moving help

R

rdelbalso

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Jan 13, 2003
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Boulder, CO
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Ok, I know. Don't move your tank. But unfortunately I am moving this month unexpectedly. I have 3 tanks, a 20g, 29g and 55g. I just set up the 55 three weeks ago (before knowing I was moving) with the plan of moving my fish from the other tanks in there. So my plan is to empty (water and large rocks) the 55 gal, set it up at the new place for 3 days, move the fish over and break down the 20 and 29g. My question is this: I planted the 55g and don't really want to take all the gravel and plants out, is it ok to just siphon as much water out as I can and leave the plants in during the move, or should I take absolutely everything out including the gravel. I don't have time to recycle the tank before I put my fish in it so I don't really want to disturb the gravel too much.
I won't be around until after the weekend so I won't be able to immediately answer questions. So if anyone is wondering:
all tanks amonia, nitrite, nitrate = 0. 20g and 29g ph=7.4 and no live plants. 55g has diy co2, ph=7.0, gh=3.5, kh=3.5, temp =78 with live plants and 5 giant danios (which will be going). 20g temp = 78. 29g temp = 80.
 
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You'll want to make sure that you briefly acclimate the fish going into the 55 to the new pH, but that will only take an hour and is pretty effortless. Just let a little tank water in every 15 to 20 minutes for 5 or 6 times. As far as the tank goes, I recently had to take down my 55 because of new carpeting (boy did that suck) and I moved my fish into a 20L for the night. I ended up removing basically everything. I stuck as much gravel as I could in old pantyhose and the rest into a bucket which was rinsed the next day. You probably could get away with leaving some in there, but I'd be wary of it. I'd get out as much as you can, and I wouldn't leave more than 10 pounds in there. I know that sounds like alot, and you could probably leave in more, but it's best not to question something that could crack and dump 55 gallons of water on your new floor. If you do leave anything in there make sure it's as equalized as possible. That should help.
 
I've moved my 55 across the room before, with a few inches of water and gravel, but I left it on the stand and we carried it that way. I personally would not move a tank further than that with any water or gravel in it. Any sort of twisting or sitting uneven is dangerous. It could cause the silicone to crack (which you may not notice), and leak at some point later. Unfortunately that means a lot of work.
 
If you're gonna move that--move it empty. Otherwise, whatever is in there will probably scratch the heck out of it.
 
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