Moving an Established Tank To New Home

Tyler Roth · Feb 23, 2016

I have a 120 Gallon reef tank Established and am moving in a couple of months i need to know how everyone normally does moves and how do i do it without messing up the chemistry where i kill off coral or fish? ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!

revhtree · Feb 23, 2016

How far are you moving?

Reeferdood · Feb 23, 2016

The best thing I have found to use to transport your livestock is big igloo coolers... Your tank will go through a cycle regardless, try to keep a good portion of your old water.
Good luck on your new home.

Tyler Roth · Feb 23, 2016

revhtree said:
How far are you moving?

Not very far down the interstate alittle no more than 15 mins away

Reeferdood · Feb 23, 2016

What kind of reef is it??

Tyler Roth · Feb 23, 2016

Reeferdood said:
What kind of reef is it??

Tyler Roth · Feb 23, 2016

Not a whole lot going on just a very good growing tank and is very happy the way it sits just hate that i have to move it!!!

FindNem0 · Feb 23, 2016

How I did mine and didn't loose anything was I bought all brand new Rubbermaid tubs, 10 of them. I Drained all the water out into the tubs without disturbing the bottom. Then I moved all my love rock and corals into the tubs. Now you can make one of the tubs a dipping tub to get all the sand off. don't want sand settling on your corals . This is the way I did it. May not be the best way but it worked.

Reeferdood · Feb 24, 2016

Any way you slice it, moving any type of reef sucks, big time...

Robink · Feb 24, 2016

Following. Will also be moving in the future and wondered the same. Best of luck!

dbrewsky · Feb 24, 2016

what i did was set up a temporary system with a rubbermaid stock tank. I got this filled with saltwater heaters, etc. I then transferred my rock,fish, and corals to this system. I was quickly able to make the transfer and minimized die off on the rock and stress on the livestock. I monitored the system and did two large water changes during the first week in the new system.

Then I broke down the equipment and moved the equipment over to the new place. This allowed me to take me time in re setting up the system, including a deep clean on equipment, soaking pumps etc in vinegar.

Something to consider, especially when trying to move a large aquarium. You can get a 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank for under 100 dollars.