Moving out of state

[dawn531]

I am moving from NY to FL in 2 weeks and don't know how to transport my 3 tinfoil barbs. I intend to stay overnight on the drive down (17 hours driving time). My local pet store suggested putting each fish in a large plastic bag with tank water and pure oxygen however, I'm concerned that the fish won't make it. I was hoping that there was a "portable fish tank" with battery powered filter or something of the sort. I've searched the internet but, can't find anything. Does anyone know of a safer method than the plastic bag?

[Bristlenose Chuck]

Here are a few links that you may find helpful

http://www.*****************/information/moving_your_fish.htm

http://www.aquariacentral.com/articles/moving.shtml

http://www.theaquarians.net/ArticlesandWallpapers/moving_aquarium_fish_ready_set.htm

[carpguy]

Don't go! Its hot down there! Stay here with us!

I'd get them each their own 5g bucket or a nice sized cooler for the lot. The cooler is probably the closest thing you'll find to a port-a-tank. A little dose of Amquel at the overnight might be helpful -- it'll convert any ammonia build up to a non toxic form. You could skim the top of the gravel off for the bottom of the cooler and that might provide some nitrifying bacteria for the trip and seed material for when you set back up.

Some folks have been reporting good things about BioSpira. You might want to look into it for when you set back up. You might also try saving the filter media, wet, in a ziploc. The bacteria may survive the trip as well.

If you're in one of those moving trucks that has a converter for regular homestyle electric you could even run the filter on the cooler.

Hope That Helps…

Good luck!

[GEV83]

For air they have battery power air pumps you could buy as for transporting them you could try a big bin or a big Ice chest just use water from your tank to fill up the Container I doubt you would have to worry about amonia levels if in a big enough cantainer on a 17hr trip. This is wat I would do.

[dawn531]

Thank you to everyone who posted a response to moving out of state. I am going with the cooler idea.

Thanks again! :)

[Heady]

I used a 48 quart cooler about 2/3 of the way full of aquarium water to transport my 12" pleco and all other inhabitants of my 55 gallon aquarium when I moved about an hour away. I put them in there the day before moving, tore down the tank, reassembled the tank the following morning and tossed them in. Worked great. Also had a handy dual closing top that you could lift up one side and check to see how they're doing. When closed the cooler did not slosh any water out at all.

[andruboz]

is there any chance the lfs could babysit them for a few days till you get the tank set up and then fedex them to you?
if your lfs is good at this, and you love your fishies, it might be worth the $50.