Moving a tank?

[chisquared]

Hi all-

I've lurked for a while, and found a ton of good advice here; I'm hoping that someone here can help me with a dilemna I'm facing. I currently have an established mixed Cichlid tank that I'm going to have to move. Don't know precisely where the new place will be, but it's within a half hour of my current home. Unfortunately, this will be occuring during New Hampshire winter, and I'm hoping to minimize the losses. The tank is a 75 gallon, with the following:

5 Neolamprologus Brichardi (2.5-3" ea)
5 Melanochromis Auratus (2.5-3.5" ea)
3 Blue Acaras (3' each)
1 Weather Loach (about 6", left over from community tank days)
1 Pl*co (About 6.5'', Also from community days)

The tanks planted with java moss and water sprite, and has some intentionally introduced snails as well.

Can anybody point me to a good location for a guide, or, even better, pass along some experiences? Most of these fish I've had for over 2 years, and I'd really hate to lose any.

Thanks!

[matty150]

what we've told people in the past to do is to use a styrofoam cooler to move fish. styrofoam will help hold the heat, especially in the winter. it will also be dark, allowing your fish to be calm during the trip. if it will only take you an hour or so to move you wont need and aerator. if your worried you can use a product called Bag Buddies, they release oxygen and help to keep your fish calm. if you dont have a styrofoam cooler aregular one will do. make sure you have the car nice and warm for the trip.

[somefinnfishy]

get buckets,shipping bags,and a styro cooler.
If you can get some of the "NEW"water source and do a GOOD hydro vac and a 30-50% water change with the new water a few days before, also dont feed 48hrs.
Remove fish place in bags If you can trap air in the bags like the LFS does or use buckets with lids with bags or buckets only 1/2 full or less air more important than water take your gravel down to 1" or less so you dont break it.Bag all your filters with air as you did the fish keep them wet!
move as much water with it as you can.
Move it all.
Refill gravel add fish bags to buckets add buckets to tank to float add stones to them so they float right.
Refill with water till almost 1/2 full let fish go if temps right.
Dip filters (wet them) landscape it wait a while for them to adjust then finish filling SLOWLY.

I'm a PRO moved 50 tanks of mine and others in the last few years. very very few losses.

BTW welcome and dont forget to use de-clor