Gotta moved an established 55 gal! HELP?

[JTRfromGreySt]

Okay...so my girlfriend and I are moving from a townhouse to an apartment.

I need to move my well established (2 years old) 55 gal. Let's just say, I do not know where to start! Can this even be done? I am moving about 20 minutes away from here.

I have, 6 blood parrots, 3 plecos (4"-10"), 3 clown loaches, 2 adult angels.

Is there a safe way for them to make the move? Should I get rid of them and start over? If I do need to start over, that is okay but it would suck because I am moving 1500 miles away from here in 9 months. When I make that move, I will be starting over for sure!!!

So, if anyone has any ideas, they would be much appreciated.

Thanks all!!!

[famman]

Piece of cake (ah hem, sort of). Even 1500 miles can be managed if properly planned.
First, do a search on this forum on moving tanks. Pick your best method. They tend to follow in general:
1) bag, bucket or tub the fish.
2) drain your filters but leave wet or put on fish buckets temporarily.
3) scoop your substrate into buckets put ornaments into another.
4) drain tank break down equipment and move
5) set up, substrate in, new dechlorinated water, warm up
6) fish in, turn on filter
There are several variations on this, but it can be done in a day. It's an ugly day but just a day.
good luck
:)

[Slappy*McFish]

I prefer to use an x-large coleman or igloo lock-down type cooler to transport the fish and plants in. Just fill it about halfway with tank water, add the plants then net your fish out of the tank. The coolers are large enough to hold most all the fish, maintain a steady temperature, prevent spillage, offer the fish darkness and security. You can add a capful of hydrogen peroxide to the cooler to provide the fish with a little extra oxygen for the trip.

[dethjam316]

these guys are right on...don't worry. 20 minutes is a breeze!!! i broke down mine and moved from new jersey to florida a couple weeks ago (16 hours!), and all of my fish (23 in all) survived. just keep the filter wet for sure, and at least some of the substrate if possible. i used coolers (with a battery air pump), but the fish were in them for 16 hours, this shouldn't be necessary for you...i don't think you'll need to run out and purchase coolers, you'll be fine with buckets or bags, as long as the apt isn't 90 degrees when you get in there. a big plus to the cooler is lack of water spillage in your car!

an even better plan would be buying a new tank and setting that up in advance, adding some of the old substrate on top of new gravel or whatever, and then bringing filters and fish after it's all set up. the biggest plus to this is that you end up with TWO tanks.:D

of course, that plan isn't free!

[JTRfromGreySt]

Thanks to all for your ideas! I feel a lot better about the move now so Friday night it is!

Wish me luck!!!

[wetmanNY]

Some thoughts, plus excellent suggestions from decz: http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/startover/startover.shtml