Hello all
Im moving house in 2 weeks so i just decided to post up here for some advice on moving the tank. Its a 60l 3ft x 1ft x 1ft tank so its not THAT much hassle but still id just like to hear other peoples storys and what coud go wrong. The house itself is about 10mins drive up the road so again, not much a problem. My main concern is keeping the temp of the water up when moving. Ive already decided that its gonna be the last thing to move and the first thing set up in the new place.
For the past few weeks i have been collecting 5l empty water bottles to try save as much of the tank water as possible to make the transition easier. So i plan on saving about 75% of the water. I have empty pond food buckets to hold the fish during transport but there is also some guppy babies that i have to seperate. These needed to be seperated from the other fish as they will get eaten. I plan on using one of the store plastic bags and putting them into that, then into the bucket with the rest.
So thats the plan, anyone have any suggestions of how to make the move easier or is there something im missing.
Thanks
Hi i posted on this subject a little while ago so i shall see if i can find the answer i gave there and post it here ok
Hi having moved more tanks than i care to remember it is simple realybut your gonna need loadsa buckets
step 1 turn off all electrics
step 2 using bags from you lfs put all the fish into them and place them in a poly box{lfs may help here aswell}
step 3/4 syphon out as much water as you can save into buckets{water only}at the same time remove all decor into suitable contianersbuckets bags etc
step 5 place all gravel into several buckets{so they can be carried safely}
step 6 place heater on bottom of tank along with i/f filter{if used}if external leave some water in filter but not all.wrap them in something to stop them moving around if pos or remove completly if pos
step 7 move tank as you said completly empty into car/van and load stand then the rest!
step 8 once you arive home get the tank stand in place put tank on stand{make sure you are happy with position}
step 9 place gravel into tank{unwashed}
step 10 place enough water back into tank to get any filters working{do not switch on!!!}
step 11 place all decor in tank as desired.
step 12 place rest of saved water into tank{carefully}
step 13 turn on filters{if external run a little water through to waste}also turn on heater now.
step 14 cup of tea
step 15 place fish in bags in tank and aclimatise as you would new fish.
step 16 release fish and top up with fresh dechlorinated water
step 17 cup of teasit back and admire all your handy work!
step 18 do not feed on day of moving and keep a very close eye on all fish for a few days and also some cycle wouldn't go amiss!
step 19 turn on lights the next day and admire
Can't add anything to James excellent guide.
I moved house a couple of years ago with a similar sized tank. As you say, pack up last and set up first. It is good to have an idea of where it will go before you move in.
With that sized tank you can probably leave the substrate and 25% of the water while you move it.
Hope it all goes well!
Wayne
Tank1: 125L Tropical. 1 male betta, 4 scissortail rasboras, 3 neon tetras, 4 glowlight danios, 1 candy stripe loach, 1 female bristlenose, 6 amano shrimp.Tank 2: 65L Nano reef. 6kg live rock, 96w T5 lighting, 3 x turbo snails, 5 x red-legged hermits, 1 x peppermint shrimp, 1 small pistol shrimp (hitch-hiker), two percula clowns, 1 neon goby, 1 sun coral, 1 clove coral & 1 tree coral
I think your simple step guide would make an excellent guide on the site James.
I will have words with them upstairs
I have made it sticky.
Hi good idea Lilac_froggy
its funny really as me and my mate seemed to be moving tanks all the time once,hardest time was moving two marine tanks from a third floor flat to his new place in one evening! My van smelt like the seaside for the next week
60 litre tank eh. Well I have the same dilemma, but with my 240 litre tank. Same method I guess, but on a different scale, which worries me hugely!
Any further advice for moving something this big?
Don't let anyone clumsy carry your tank, thats why I am now having to set up a new tank. My husbands friend and his mate were carrying my tank and dropped it as they came in through the door. Glass tanks and concrete floors don't mix sadly.