Bouncingsoul39
Valuable Member
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2011
- Messages
- 1,535
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- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- What state or country do you live in
- California
So last sunday when it was cold and rainy here in So Cal. I had to move my 125 Rimless and to say the least, it was an adventure. Started at 8 am and was finished around 5pm. It's like a full time work shift moving a SPS tank.
Also, no, we're not retarded noobs. Both my buddy and I have moved tons of tanks in the past and both have done professional aquarium maintenance for clients like Hurley, The Disney Marriot etc...
But for fun I thought I point out a few things that I learned that might be common sense for some but not for me. And also mention a couple things I've observed through personal experience that kinda go against the grain.
-Moving 130 gallons of saltwater is not fun. Especially if you're using five gallon buckets.
Think around 12 trips loaded with 40lbs in each hand for about 60 yards. I couldn't really move my hands afterwards. lol
-The move will take at least twice as long as you think it will. I was thinking about 4 hours. But then there was two trips to Home Depot, breakfast, lunch, convincing my buddy to help me re-aquascape to perfection and all that. Just a little to the left!
-It's hard to get a good grip on a rimless tank. Especially in the rain. Also, 1/2 inch glass is really heavy. I tried to get some grippy gloves from HD and almost dropped the tank still. Towels worked much better.
-Everyone's got boners for Starfire glass but no one ever mentions how easy it scratches. I'd almost say it's time for acrylic to come back into reefing fashion. This is in my experience and my opinion so don't get all upset but I could buff out an acrylic tank in two hours with an orbital buffer. My starfire is scratched and I'm helpless. Am I missing something?
-Furniture dollies are key. The flat ones with the four wheels. Yes.
-Even in a insulated container, the water can get cold pretty quick if the ambient air temperature is low out. If I did it again, all corals would go in a container together with a heater just to be safe. Same goes for fish. I tried to put all the frags in the little styrofoam cups vendors and such use and they just didn't stay warm for more than a couple three hours.
to be continued...
Also, no, we're not retarded noobs. Both my buddy and I have moved tons of tanks in the past and both have done professional aquarium maintenance for clients like Hurley, The Disney Marriot etc...
But for fun I thought I point out a few things that I learned that might be common sense for some but not for me. And also mention a couple things I've observed through personal experience that kinda go against the grain.
-Moving 130 gallons of saltwater is not fun. Especially if you're using five gallon buckets.
Think around 12 trips loaded with 40lbs in each hand for about 60 yards. I couldn't really move my hands afterwards. lol
-The move will take at least twice as long as you think it will. I was thinking about 4 hours. But then there was two trips to Home Depot, breakfast, lunch, convincing my buddy to help me re-aquascape to perfection and all that. Just a little to the left!
-It's hard to get a good grip on a rimless tank. Especially in the rain. Also, 1/2 inch glass is really heavy. I tried to get some grippy gloves from HD and almost dropped the tank still. Towels worked much better.
-Everyone's got boners for Starfire glass but no one ever mentions how easy it scratches. I'd almost say it's time for acrylic to come back into reefing fashion. This is in my experience and my opinion so don't get all upset but I could buff out an acrylic tank in two hours with an orbital buffer. My starfire is scratched and I'm helpless. Am I missing something?
-Furniture dollies are key. The flat ones with the four wheels. Yes.
-Even in a insulated container, the water can get cold pretty quick if the ambient air temperature is low out. If I did it again, all corals would go in a container together with a heater just to be safe. Same goes for fish. I tried to put all the frags in the little styrofoam cups vendors and such use and they just didn't stay warm for more than a couple three hours.
to be continued...
