Moving an Established Reef

[jknorr23]

Hey Everyone,

So I’m looking at possibly upgrading my tank by buying an established reef tank from another reefer. He’s just under 2 hours away from my house. The tank is primarily Zoas, mushrooms, and anemones as it sits. I don’t have the ability to house everything in my current setup during the move, as the new tank is double the size. Is it possible to break down the tank, drive it about an hour and a half, then set it back up all in the same day? Would I be able to reuse all the rock, sand, and water or will I need new sand? Is there a best way to minimize losses? Thanks in advance for any advice!!

 

[BlennyTime]

Yeah, it’s definitely possible. Reuse the rock, toss the sand (or be careful not to disturb it too much when moving) and mix old water with new. Make sure you have plenty of pre-mixed salt water on hand in case you need it.

You can transport the livestock in a bucket with an air stone.

 

[Rjramos]

I haven’t moved a tank 2 hr drive away. But I have spent a whole day moving a tank. Lots of work but it is possible, with help of course. Depending on how big a tank, plenty of Rubbermaid containers. Separate live rock from, delicate corals like branching ones that can break into separate containers. Fish in another container. Covers on everything, keep water in containers low as possible, to avoid spillage. Aeration or circulation via battery operated pumps. If using a pick up truck Tape the covers down. Preparing beforehand, at least 30% mixed salt water of total volume at new set up place, saves you from hauling all the water and benefits the new set up. Just make sure you bring enough water from original set up in water jugs. The sand can be left with a thin film of water in the transported tank, if you can safely still carry it. I personally have discarded the sand in the original tank and set up new with bare bottom, rock only. In my opinion, it allows me to siphon the bottom of loosened detritus better on later water changes while the new tank establishes. You can add sand, months later with no problem. Move livestock onto transport vehicle last before leaving, and remove to indoors first upon arriving. Plug DC power heads into containers to circulate water while indoors. If you don’t have use the battery powered aerators. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions.

 

[92Miata]

Its possible, but its really risky. A good percentage of these moves fail because something happens in the middle and there's just no way to deal with it. And these things always take way longer than people think they do. Fish and corals end up in buckets way too long, etc. Big tanks like this are a huge effort - and all sorts of small unexpected events turn catastrophic.

Sometimes its just stuff like traffic - where instead of taking 2 hours - it takes you 4 hours to get home and everything is stressed and you're realizing you've got 4 or 5 hours of work left and you get sloppy.

Everything needs to be removed from the tank - and the sand needs to be replaced or needs to be thoroughly washed. Even well managed sand beds have too much stuff in them to not cause massive nutrient issues when moved.

Don't bother with the water - its just not worth moving. You're talking 1600 lbs of water at a replacement cost of about $35.


Here's the right way to do it:

Go down to Tractor Supply, or Farm and Fleet (or craigslist), and spend $200 on a 200g+ rubbermaid stock tank. Fill it up with salt water, get it up to temperature, and steal a piece of live rock from your tank. Throw a pump in. Give it a couple days if you can. You can sell it on craigslist (or to another reefer) for about $100-150 when you're done

On move day - prioritize the livestock (and rock is livestock). If stuff happens and you can't get the tank through a door, or someone hurts their back, or whatever - just leave it and come back the next day. The goal is to move the livestock from his tank to the stock tank. Equipment is a secondary concern, because equipment doesn't die if it sits in a truck all day while you try to figure out why you cant get the sump out of his stand.

When you get the tank back to your house - take your time - set it up and plumb it properly. Fix the things that are awkward. Don't be in a rush - that's the entire point of the stock tank - you don't need to rush any of the steps.

Have move day be on a friday/saturday - so if things go badly, you can come back the next day.

 

[ScottB]

Hey Everyone,

So I’m looking at possibly upgrading my tank by buying an established reef tank from another reefer. He’s just under 2 hours away from my house. The tank is primarily Zoas, mushrooms, and anemones as it sits. I don’t have the ability to house everything in my current setup during the move, as the new tank is double the size. Is it possible to break down the tank, drive it about an hour and a half, then set it back up all in the same day? Would I be able to reuse all the rock, sand, and water or will I need new sand? Is there a best way to minimize losses? Thanks in advance for any advice!!

How many gallons is the new setup? The level of difficulty gets exponentially harder as size increases.

@92Miata has really nailed the most important elements: worry first about getting the livestock safely into the stock tank so you have time to set up the new system properly.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

I am moving 4 aquariums over a 3 day period sin two days so I am interested in this thread

 

[92Miata]

How many gallons is the new setup? The level of difficulty gets exponentially harder as size increases.

@92Miata has really nailed the most important elements: worry first about getting the livestock safely into the stock tank so you have time to set up the new system properly.

For some reason I had it in my head that it was a 200g and he has a 120. Not sure where I got that.

Smaller tanks are a lot easier - but I still think having a resevoir already set up to throw the livestock in makes things way lower risk (and way less stressful)

If we're talking like 20 -> 40, that resevoir can be a brute, or a couple of 12g tubs.

 

[Rjramos]

He hasn’t said size. Like said above, an exponential difference! Largest I ever moved was a 180 gal. An all day affair, nothing lost, nothing broke.

 

[Qasimja]

if it were me id get new sand and new water and reuse the live rock i saw a guy on youtube attempt this a few weeks ago killed all his live stock and corals im pretty sure it was from an ammonia spike