Moving tank with palys and GSP

[RobertP]

My wife and I sold our house and will be moving into a temporary home soon. We really do not want to get rid of our corals so they are coming with us. Tank is about 1.5 years old so nothing big. I have a mixed reef with some SPS that I really love and my wife has two different green palys. Since they are her favorites I cannot just get rid of them and worried they will nuke the tank after the move.

Since watching Julian's video and reading about others and paly toxin I am more and more concerned. Yes, we have a lot of zoas on the rocks and they could be an issue but they should be less of a problem. I have never used plastic bags but thinking maybe I should isolate the palys into their own container and see if they secreted anything when it is time to put them in the moved tank. Already planning ahead so will have a full tank of fresh salt water ready to go at the new location and try to change as little as possible once moved....excluding some xenia purging.

Perhaps I am being paranoid after watching those videos. I have fragged these palys before and never noticed a big issue. Do you think I am being paranoid or should I isolate them during the move?

 

[timnem70]

Great topic. Im in the same boat. Ive moved several tanks that were well established over the past 25 years and until now the topic never even occured to me. I know I had then as I do now, large Palys that I suppose if really distressed, could pose a threat. I will just use double nitrile gloves and protective eyewear.

 

[RobertP]

I forgot to mention I have the back overflow covered in green star polyps...it is very cool waving in the flow. Since the tank will be empty for a few hours I am guessing they will not survive but maybe.... I am thinking I will frag some of it now just in case I lose the "GSP wall". I have a frag of a lighter colored GSP that I was planning to put on the other overflow but will wait until after the move.

Thinking I am being paranoid. I KNOW I fragged some of those palys...and it didnt nuke my little frag tank at the time.

 

[Maggie321]

I forgot to mention I have the back overflow covered in green star polyps...it is very cool waving in the flow. Since the tank will be empty for a few hours I am guessing they will not survive but maybe.... I am thinking I will frag some of it now just in case I lose the "GSP wall". I have a frag of a lighter colored GSP that I was planning to put on the other overflow but will wait until after the move.

Thinking I am being paranoid. I KNOW I fragged some of those palys...and it didnt nuke my little frag tank at the time.

Can you tape some plastic around the overflow and put some saltwater soaked paper towels so it doesn't dry out all the way? You can leave that on there till you fill the tank and hope that some survive. I would also frag some as a backup.

 

[Will Milberger]

Are you going far? I mean a battery powered air pump or a power inverter go a long way. You can get large rubber maid containers and a power head. Just scattershooting here.

 

[RobertP]

This is a 130 gallon tank so keeping water in the tank during the ride is out of the question and very hard on your tank seals. It should be less than 1.5 hour drive but it will be July in Texas and the tank will be in the back of my pickup....hmm have to see if it would fit in my son's explorer but doubt it. If I can put it inside an AC that would help. Of course it is not just the drive it is how quickly can we get it setup and get water back in the tank too.

I like the towel idea and might try that on the GSP wall.

 

[Maggie321]

Have all new salt water ready to go. Even if you have to mix it in a plastic dollar store pool and bucket the majority into the tank.

Now is also a good time to replace your substrate. The big disturbance will likely release a ton of stored nutrients and you'll have a big issue lowering it once you get it set back up. Better off just tossing the old and replacing with new.