Moving house, make shift tank....

[scottworland]

I'm moving house in around 4 weeks time and looking for some advice. I have a Red Sea Reefer 170.

My plan so far is I have a 210 litre plastic storage box with lid which I'm planning to setup (complete with fresh salt water, heater, wave makers, lights and an airstone to help oxygenate the water) at my parents the day before the move and move the live stock to it and shut down the tank.

With the move the next day and not having loads of time to set things up etc I wondered how long the fish and corals would be happy in there before the tank needs to be running again? I'm thinking 3-4 days max! I see the storage box almost like a hospital tank so think I know the answer but wanted to get everyones opinions.

Thanks

 

[Mark Novack]

If you can fit all of your living into it (rock, everything) plus whatever you have for filter currently and use much of the existing tank water it should be fine for longer than that. I had my living in a cement aquarium (it was as large as the aquarium though) on the floor for a couple of months without problems.

 

[scottworland]

If you can fit all of your living into it (rock, everything) plus whatever you have for filter currently and use much of the existing tank water it should be fine for longer than that. I had my living in a cement aquarium (it was as large as the aquarium though) on the floor for a couple of months without problems.

Thanks Mark.

All my filter stuff is in the sump so so not going to be ae to use that but I do have a couple of bio bricks in there and some seachem matrix if that's what you mean? Will it make a difference if I use fresh or existing tank water? I thought nitrifying bacteria lived on the live rock not in the water?

 

[Mark Novack]

Thanks Mark.

All my filter stuff is in the sump so so not going to be ae to use that but I do have a couple of bio bricks in there and some seachem matrix if that's what you mean? Will it make a difference if I use fresh or existing tank water? I thought nitrifying bacteria lived on the live rock not in the water?

The filter media is what is important. That is what I meant. It's not the bacteria but just that it's all acclimated to that water. Go with 50% if you can. It will minimize the shock of multiple transfers