Moving fish tank... Need some help

[Nickcdll]

So I have to move it from one room to another. I've watched some good YouTube videos on it but still have a few questions. My tank btw is a 40 gallon innovative Marine all in one tank.
1. Should I keep any of the sand bed?
2. Should I use this time to thoroughly clean the sump part of the tank?
3. If I keep the sand bed, does that need to be heated also does it need a air stone?
4. The equipment? Do I clean it. Do I keep them submerged?
How long do I have between breakdown and setup if I do leave the sandbed and and couple of inches of water in there before a large die off of life. It's sorta whatever life is in there that I don't want to lose. But if it's best for my corals and fish I will
And just a thought, I have a small ten gallon for emergencies. Should I put the fish in there, the corals and the rock in a large bucket, set up the tank, then in a day or whatever when it looks reasonable should I move the fish in?

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

How long do you plan for the tank to be down?

I'd clean anything that will be out of water an extended amount of time. The move will be stressful enough to where I wouldn't make too many clean up arrangements or too many changes. Get the tank empty, moved and back up and running. My opinion.

 

[Nickcdll]

I plan on having the tank down for as long as it takes me to move the tank ( with help) from one room to another. About 20 feet

 

[maroun.c]

I'd drain enought water to be able to move the tank, move to new position and refill directly.

 

[Nickcdll]

I'd drain enought water to be able to move the tank, move to new position and refill directly.

Quite a few videos I watched suggested replacing the sand bed instead of trying to keep the one I have due to all the qunk that will be stirred up? Is that a real serious issue that might harm the fish or the Coral, or no?

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

How old and how deep is the sand bed?

 

[Nickcdll]

How old and how deep is the sand bed?

A little over a year old. And inch to and inch and a half

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

I’ve always heard you should empty the tank all the way before moving it. Save the old water for now and have plenty of fresh mix ready as well. You could put the sand in a bucket and strain it out, pouring some old tank water through it to rinse before putting it back in the tank, just don’t let it sit too long. Do you have a sieve you can use for that? I would use most of the sand, and leave any nasty rinsed out muck behind. A couple air pumps and buckets keep the rocks well circulated and you should be fine. My .02

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

I moved a 20g Nuvo around about 3 times in my old place. Never touched the sand. Once it was back up and running whatever got stirred up was quickly moved to the sump area. I'd only keep old water to put your rock and livestock in, its not imperative to use when resetting up the tank. You can use freshly mixed water as most your bacteria and organisms will be on your rock and in your sand.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I'd only keep old water to put your rock and livestock in, its not imperative to use when resetting up the tank. You can use freshly mixed water as most your bacteria and organisms will be on your rock and in your sand.

That’s not strictly true, while not an absolute must keeping as much old water as possible to minimize changes in water chemistry is always a good idea.

 

[Aquavaj]

I'd pick up some of those furniture moving pads from harbor freight or some place. Once drained place them underneath and just carefully slide the tank and stand to new location.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

That’s not strictly true, while not an absolute must keeping as much old water as possible to minimize changes in water chemistry is always a good idea.

You should be able to match your water chemistry pretty easily if not switching salts. I would not reuse the water and never have in any of my moves.

 

[maroun.c]

Quite a few videos I watched suggested replacing the sand bed instead of trying to keep the one I have due to all the qunk that will be stirred up? Is that a real serious issue that might harm the fish or the Coral, or no?

No need for sand to be stirred just slowly syphon water without striking sand and when refilling place a bag over sand or rocks and refill slowly. Water drained shouldn’t stir any detritus and should be clean enough to reuse but have some new water ready just in case things get stirred and some of the water looks dirty then replace. Anyway run few water changes every 3-4 days for q-2 weeks after the move. If sand is stirred the yes it’ll release nasty stuff possibly in the water so try to avoid that. Using new water isn’t a big deal as water has less bacteria than sand and rocks.