Moving The Big Tank- A help thread for other brackies or freshies..

Lycanthropic

Lycanthropic

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Jun 29, 2009
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Alberta
Ok. Here's the story
I really wanted my big tank for my 18th... and I got it.
Unfortunately, we live in my mother in laws basement, so we knew we would have to move eventually. We are moving to a friends house, which we will prolle live at for a year.... which means another tank move after that....:irked: not happy, but the last move should be a good 3-5 year stay... :clap:

Here is my plan:
I have a 135 gallon, 6ft long tank.
Filled with plants and not very many fish.

1. Go buy some more sterilite tubs and 2-3 more 32? gallon garbage bins.
2. Pre make brackie water over at new house, check temp, when temp is within 10 ish degrees, begin the prep.
2. Fish go into sterilite tubs with water and some holes in the lids, not big ones, for fear of dragon escapage.
2a. uninstall lights and go take them to new house
3. As much water as I can save ( 50-60%) goes into big tubs I allready own.
4. In the process, clean out all the gucky sand from all the root tabs, and save sand in 2 other containers.... make sure a lil layer of water for bacteria.
5. Plants go into buckets with fish, fake plants as well.
6. grab all decorations, put in empty container.
7. DO NOT EMPTY FILTER. take filter, full, to other house. attempt to clean out tubes at this time, due to a lack of flow issue, if not, install new tubing.
8. Drive tank to new house.... It just started snowing here so I hope to god the glass doesnt crack... *crosses fingers*
9. Unload tank onto stand with styro underneath.
10. At this point, a center brace could be installed, havent decided yet.
11. Sand goes back in tank.
12. Slowly put water in... do not disturb sand as much as posible, so that the tank doesnt get cloudy.
13. Replant, add prime and root tabs at this time, as well as decorations
14. Make sure new water is right temp, add.
15. Test all levels. Install filter.
16. Add fishies. all is good.
Congrats! You just moved a tank!


How does this sound all?
I think it's pretty good....
 
you're going to feel very rushed to get the fish back in the tank, and therefore you're more likely to break something -- usually expensive. to give yourself a break, buy a couple of cheap air pumps and air stones (if u don't already have) and aireate the holding tanks. keep the lids on so it's dark, and the fish will go to sleep. they can stay in there for a while. i wouldn't worry too much if it's cold -- just warm them back up slowly when you reintroduce them to the tank. if you're worried or it's very cold in the house, buy an extra heater. remember, the fish travelled to the pet store in the first place.
this will allow to skip step 2 of pre-making brackish water. just set up the new tank and make the water right in it. adding the sand after might be messy, but it should settle in an hour or so.

good luck
i also wouldn't worry about keeping so much water. the bacteria are in the sand and filters. also, cleaning all the decorations, stands, lights, etc. in advance of the move will make for a neater and quicker setup and help avoid any mission creep.
to avoid disturbing the sand when u add the water back in, put a large bowl in the tank on top of the sand, then pour the water into the bowl. that way, it will flow over the side a bit more gently.
 
I'm a "freshie" who might be moving 3 tanks (20g, 55g, 75g) and a 40g terrarium soon, so I'll be watching your progress with interest. Great idea to start a "move" thread.

Good luck with everything!
 
Im going to make the water in advance because its the best way to do it IMO. Its how Ive been doing w/cs ever since a tank got out of control. This way I can regulate salt etc.
 
I think it's a good idea to premix the water on site. Like you said, it's the best way to make sure all the salt is mixed (freshies could probably ignore this step though). It does make it a bit less worrisome, too, because you can make sure that the temp is right by using heaters (make sure they don't touch the sides of the tubs).

I wouldn't move the water from the old tank (other than to transport fish, keep filter, etc. wet) since the bacteria is going to be in the sand, filter, etc., and moving the water isn't going to gain you much. The only reason I'd move old water is if there is a drastically different water situation (hardness, pH, total dissolve solids, etc.) which would require you to acclimate the fish.

Otherwise, looks like your plan is solid. Good luck!!
 
I think the water may be different. That part of town gets water from the canal if im not mistaken
 
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