Moving the reef...

[jack_aubry]

I have gone back and forth on whether to sell my corals and fish and restart the reef or to try to move it. I have decided to move it. It's an 18 hr drive will probably do it in one shot unless we get really tired.

The plan is to have the moving truck all loaded up the day before, then on moving day, deal with the reef.

Tank is a IM 40 AIO. Most of the frags have not really started encrusting the rock very much so I was going to individully bag them all and place them in thick Styrofoam coolers to try to keep the temp stable. The few corals that are encrusting will go into buckets of tank water and be secured so they don't get smashed.

I have 5 5g buckets with lids I will fill with tank water that I can use to fill the tank when I get there.

I only have three fish and was thinking about bagging them in the cooler or just giving them to the lfs. Idk have not decided.

The rocks will go in a heavy duty tote with just enough water to keep them wet.

I am predicting that the tank will be shut down 24-36 hrs.

When I get there I can place the tank fill it most of the way with the bucket water and get the heaters in to bring it up to temp (it should be close any way). Then I can get the ro/di set up to make the last few gallons. Add the rocks, get the power heads and the skimmer going. Put the coral in the tank and then deal with all the other setup stuff. Water from the bags and the tote with the rocks will go down the drain.

Any notes, suggestions, comments, tips? Anything would be helpful really I think it is doable, but this is a first for me so not really sure what to expect.

 

[NashobaTek]

I am going to be moving my 125 soon, so I am looking for suggestions on how to move it safely. The only thing I plan on doing is having a second tank cycled at the new place to move the fish and invertebrates and the 1 coral to. Then tear down the big tank and take as much of the water as I can with us. Hopefully this will prevent a complete crash of the big tank.

 

[jack_aubry]

I will let you know how it goes seems like it could go sideways pretty easily.

 

[andrewkw]

Seems like you have everything planned out well. I'd just keep your fish too since you only have 3 and fish are considerably more expensive these days. Plus if you are willing to move your reef I'd imagine they have some value to you personally.

One suggestion would be to pack extra water. Even 10 gallons of freshly mixed water would be a big help, more would be even better. If the freshly mixed water is not close to your parameters ie you use reef crystals and your alk is normally at 7 you might want to think about using a different salt for this and tank re-setup at the new place before going back to what you normally use. Your goal should be to get everything wet in new water asap - this doesn't have to mean filling the tank up the second you get in, but getting it up enough so that you can put your inhabitants in would be a great start. It's when things start dragging out that you run into issues.

You can also use a battery powered air pump for the fish if you are concerned about not making it straight through in the 18 hr trip. Plus when you get to the new place you can keep the fish in the bucket with air pump until the tank is ready.

 

[jack_aubry]

bump

 

[jack_aubry]

Seems like you have everything planned out well. I'd just keep your fish too since you only have 3 and fish are considerably more expensive these days. Plus if you are willing to move your reef I'd imagine they have some value to you personally.

One suggestion would be to pack extra water. Even 10 gallons of freshly mixed water would be a big help, more would be even better. If the freshly mixed water is not close to your parameters ie you use reef crystals and your alk is normally at 7 you might want to think about using a different salt for this and tank re-setup at the new place before going back to what you normally use. Your goal should be to get everything wet in new water asap - this doesn't have to mean filling the tank up the second you get in, but getting it up enough so that you can put your inhabitants in would be a great start. It's when things start dragging out that you run into issues.

You can also use a battery powered air pump for the fish if you are concerned about not making it straight through in the 18 hr trip. Plus when you get to the new place you can keep the fish in the bucket with air pump until the tank is ready.

Thanks

 

[Kris 2020]

I have moved 2 tanks. It’s not fun. If you have sand, I would recommend you save some of the top layer and then use new live sand mixed with some of your old In the new setup. It sounds like you have a good plan for the livestock. For the live rock you can try and keep it in water or wrap it in a towel or paper towel soaked in tank water. Take some extra tank water to rewet as needed. My tank moves weren’t as far as yours. My biggest struggle was trying to place my rock and coral with all the stirred up sandy mess of filling the tank at the new location. I wish I just would have put a heater and powerhead in a bucket or bin and waited that out.

 

[jack_aubry]

I have moved 2 tanks. It’s not fun. If you have sand, I would recommend you save some of the top layer and then use new live sand mixed with some of your old In the new setup. It sounds like you have a good plan for the livestock. For the live rock you can try and keep it in water or wrap it in a towel or paper towel soaked in tank water. Take some extra tank water to rewet as needed. My tank moves weren’t as far as yours. My biggest struggle was trying to place my rock and coral with all the stirred up sandy mess of filling the tank at the new location. I wish I just would have put a heater and powerhead in a bucket or bin and waited that out.

Thankfully bare bottom. How did those moves go if you don't mind me asking.

 

[Cre8or30]

Have someone mail them to you overnight.

 

[jack_aubry]

Have someone mail them to you overnight.

i did think about that, but decided against it.

 

[kyleinpdx]

Get a few of the battery powered air pumps for gas exchange.

Depending on where you are, you may want to get some cold packs for the cooler, I’d much prefer my fish/inverts/corals at 75* than 85*, the back of a moving truck or a car that’s sitting for longer than 15 mins will get quite hot.

Keep some seachem prime on hand to nullify any ammonia

If you have anything on frag plugs some light diffuser doubled up and cut to fit the buckets will help keep them secure.

 

[jack_aubry]

I forgot about seachem that's good. Thanks

 

[Kris 2020]

Thankfully bare bottom. How did those moves go if you don't mind me asking.

The first one went ok. I had a more stable rock build and it was a 12 gallon tank. I left the sand in the bottom along with a little water and ended up with a nasty stinky slurry when I arrived. I removed most of the sand then, and replaced it and seeded with a little of the old sand. All my critters did well on this move. Corals were moved in a 5 gallon bucket or left on the rock work if they wouldn’t come off nicely. Everyone was ticked for a couple days but then it was ok.

the second move was tougher. it was a 39 gallon aio cadlights glass tank. It seemed like it took forever to catch the fish and bucket the rock and coral. When I got to the new house I started with mostly fresh sand with maybe 4-5 cups from my old tank swirled in. Got the major storm of sandy silty water when I filled it back up, and I was worried about everyone being out of the water so long so I started trying to put my rock back together in there even tho I couldn’t see what I was doing. Then I put in my inverts and fish, the started trying to stick the corals back where they belonged and that was a mistake. I messed too much with rock doing it and had an avalanche. I lost a pink plate coral and a red serpent star. I was so bummed

 

[brandon429]

Build Thread - Biocube-> 40 breeder upgrade!

I inherited this 40 gallon tank, protein skimmer, and sump from a retiring reefer, so I thought I'd upgrade my 32 gallon biocube to the 40 gallon + ~30 gallon sump! After a full day of work transferring rock and livestock, I finally arrived at the following results: Here's the left side of the...

www.reef2reef.com

skip cycle reef tank upgrade

same as moving homes with a reef

 

[jack_aubry]

The first one went ok. I had a more stable rock build and it was a 12 gallon tank. I left the sand in the bottom along with a little water and ended up with a nasty stinky slurry when I arrived. I removed most of the sand then, and replaced it and seeded with a little of the old sand. All my critters did well on this move. Corals were moved in a 5 gallon bucket or left on the rock work if they wouldn’t come off nicely. Everyone was ****** for a couple days but then it was ok.

the second move was tougher. it was a 39 gallon aio cadlights glass tank. It seemed like it took forever to catch the fish and bucket the rock and coral. When I got to the new house I started with mostly fresh sand with maybe 4-5 cups from my old tank swirled in. Got the major storm of sandy silty water when I filled it back up, and I was worried about everyone being out of the water so long so I started trying to put my rock back together in there even tho I couldn’t see what I was doing. Then I put in my inverts and fish, the started trying to stick the corals back where they belonged and that was a mistake. I messed too much with rock doing it and had an avalanche. I lost a pink plate coral and a red serpent star. I was so bummed

mmm sorry sounds rough. I am most worried about O2 levels, and major temp changes during the move might cause a mini cycle when I get there. Guess I will just have to test every day after it is set up again.