moving

[dimramon]

I will be moving at the end of this month. Both locations are only a few miles apart. I have a 29G coldwater tank with goldfish and a 55G with a variety of livebearers, a pleco, catfish, loaches,...
I have already read some of the other posts about this topic but, I was just wondering if someone wants to add anything. Should I put the fish in buckets the night before the move? Is it important to keep some of the water or should I just focus on keeping the filter sponges and the gravel + rocks wet?
Thanks a bunch.

[125gJoe]

I would keep some of the water so you don't go thru another Cycle. Keep your temperatures very close when doing the move/change-over... HTH

[Prometheus]

Use your air pump and an air stone to keep frsh air in the holding buckets...

I kept my fish alive in a 3 gal. sterilte container (show-off type) for 3 weeks, and they survived a 1200 mile drive from S. FLA to NW Indiana...

They should be fine for a few days, just keep air in it. and if you have a power filter, run it in your bucket for 15 minutes or so every 8 hours... oh yeah try not to feed them while they are in the holding bucket, but thats why you can use the power filter in it, for short periods of time...

[Captain Hook]

The best thing you could do would be use the forum's search feature for "moving" and read over the many threads.

[rich]

i just broke down a 55 gal that i found in the paper and bought. i used 4 5 gal buckets with lids to haul out most of the water and store the fish. then i rushed home and set it up. all in all it only took a couple hours and only 1 fish was lost and that was due to a sihon hose mishap.

[Merman]

Thanks to those who replied for their assistance.
I have decided to go with the 5 gallon bucket method.
Home Depot sells unused ones for 3-4 dollars each.
One further question:
Is there anything that I should add to the water once my guys are in their buckets to ease the 40 minute journey?
Stress coat aid? Melafix?

[125gJoe]

When the 125g is set-up, I hope the change-over goes smooth...
I know I'll need a couple more air pumps and stones.

At least the Discus aren't being moved from house to house, just from 80g to 125g in the living room.. Can't imagine a 'road trip' move.

Good luck with your move!

[NJ Devils Fan]

Nothing out of the ordinary, everything should be fine.

[Prometheus]

Originally posted by Merman
Thanks to those who replied for their assistance.
I have decided to go with the 5 gallon bucket method.
Home Depot sells unused ones for 3-4 dollars each.
One further question:
Is there anything that I should add to the water once my guys are in their buckets to ease the 40 minute journey?
Stress coat aid? Melafix?

Clean that home depot bucket good, even if it's new ;)

I always add StressCoat to the water when moving, which should be 1/2 teaspoon for 5 gal... Just because...

I moved the same fish (2 4 &5" bala's, 2 diamond tetras, 2 albino cats, 1 5" Pleco and 1 betta) 4 times in 13 months, shortest drive was 30 minutes, longest was an unheated 23 hour car ride... Of all those moves and total tank resetups (minus gravel) only lost 1 fish (albino cat), which was on the 23 hour drive...

Also a great idea for keeping air in your bucket, use a dremel to drill a small hole to place a air tube thru and connect it to an air stone. then keep the hose long enuff to reach the front seats. I then used a 60cc medical sryinge (which fit perfectly onto standard clear air tubing lines) to manually put air into the water every 1/2 an hour or so...