Looking for suggestions for a good way to move reef tank without killing everything. I have about 100 gallon system that’s full triton so i want to keep as much water as possible. I was thinking of buying a bunch of 5 gallon water bottles and transporting the water in these bottles while keeping the live rock and corals separate. No corals are mounted to rock yet. No sand. Just live rock.
Moving. Best method?
- Thread starter Cflow
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Porpoise Hork
Well-Known Member
Depending on how much rock you have, get one or two of the black storage tubs with yellow tops from Home Depot.These are reef safe. Pull the rock out and fill them with tank water until the rock is just barely submerged to minimize bacterial colony die-off. For the rest of the water, 5 gallon buckets with seal-able lids will be your cheapest option. These will run you about 3-5 per at Home Depot. The 5 gallon water bottles run about $10-12 each. Depending on how far you are moving, you may be able to do it in one or two trips depending on how many buckets you buy.
If you have any fish, get some battery powered air pumps and drill small vent holes in the lids of some of the buckets and run airlines to them and put your fish in them. Don't overcrowd the buckets just 2-3 fish per bucket and put an 1/8-1/4 tsp of SeaChem Prime in there to detoxify the ammonia buildup while in transit if it will be longer than 30 min. Also to reduce ammonia while transporting, stop feeding the fish 2-3 days before the move.
If you have any fish, get some battery powered air pumps and drill small vent holes in the lids of some of the buckets and run airlines to them and put your fish in them. Don't overcrowd the buckets just 2-3 fish per bucket and put an 1/8-1/4 tsp of SeaChem Prime in there to detoxify the ammonia buildup while in transit if it will be longer than 30 min. Also to reduce ammonia while transporting, stop feeding the fish 2-3 days before the move.
I moved a 120g and sump with the following methods;
Bought 5~ large plastic storage bins
5~ 5 Gallon buckets with lids
Filled storage bins with rock, and enough water to keep them wet / fill the bottom 3rd (Keep the bacteria from dying off)
Filled one bin with sand, left a layer of sand in the tank as well with a little water (bin weighed well over 100lbs lol)
Filled 5 Gallon buckets with water
Left the rock/sand in the sump, put water in buckets.
For livestock, you are better off setting up a large bin that can house all of it together, add a heater, flow, and have it running before you move. Transfer all livestock first so you aren't rushing to keep them alive. It needs to be something they can live comfortably in for a couple days while you get the tank back together.
Buy some iboprofren for your sore muscles after it's all back together.
I didn't keep all the water, wound up having to make about 100 gallons to add in, but on a smaller volume tank you should be able to manage.
Bought 5~ large plastic storage bins
5~ 5 Gallon buckets with lids
Filled storage bins with rock, and enough water to keep them wet / fill the bottom 3rd (Keep the bacteria from dying off)
Filled one bin with sand, left a layer of sand in the tank as well with a little water (bin weighed well over 100lbs lol)
Filled 5 Gallon buckets with water
Left the rock/sand in the sump, put water in buckets.
For livestock, you are better off setting up a large bin that can house all of it together, add a heater, flow, and have it running before you move. Transfer all livestock first so you aren't rushing to keep them alive. It needs to be something they can live comfortably in for a couple days while you get the tank back together.
Buy some iboprofren for your sore muscles after it's all back together.
I didn't keep all the water, wound up having to make about 100 gallons to add in, but on a smaller volume tank you should be able to manage.
