Moving

rayn · Jun 14, 2015

I have a major task coming my way. We are planning to move. Not far, but move or change addresses. My task...I currently run 6 tanks. One is a QT tank and it is empty, so that one is easy. The other 5 are going to be a bit more. Next easiest is the 6 nano, then a 40b. After that they get bigger. One is a 150 coldwater, a 180 pred tank, then the questionable one is a 120 in wall. IF the new owners want it, I would leave the tank.

So my question is, how much time should I allocate towards moving tanks? I have never done this before and really and just figuring it is going to suck and take a week or two dedicated to just moving everything over.

143MPCo · Jun 15, 2015

rayn said:
So my question is, how much time should I allocate towards moving tanks?

Place holder... I have some info I posted a while ago on thank moves but need to find the thread... give me a sec.

143MPCo · Jun 15, 2015

found it...

With regards to moving the tank, it's not that it's a hard thing to do but, you really need to plan it out and have a few things in place prior to attempting it... This is how I have done it in the past 3moves for friends and never had major issues.

Some, if not all of the stuff below you might already have, also use as much of the original tanks water as you can keep...

Moving containers (5-gallon bucket cleaned, bet you have a surplus from all the salt you've used?)
Holding tank/s (nothing special, brute trash can are you friend)
Air-pump and Stone (this is just to aerate the water in the holding tank while the new tank settles)
Heater and/or fans (this is just to keep the water in the holding tanks at proper level, might not be needed)
Gloves (seems silly but, I got a nasty sting from the 2nd tank I moved think I crushed a bristle worm or something)
Tupperware Containers (used for capturing livestock, I don't like nets, and don't let the wife see you lol)

Note: If you are going to leave livestock in the holding container for a prolonged time, and have corals also, you should consider things like lighting, skimming, activated carbon, temp-probe etc.

Time wise:

The 75g took 4hrs to move and 2.5 to set back up.
The 60g took 2hrs to move and about the same to setup.
The 180 was about 6hrs, the corals had encrusted over the live-rock and had to hammer them apart, this tank took 2days to set back up as the filtration was a little elaborate.

Hope that helps you some?

rayn · Jun 15, 2015

It does, thanks. Stupid things like gloves or heaters I would overlook...till I need them. Then waste a hour getting them.

I really hope I just have ample time to move and reset the correct way rather then a quick setup, just to tear it back down and do it right later.