, and a confirmed level and sturdy placement!
Also, if you are making saltwater already at home, you might avoid hauling all 60 gallons. A 20-30% water change might be in order anyhow with all the stirring up that will go into moving the tank.

Best of luck, can't wait to see pics!

 

[Peace River]

... going to be picking up a bunch of 5 gallon buckets with lids from Lowe’s this weekend as well as a tote big enough for all the corals and live rock

Forgive me if I’m overstating the obvious, but please take the time to prep the new 5 gallon buckets - the last thing you need is to hit all of your marks only to have residue in a new bucket!

 

[SandJ]

Sounds like you have thought though the process and have a plan.
One thing I would have a backup plan for is moving the tank with the sand still inside. If the sand weighs 40-60 pounds, and you leave about 3 gallons of water (25 pounds)...that is going to be a lot of weight/stress on the tank.

 

[Reefman603]

Just don't forget the little things like cord lengths, availability of outlets, and a confirmed level and sturdy placement!
Also, if you are making saltwater already at home, you might avoid hauling all 60 gallons. A 20-30% water change might be in order anyhow with all the stirring up that will go into moving the tank.

Best of luck, can't wait to see pics!

Thank you! I will keep that in mind might not be a bad idea to mix up some saltwater ahead of time didn’t think of that

 

[Reefman603]

Forgive me if I’m overstating the obvious, but please take the time to prep the new 5 gallon buckets - the last thing you need is to hit all of your marks only to have residue in a new bucket!

Definitely will be rinsing the buckets well before using thank you for reminding me I could’ve forgot something so simple but important!

 

[Reefman603]

Sounds like you have thought though the process and have a plan.
One thing I would have a backup plan for is moving the tank with the sand still inside. If the sand weighs 40-60 pounds, and you leave about 3 gallons of water (25 pounds)...that is going to be a lot of weight/stress on the tank.

Yah I’m hoping with 3 or 4 of us we should be able to move the tank safely, fingers crossed

 

[BeejReef]

I've never tried what you're doing, but u might give some thought to how you will get the water back into the aquarium. If you're pouring it in from 5g buckets, you're going to seriously disrupt the sand bed and it's 3yo, so could be awesome, or could be nasty, depending on previous owner. Perhaps perch your buckets on a ladder or on top of a sturdy piece of furniture and siphon them into the tank. You can put the end of your hose in a rock cavity or into an overflow.

 

[SandJ]

Yah I’m hoping with 3 or 4 of us we should be able to move the tank safely, fingers crossed

It’s not so much being able to lift it as the stress on the tank seams. especially if it is not on a completely flat surface for the ride.

And if you leave the sand in the tank, you will not be able to put the rocks back in on the tank bottom. Just something to consider if you get any kinda of fish or critter that likes to dig under rocks.

 

[brandon429]

you should not relocate the sand, it should be rinsed 100% clean before re use, and even better, fully replaced.

sand stayed in contact w that dudes phosphate level choices, his waste built up...start clean, you have a chance.

you can rinse the entire sandbed all at once and transport zero waste into your tank, or you can change it all out at once, not in sections, for the new tank. It does not cause a recycle we have a 20 page action thread on it
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445
the thread has working examples of tank moves, multiple ones.

don't transport any old sand, rinsing it doesn't cause a cycle, nor loss of bac that matter.

its not that you need some of the current bacteria from the bed carried over

you need none of it, see our works above.

key terms evolving below:
stirred up
cloudy

that's a death knell in reef moves never accept it, plan against it. envision a thread doing for pages the very type of move going on here- able to track start to finish

 

[Seamore2001]

You've planned for a lot of the big things. The feedback you've gotten has filled in the minor holes left. I'd just echo that having 20g or more of saltwater premixed and waiting is really crucial. You'll want to do a water change anyway, and you need to plan / assume that a bucket gets tipped over in the move, or you just lose more water than you expected in the move.

I'd recommend keeping the rock immersed if you can, just to avoid bacterial die off and reduce chances of a mini cycle (though you'll likely have one anyway).

I'd also suggest pulling a lot of the sand out and put it into buckets, even though it will increase the chances of a cycle. You don't want to stress the tank seams like that - that much weight in the tank could magnify every bump you hit on the ride home. And, as @brandon429 suggests, you don't have to have the entire sandbed - though it's a good idea to keep at least some in order to bring the bacteria that the tank's inhabitants are used to, and seed a new sandbed.

Good luck!

 

[Peace River]

I've never tried what you're doing, but u might give some thought to how you will get the water back into the aquarium. If you're pouring it in from 5g buckets, you're going to seriously disrupt the sand bed and it's 3yo, so could be awesome, or could be nasty, depending on previous owner. ....

It’s may be simpler than you are thinking. I often use a small pond pump connected to a length of hose and the pump can be placed into the bucket. Whether I use the hose or pour straight from the bucket, I will often put a dinner plate on the bottom of the tank and pour the water directly onto that. If you’re careful then there should be minimal upwelling of sand or other mess (and yes the plate has been bleached and stays with the fish supplies!).

 

[BeejReef]

It’s may be simpler than you are thinking. I often use a small pond pump connected to a length of hose and the pump can be placed into the bucket. Whether I use the hose or pour straight from the bucket, I will often put a dinner plate on the bottom of the tank and pour the water directly onto that. If you’re careful then there should be minimal upwelling of sand or other mess (and yes the plate has been bleached and stays with the fish supplies!).

Yes, I'm sure you're right. If that works, much easier than my suggestion. Just didn't want to see the OP with a floor full of totes with cooling fish and nowhere to put them other than a fully stirred up tank.

 

[Reefman603]

I've never tried what you're doing, but u might give some thought to how you will get the water back into the aquarium. If you're pouring it in from 5g buckets, you're going to seriously disrupt the sand bed and it's 3yo, so could be awesome, or could be nasty, depending on previous owner. Perhaps perch your buckets on a ladder or on top of a sturdy piece of furniture and siphon them into the tank. You can put the end of your hose in a rock cavity or into an overflow.

I will keep this in mind when I add the water back to the aquarium thank you

 

[Reefman603]

Any suggestions on how to prepare the 5g buckets before putting water from the aquarium in them ? a good rinse with hot water ? bleach them ?

 

[Peace River]

Any suggestions on how to prepare the 5g buckets before putting water from the aquarium in them ? a good rinse with hot water ? bleach them ?

It’s probably overkill, but I bleach new buckets before use (and then make sure they only get used for fish and avoid cross contamination). If you get pre-used buckets (e.g., reused paint buckets, pickle buckets, etc.), then you need to ask what level of risk and bother you’re willing to take. If you still want to use the bucket then clean well, use bleach, air dry, and leave them in the sun for a few weeks, followed by water tests.