Moving need advice!

[scastillo813]

So A few months ago I decided I didn't want to pay someone else's mortgage any more with renting. Now I'm just about three weeks out from moving into the new house and I'm realizing how much of a pain it's going to be moving my 120g tank.

I've never had to completely move a tank before and could really use any tips, tricks, or advice you all could give me. I'm really upset that I will have to remake my aquascape. Thanks!

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I'm in the same situation as you. Settlement is June 9th for me.

Here is what I am planning to do:

• Have plenty of freshly made saltwater at the new house
• Bag all fish individually and put them in a cooler
• Bag corals individually
• Buy new sand and only cup a cup or two of the old
• Place rock in buckets with saltwater to keep submerged
• Have test kits available to test the water frequently

I am also going to make some modifications to the system.

 

[scastillo813]

That's a start, I'm not too sure if I wanna buy all new sand though. Lucky for me I'm only moving about 25 minutes away from where I am now

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

The reason I am replacing the sand bed is that it really hasn't been disturbed much in my and it has been established for 5 years. I do not want to risk a big cycle by detritus being released.

 

[kingsofke]

If I had to move again here is what I will so different. Get a holding tank set up at new place night before and being it to right temp as temp place. Alternative will be a 55 gallon bucket or something similar. Have an air pump running in the new tank for sure. Keep the lights out until in the new tank. Take out all the rock out of current tank first. Take out all the sand with a gravel vac WITHOUT disturbing the sand as much as possible. Released sulfur from old sand bed can kill fish. Once the tank has only water and fish left then take out the fish with as little chasing as possible. Keep the air running in the old tank until all fish are caught and lights low and temp stable.

 

[scastillo813]

If I had to move again here is what I will so different. Get a holding tank set up at new place night before and being it to right temp as temp place. Alternative will be a 55 gallon bucket or something similar. Have an air pump running in the new tank for sure. Keep the lights out until in the new tank. Take out all the rock out of current tank first. Take out all the sand with a gravel vac WITHOUT disturbing the sand as much as possible. Released sulfur from old sand bed can kill fish. Once the tank has only water and fish left then take out the fish with as little chasing as possible. Keep the air running in the old tank until all fish are caught and lights low and temp stable.

Thanks for the input. Luckily I have a redsea 250 (65g) that I can set up to help with it all.

 

[resortez]

i have moved my tank, plenty of times. i would suggest some of those big gray janitorial 30gal trash cans & a cooler, some friends & a few brews. trash cans to transport the live rock & sand in tank water, cooler for the fish & coral, in case its hot & humid. take with you as much bio load from your sand, rock & filtration system, because if you lose to much, you risk in reversing the nitrogen cycle & rising ammonia levels. plus you will still lose some beneficial bio load, once things get exposed to air. you want to make sure everything goes back to normal & your live stock is not shocked from fluctuating parameters. it would also be the last thing i move. if its your first tank move, it will take you 5-6 hours. i got used to it, that it takes me an hour or two now. good luck & happy reefing.